Seventeen people have been appointed to the Brookswood-Fernridge Community Planning Team to work with the Township of Langley as they update the Brookswood-Fernridge Community Plan.
The names were released on May 30 from a special closed meeting that took place on May 9.
The team will be responsible for attending workshops, providing input to the Township, and reporting back findings to the community and their organizations.
Representing those who live or own property in the undeveloped areas of Brookswood-Fernridge are Jag Gill, Peter Minten, Sally Rees, Kulwinder Samra, Roland Seguin and Donna Van Beek.
From those who live or own property within the developed areas of Brookswood-Fernridge are Phyllis Heppner and Don Tocher.
From those who live or own property in the rural areas surrounding Brookswood-Fernridge are Sarah Vandekerkhove and Norma Wilson.
From those who live in a manufactured home park in Brookswood-Fernridge is Gerry Spender.
Representing a local non-profit environmental organization is Phillip Milligan.
Representing the development and building industry is Mark Belling.
Representing owners of a business within the community plan boundary is Liz Crawford and Steve Riley.
Representing a local parent advisory council is Colleen Patrick.
And representing a member of a local seniors organization is Nora Truman.
In a press release, Mayor Jack Froese said, “It was difficult to choose from so many quality applicants, but we feel we have established a group that represents varied viewpoints and ideas.
“The Community Planning Team will be a great contributor to this process and provide valuable insight and feedback.”
However, not all residents in the Brookswood-Fernridge area feel they are well represented.
Scott Thompson, one of the founders of the Leave Brookswood Alone Facebook group, says there is fault in the names being chosen “behind closed doors.”
In a letter to the Times, (see page 9) Thompson said he is disappointed there were only three members of his Facebook group appointed, as they played a major role in the defeat of a different high-density official community plan in 2014.
“Why would people who do not live in our community be given voices on the future health and viability of our community?” he wrote.
As the process continues, there will be opportunities for the public to get involved through community dialogue sessions, open houses, workshops, online engagement and consultation summaries.
For more, visit tol.ca/brfrcpt.