Dear Editor,
The NDP government’s approach to housing is heavy-handed and dictatorial. It is unjust and detrimental to our communities, environment, and quality of life for the NDP government to override municipal government decisions.
Eliminating single-family zoning in all areas is too overreaching. I understand the consideration of gentle densification, but Bill 44 takes a sledgehammer to housing problems.
In Langley municipality, it has flung three new neighborhood plans into disarray. I put a lot of thought into who I voted for municipally, but did it matter if the provincial government can override municipal planning? Municipal governments know their community and listen to input from their constituents. But constituents have been further deprived of their voice as the provincial government has disallowed public hearings regarding proposed developments. Municipal governments try to do what is best for the community that democratically elected them.
The absence of infrastructure and amenities, resulting from an exponential increase in population in the absence of proper planning, will have a detrimental effect on our quality of life and the environment.
The government’s introduction of Bill 44 will wreak havoc. In Langley municipality, there is a proposal to develop parkland for daycares. I see this proposal to swap parkland for daycares as the first casualty resulting from this one-size-fits-all, ill-thought-out edict.
Developing lots into duplexes, triplexes, or six-unit multiplexes has many ramifications, too many to delve into here. I believe our democratically elected municipal governments should be able to decide what is best for their constituents.
Elizabeth Rutherford, Aldergrove
.
• READ MORE: Flat year in real estate could change for Langley in 2024
• READ MORE: LETTER: Langley resident doubts densification will solve housing crisis
.