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Letter: Brookswood excitement turned appalling

Dear Editor,

I am writing to voice my strong concerns about the Brookswood/Fernridge development plan. I was initially excited to hear about some Brookswood development, as I am in the market for a home.

I was appalled after I attended the open house at Brookswood Secondary.

This plan is not sound. I am a 28-year-old woman and make an middle class income. I am a home buyer.

I have lived in and out of Brookswood for 30 years. I always come back. This is where I spend my tax dollars and want to purchase another home.

Brookswood is attractive to someone looking to buy a home in a beautiful neighbourhood – what this development will destroy. The rural feel and emphasis on environmentalism must be held sacred by our government- not torn down.

Brookswood is a successful town. Why not expand the development plans in a reflection of the current makeup of the community. The development should focus on single-family dwellings (think West Vancouver/North Vancouver – beautiful places to live, with lots of trees and big houses and lots) and a strong plan for old-growth tree retention.

Don’t cheapen this gorgeous place by recklessly developing it into a sea of condos and townhouses, which I could purchase 10 minutes away in North Langley or South Surrey.

Many condos and townhouses in Langley lay vacant, so the guise of “affordable housing” is ridiculous. Don’t chase away the type of long-term resident that makes this community strong.

Langley Township should be protecting rural Langley. Is that not why we have two sets of government here? What is the point of keeping two municipal governments representing the same thing?

This is an election year. If the council is foolish enough to pass these bylaws and slide it past the residents – who likely have no idea how drastic the development plan is if they missed the Township’s tiny mailer – they will notice when acres of land are clear-cut. They will want to blame someone.

Ann-Michelle deReus, Langley