Density at issue at latest Brookswood plans hearing
Too much density or not enough? Langley City Council heard both opinions from speakers as it discussed a series of changes to the South Brookswood neighborhood plans on Monday, July 10.
Speakers at the public hearing on the Booth, Rinn and Fernridge neighborhood plans also raised issues of tree protection and housing affordability as the multi-year community planning process progressed.
“Higher density would lower property prices and help fund infrastructure,” said Murray Scott, a longtime resident who requested heavier zoning for his property to offset riverfront arrears because he lives near the Little Campbell River.
On the other hand, there were residents like Judith Strain, who felt the revised plans included too many lots ranging in size from 4,000 and 7,000 square feet.
“Streets lined with houses like this create parking spaces because there isn’t enough space for the cars, let alone space for kids to play ball games on the property,” Strain said.
ALSO READ: Brookswood plans revised again in Langley Parish Council
Last November, as part of the new Brookswood Official Community Plan (OCP) approved in 2017, the council initiated some significant changes to neighborhood plans for three of South Brookswood’s four neighborhoods. According to one report, the old draft plans were no longer economical. so they were rewritten.
After public open days and a first public hearing in May, the Council called for a number of significant changes, so extensive that a new hearing was required.
If all changes in the latest version of the plans are approved by the council, this would reduce the projected population for the three boroughs after full development from 63,000 people in the last version to 46,000 in the new, modified version.
Several speakers expressed concern about the pace of change. The previous draft of the Neighborhood Plans was presented at a public open house before going to the public hearing, but this draft went straight to the public hearing on its own.
“Public engagement is extremely important to get the bottom line,” said Bob Langston, who requested another public open house where residents could have an in-depth discussion with staff about the changes.
The owner of mobile home park Cedar Creek Estates said he was upset that this new revamp converts the property from single-family home zoning to prefab park zoning — which would protect it from redevelopment.
“We have been surprised by the recent changes to the development of our property,” said Louie Bortolazzo.
He said the majority of his tenants are ok with the rezoning of the property for single-family homes and that he has “an agreement” with the municipality on the matter.
A controversial hearing on the matter in 2018 saw dueling petitions filed, accusing the owner and tenants of bullying and lying.
READ MORE: Tenants and owners clash at hearing over Langley prefab park
Local residents also pointed to the loss of large trees on some development properties and the possibility that more trees could be lost.
“A lot of trees are already falling in Brookswood,” said Kelly Keyworth. “They are falling at an alarming rate.”
Protection of trees and the local aquifer has been a major issue in the debate over Brookswood’s future since work on the OCP began in 2013.
After several dozen people listened to hearings for over two hours, the public hearing ended.
The plan will be debated again in Council on July 24.
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Brookswood DevelopmentLangley Township