Who will watch the Watchmen?
Current Song: Jeff Buckley – Nightmares by the Sea
This week has been a long, trying battle. I’ve challenged myself to take a look at the activities around myself – both politically, environmentally and socially. My first sociology experiment was dealing with a plot of land (136 Acres) near where I live known as the Garden City lands. This area has been sitting dormant for a long time now – Its only previous use was to hold up large radio receiver poles for National Defense needs. The area is bog-land and is home to a large number of plant species, birds and small mammals. It gets mowed down once a year so there are no trees on this property but the potential for them to grow there does exist.
The issue with this area is in discussion at Richmond City Hall currently. This discussions have been going on for 3 days now from 6:30pm-11pm each night – trying the patience of both the city councilors and the public at large. There is one main topic and that is – What is best for the people of Richmond in regards to this area?
It goes like this – Richmond doesn’t own the land – it is held in trust by a company known as the ‘Canada Lands Company’ for the Musqueam First Nations band. However – just because they own it – doesn’t mean they can develop on it. It is saved and zoned as ALR (Agricultural Land Reserve) which means that this is land put aside from agricultural purposes by the provincial government to help offset potential heavy growth in various parts of BC.
The CLC and Musqueam presented an offer to the City of Richmond awhile back suggesting that if the City of Richmond makes a concession and proposes its support for development on this area to the ALC (Agricultural Land Commission) to bring this area out of the ALR – Richmond would stand to profit close to 50% of the land for its own purposes. The conditions however seem to be that they want to develop this for medium rise development (6+ storey buildings + a Trade Centre).
The fishy thing I’m noticing about this whole story is how strange it is that in a city like Richmond which has been under near constant heavy construction in the city centre area for at least 6-8 years now would even consider more heavy development. I mean yes – it would stand to gain some parkland and some profit from the property taxes gained – but it would add close to 14,000 new residents to Richmond. This would mean 14,000 (at least) more cars, the need for new schools, strain on our already taxed infrastructure AND developing that area would ruin the wildlife there and push a lot of CO2 and Methane from the bog soil. It would also disrupt Richmond’s weary Water Table – because we are after all, an island build on silt not rock.
Even more fishy is this Canada Lands Company. It comes forward suggesting it has ties with the Federal Government who is it’s primary shareholder. Yet they say they are private. Then they say they work with communities to help develop projects in the best interest of the city’s they build in – but I’ve already looked up some of their other projects and it was nothing but distasteful for the local residents of those areas.
This whole story is a very tricky issue for Richmond Council. They have to be careful not to tarnish their agreement with the Musqueam over this territory – yet in serving the people who elect them – this treaty has already breached the trust of what is best for the people of Richmond. They are in a tug of war about what is right for the community and what is right for the legal and legislative process. There are routes still available in either direction but without direct agreement this could spill into uncertainty.
That’s where a lot of the Agricultural supporters (like myself come in). We need to convince council that the treaty was done without careful consideration and appeal to them for a better opportunity here. The best outcome is that the CLC and Musqueam would offer to sell the land to the city for a fair price – but odds are this will wind up a legal battle.
What I find further sinister is how the developers seem to be using the strange legal position of various first nations bands to sway the political system. This land is ALR which should be read ‘DEVELOPERS CANNOT TOUCH!’ – but with this approaches – they are touching these lands and bribing cities left right and centre to develop and turn a heavy profit – while stabbing out green space.
Richmond is in desperate need of more green space. I myself feel the strains of the added developments everyday as I sleep facing Westminster Highway. I hear cars roar by all the way to 3 am and start again at 5 am. I hear ambulances non-stop. More and more Jets land out here. I don’t drive but no matter how far I walk our parkland is limited and small. All our food is shipped from far away distances and getting more expensive due to oil prices. I want to work the land and live a healthy life but all signs point to me hiding in my closet sized over-priced apartment and toil away my days a prisoner in the city I’ve grown up in. I could move away – but like the captain of a ship, I in some ways feel that I should see these events play out and try and turn them around.
Monday at 6:30pm – This battle continues.
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