Editor,
I am writing tonight after attending a Langley Planning Advisory Board meeting. My reason for attending was the proposed Coles Valley development. I had expected a slick show about how this development would work to address some of the housing crisis.
I was shocked to find out that the PAB was expected to listen to this presentation and ask questions of the developer’s minions but that the PAB would have no formal role in the approval process of this massive development. I believe the PAB board members were equally surprised.
It appears that the Planning Advisory Board is to be neither a part of planning or advising the city council and planning departments. If the developers wish to practice their presentation skills, they need not impose on the citizen volunteers who could have been doing something meaningful to the future of Langley.
The presentation was another recital of the smoke-and-mirrors promises these gentlemen (and ladies) have been trotting out over the past couple of years. The project has grown from 24 to 113 to 150 housing units. They have supported their desire to make money with a questionable traffic study and a cursory environmental study.
To date the developers have yet to find a partner to manage the affordable housing component of the project. They have suggested that Island Transit will alter routes to accommodate the development but have produced no such agreement. They have suggested that walking on Coles Road will be acceptable and that the city will build permanent paths from the development site to downtown. But they have not gotten right-of-way or easements from the adjacent property owners.
This development will add significantly to the city’s infrastructure load. The project would add 280-300 people to the current 1,154 residents, nearly a 25% increase. With the addition of sewer lines to the eastern part of Langley this might require an increase in water treatment capacity at a significant expense to Langley.
I suggest that the citizens of Langley take a long hard look at what is being proposed and express your opinions to the mayor and council members. Langley has legitimate housing needs but this project does not have the best interests of the Village by the Sea at its heart.
David Stenberg
Langley
