Editor,

If you think that a vote for the infrastructure bond is a vote for affordable housing in Langley, think again. This is really a bond to increase density in an area above a fragile bluff.

Up until recently, it was always Langley’s position to count on developers to cover the cost of infrastructure. Now, this administration is looking to put the cost of development onto its own residents. It is very disingenuous to say that opening up acres of forested land above a bluff for development will result in “workforce housing.” There is nothing in place to guarantee that affordable houses will be built in this area.

Moreover, it is very unlikely. In fact, by putting the burden onto an area which is one of the most affordable in Langley today, the passing of this bond will actually make Langley less affordable by creating higher taxes, hookup fees and forever additional sewer charges to the folks in this area who hook up.

The misrepresentation of costs for this project by the administration states that sewer hook ups will only cost the homeowner $5,680. This fee does not include any work necessary to remove existing septic infrastructure and prepare the individual property for sewer, which may include having to install and pay for ongoing operation of pumps. Some properties have had estimates of up to $25,000 to hook up.

Besides, in this plan there is not enough space between the waterline and sewer in some of the proposed area to safely install the sewer and could even result in taking of land from these homeowners.

The waterline repairs that are included in this infrastructure plan are already scheduled in the city’s Capital Plan to be replaced in the coming years. This is what our tax dollars pay for already.

If you look at the costs to replace waterlines, they are much less than adding sewer infrastructure. In fact, Langley’s sewer treatment plant is currently functioning at 70 percent capacity and, when it reaches 85 percent capacity, which will come sooner with hundreds of new sewer hookups, a major upgrade to our plant or adding a totally new one will be necessary.

Will there be another bond proposed for that huge cost in the future? This is the true cost of development. If you care about responsible development in Langley, vote “no” on the infrastructure bond.

Gordon Collins

Langley