Re: “Council approves Oakridge Centre rezoning,” March 14.
Majority Vision does not understand or ignores its role as representative of the people when it rubber-stamps what appears to be pre-determined agreements between the City and Ivanhoe Cambridge and Westbank.
I attended hearings and was impressed by the knowledge and issues discussed by neighbourhood groups and residents and the genuine questions and concerns of councillors Carr, Affleck and Ball. I was less impressed by the information and answers provided by city staff and the few questions asked by Vision councillors, who appeared genuinely disinterested, waiting for the end of the hearing to vote.
Speakers raised concerns about the magnitude of the project, the ability of the existing infrastructure being able to handle the project, why TransLink, hospitals, local schools, emergency services had not been properly consulted, if at all and how and why the 2007 Oakridge Policy Plan was being ignored. City staff did not provide adequate answers.
One of the few minor changes recommended by Coun. Louie of Vision was to ensure that a 300-sq. ft. kitchen be included in one of the amenities in a development of 4.5 million square feet from the existing 900,000? Otherwise, application accepted as presented. How is that even possible?
