If a tree falls in Burnaby, but no one attends the public hearing that determines its fate, does it make a sound?
The falling of a particularly large group of trees is causing a Burnaby resident to pipe up on the property’s behalf.
Ten wooded lots located at Canada Way and Claude Avenue were recently bulldozed to make way for a 161-unit townhouse development.
Keith Bemister, who lives near the site, is concerned there was not enough public consultation for the project.
“They ran the typical little ad (in the newspaper) before Christmas,” he said, adding it wasn’t enough notification, particularly at a time of year when people are busy. “Burnaby does a poor job of letting us know about a development.”
Bemister is concerned that the residential neighbourhood is wrong for such a large development, pointing out that Burnaby council recently vetoed a 12-family residential development proposed further east on Canada Way, near the Edmonds neighbourhood.
“There’s no elementary school within walking distance,” he pointed out, adding traffic would increase dramatically in an area near Rayside Street, which is known for accidents.
Keith and his mother, Denise Bemister, sent in letters opposing the rezoning. Another resident, Carol Stinson, appeared in person at the public hearing on Dec. 9 to express concerns about the proposed development. Other than that, there were no submissions.
“People don’t know what’s happening,” Bemister said regarding rezonings. “It’s a frustrating process.
Another Burnaby resident, Chris Ciavarelli, recently told the NOW he was also frustrated by the city’s public consultation process.
Ciavarelli started the Save the Mountain Shadow campaign this spring after finding out the local pub was closing.
The public hearing for the redevelopment of the site took place last summer, but Ciavarelli said many people in the neighbourhood had no idea it was happening.
“I don’t think the city’s process is there to trick people necessarily,” he said. “But it really works for the developer.”
Though Ciavarelli collected more than 650 signatures opposing the rezoning, he was not able to present his petition to city council or speak as a delegation after the public hearing.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” he said. “There’s a problem with the system. There’s no outlet to appeal it.”
But Lou Pelletier, Burnaby’s director of planning and building, said the public consultation process for rezonings is determined at the provincial level as well as by the city’s zoning bylaw provisions and policies.
“Every public hearing is advertised two times in a local newspaper,” he wrote in an email to the NOW. “Notices in the form of four-by-eight foot signs are also posted on the subject property to notify the public of the rezoning process and scheduled public hearing. As well, direct mail notices are sent to property owners and occupants in proximity to the proposal.”
While city staff can receive information regarding a rezoning application at any time, it is provincial legislation and case law that restricts council from accepting submissions after the public hearing, he added.
“The purpose of the provincial legislation is to protect the integrity of the public hearing process by ensuring that council receives the public input in a scheduled public meeting that is open to be heard by the community,” he wrote.
