Editor:
Re: ‘Leave us alone’: Burnaby residents beg council to stop rezoning, NOW News
The Burnaby NOW, true to its calling, continues the challenging task of reporting on the crucial needs and sometimes selfish wants of the community, warts and all.
The perfect example of this challenge is the Bainbridge East NIMBY delegation to council on Monday night that showed how a tiny group of residents, some of whom live in $3-million homes, believe that because they pay their taxes council should only listen to them and forcibly demand “leave us alone.”
Supposedly representing 66% of residents, far from general consensus in the area I might add, the delegation admits some sub-segments are in near full support of the proposed Official Community Plan amendments.
While the delegation has every right to question the city’s public consultation methods, the delegation used a highly debated in-your-face petition approach with neighbours that study after study has demonstrated lacks cultural and ethical sensitivity, plus serious methodological issues exist with this kind of door-knocking approach.
For example, neighbours can easily be frightened to follow along when confronted by adamant neighbours, or the lack of common language can cloud shared understanding. Please watch the council video to judge for yourself the possible accuracy of this kind of door-to-door canvassing, especially with the strident and demanding tone we heard from the delegation.
Accordingly, on what possible basis can the delegation demand the area be excluded from redevelopment without independently verified resident input that identifies a near unanimous view that Bainbridge East should remain as is?
Plus, for those residents in Bainbridge East who wish to ignore the housing crisis and take no responsibility for finding solutions, how can they say to council it is perfectly OK for Bainbridge West to take the full brunt of redevelopment so the city can accommodate the growing population?
The delegation also explained how lovely their so-called single-family area represents to local residents.
Yet, when Coun. Dan Johnston asked how many secondary suites are in the area, the delegation at first puzzled then indicated “I know of two.”
Well, this smart question demonstrates how little the delegation understands the permitted residential uses in the city.
The facts are the zoning bylaw was amended in 2013 which completely eliminated the single-family zone status from Bainbridge East.
Of course, this progressive two-family change applies to nearly all residential zones in Burnaby. Thus, the correct answer is 108 secondary suites may potentially exist in Bainbridge East, which is exactly the total number of homes in this area. Whether current homeowners have a suite or not is irrelevant as this can quickly change by getting a city permit and finding a tenant.
Also, in a truly embarrassing admission, the delegation said they did not approach the tenants in the area, which we can only presume are city residents unworthy of having their views advanced to council.
Burnaby residents are very fortunate to have the kind of leadership shown by a long-standing member of council who powerfully rebuked this NIMBY delegation. Coun. Pietro Calendino, chair of council’s housing committee asked of the delegation if not in Burnaby, where will the growing population live?
Well, the delegation’s response is nothing short of jaw-dropping with “does everybody who wants to live in B.C. are they all entitled to live in the urban centres...” and, “or can they live where there is, you know, housing and space, like Abbotsford? I mean is it everybody’s God-given right to live in Burnaby?”
Let’s be absolutely clear for all you Burnaby residents who have children, or close family members and friends you wish to remain near to. What these self-entitled and wealthy residents of Bainbridge East demand is they move well away from you. Of course, the idea of environmental sustainability, lowering housing costs through active mobility, and other modern development practices that avoid urban sprawl mean nothing here.
As a resident of Burnaby since 1966, I do not in any way consider it my “entitlement” or “right to live” in exactly the same way as when our family moved here so long ago. Instead, we must accept that times change and the needs of the community demands we find better ways, painful sometimes as that may be, and be ready to welcome future generations.
Common ground does exist with Bainbridge East residents who call for council to listen to residents and taxpayers. Council please do exactly this and listen to the vast majority of Burnaby citizens from every corner of the city who are loudly calling for more housing, which properly must include redevelopment of Bainbridge East.
Joe Sulmona, Burnaby
