Re: 鈥淎cross B.C., city halls are failing residents on affordability,鈥� comment, April 26.
The commentary was written by the president of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of B.C. The previous day, an advertisement was published from an organization describing itself as the capital region鈥檚 non-profit professional resource for the real-estate development industry.
Both items seem totally self-serving: the first paid for, the second a freebie advocating for the contractors鈥� association, neither of which has anything to do with city hall鈥檚 鈥渇ailing residents鈥� on affordability. If these two groups can lobby publicly for their wants and wishes, how about this from the non-profit groups known as neighbourhoods and residents under siege by developers?
There is a reason for what Chris Gardner calls 鈥渞ed tape鈥� at city hall: building standards, workers鈥� health standards, community-wide infrastructure standards, appropriate neighbourhood consultation processes, limited municipal resources, current zoning bylaws on size and density. Clearly, these associations would like 鈥渞ed tape鈥� dispensed with so that they can get on with development and building because it is how their members make a living and a profit.
Their coffers will suffer if it takes time for municipalities to give proper and careful scrutiny to a submission and not rush into often-inappropriate and ill-advised building projects. Putting the word 鈥渁ffordable鈥� in front of a project name doesn鈥檛 mean normal processes should be rushed or abandoned.
B.G. Judson
Oak Bay
