To judge by phone calls, "tips" and letters received in the days following last week’s approval of the 19 Mile Creek and Lorimer Road employee housing projects these, and likely future housing projects, won’t have to just meet neighbourhood standards, they will have to far exceed them. It’s apparent some opponents of the Lorimer and 19 Mile projects aren’t going to let go. Some were surprised that work crews were working in 19 Mile Creek at 7:15 the morning after council finally gave the project fourth reading. Presumably they were unaware the annual two-week window for in-stream work expired on Aug. 31. Both projects will be scrutinized through every step of their development, from excavation to permits, building standards and even colour. The finished buildings are no doubt going to be a disappointment to those who refuse to accept them, just as the present council is a disappointment to those same people. Several people have in recent weeks made reference to remembering which councillors voted for these projects when municipal elections roll around next year. I can’t speak for any of the present councillors, but if by some bizarre misalignment of the stars and voters’ better judgement I was on council my reaction to these people would be: Fine, if that’s a challenge or a threat, go to the voters next year and make the issue one of neighbourhood preservation vs. employee housing. Pardon me, of course no one is against employee housing, so make your campaign neighbourhood preservation and employee housing, but employee housing in areas where it won’t impact on existing neighbourhoods. Now explain how building housing on un-serviced land can be made affordable. Maybe it’s not an issue of neighbourhood preservation and employee housing, maybe the issue is listening to the public and heeding the requests of the electorate. In that case, I’d put my money on most of the present councillors. As to suggestions that anyone would go into municipal politics to be a martyr, that’s laughable.
