B.C. Views Stakes go up in B.C. gas gamble. p6
Marauders comeback falls short. p27
THE NEws
Looking Back All dolled up and on display. p17
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Warmed up Ty Bikic, 4, warms up for the Terry Fox Run on Sunday at Hammond Stadium. See stories, p16. Colleen Flanagan/thE NEWS
No break for Golden Ears Bridge But available for new Port Mann crossing by Ph i l M e lnych uk staff reporter
While motorists cruise across the world’s widest bridge, paying only $1.50 per crossing for the first year, Golden Ears Bridge users will be stuck paying twice as much, a fact that doesn’t sit well with the Pitt Meadows mayor. “I’m not happy with that decision at all,” Deb Walters said Tuesday. Walters could understand cutting Port Mann Bridge tolls in half (from $3) for a few months with construction not yet completed, but not for the entire year that’s been offered by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. “A year, I think that’s a bit much. I don’t think there’s anything fair about that. The idea is to get people to use all of the routes. Everyone’s going to go for the cheapest route.” See Bridge, p4
Pitt exclusion application panned Developer promises 1,000s of jobs and tax revenue by M o ni s ha M a r t i ns staff reporter
M
aple Ridge artist painting to make you think. See story, p23
Pitt Meadows’ plan to remove a large tract of farmland from the agricultural reserve was resoundingly panned on Monday by residents who rather see the fields preserved. Council was handed a petition against the exclusion application signed by 157 people, while others at the public hearing accused the
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city of going against the wishes of its residents. “You have responsibility to the residents who live here and give you our tax dollars and we are opposed to this,” said Sandie Banni, who drew a loud cheer and applause from the audience at the end of her passionate plea. Banni pointed out that council’s decision to submit an exclusion application for 33.1 hectares (81 acres) was not supported by Pitt Meadows residents. They overwhelmingly favoured a development concept that set aside 16 hectares (39.5 acres) for farming or
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other agricultural uses, like a land trust or food processing facility. “This is a sham,” said Banni. “The last public meeting was a sham because you don’t listen to the residents. You are ignoring us and we are wasting our time here tonight because you are going to do what you want. The land will be gone and there will be nothing left for your grandchildren.” Council support for the application, though, has not been unanimous. In July, three councillors voted against the plan that would see all 50.9 hectares (125 acres) of land
developed. Mayor Deb Walters cast the deciding vote in favour of developing the entire site because it would facilitate the construction of the North Lougheed Connector, a road that’s needed to access the commercial strip. The city points to farmers as the main impetus behind the 3.6 kilometre road, which would stretch from Harris to Golden Ears Way. Of the land being considered for development, only around 17.5 hectares (43 acres) are zoned highway commercial. See Farmland, p3
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