Thursday December 12, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 100)
V O I C E
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W H I T E
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Cross-town showdown: High-school rivalries are set to heat up the hardcourt beginning Monday, as Elgin Park, Semiahmoo and Earl Marriott’s senior boys basketball teams prepare to square off during Rivalry Week. i see page A31
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
First United to be replaced, if housing plan proceeds
Church divided over housing proposal Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
First United Church officials are exploring a multi-million-dollar redevelopment of the White Rock site, with an eye to including four storeys of affordable housing. Rev. Joan McMurtry confirmed this week that discussions began about two years ago, spurred by concerns with the church’s longterm financial sustainability.
But while McMurtry said response to the concept and process has been largely positive – a vote last month to temporarily transfer the church’s title garnered 72 per cent support, she said – opponents say at least a third of the congregation is against the move, and that many others don’t realize what is at stake. “They don’t understand the consequences of what’s happening. It’s divisive… many
members have already left over it,” said Don Boyce, a 12-year member of the congregation and former member of the Futures Committee that is looking at the project. “It’s going to be very disruptive to lose the facility.” The church, located at 15385 Semiahmoo Ave. just east of city hall, has been in the community for more than a century, and in its current building since the 1950s.
Redevelopment options identified through a feasibility study favour two scenarios, both of which would result in a significantly smaller church facility combined with residential units. The only difference is whether those units would be rental or market housing. “The imagining is a four-storey housing complex with our ministry space built within it,” McMurtry said. i see page A2
Hundreds affected
Surrey nixes rec programs Greg Laychak Black Press
Tracy Holmes photo
Former White Rock councillor Margaret Woods expresses her views on marijuana production, as Joy Davies and Jeff Ballingall listen.
Lack of zoning has resulted in 52 unrecorded grow-ops, White Rock staff say
Mixed reaction over medical marijuana Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
White Rock is not suited for commercial medicinal-marijuana grow-ops, but the city needs zoning that addresses the facilities nonetheless, officials say. In explaining proposed zoning to attendees of a public meeting Tuesday, director of development services Paul Stanton said it will give the city – and residents – a much-needed process to deal with such requests, should any crop up. The option has not existed to date, Stanton
noted, and it has resulted in 52 medicinalmarijuana operations running without city knowledge, some spurring complaints from residents who became unwitting neighbours. “We’re following legal advice… so the municipality is positioned to deal with a request,” Stanton said. “I really think this is a step in the right direction.” The move is in anticipation of new federal regulations around the operations that are slated to kick in April 1. They are to shift the medicinal-marijuana program to a system of
regulated commercial growers who will supply authorized users; at the same time, all current licenses to possess or produce pot will expire. Opponents say the changes will harm those who rely on the drug, by restricting its availability and raising prices. They’re calling for a program unique to B.C. Tuesday, proponents for such a program asked White Rock to not enact zoning specific to the operations, but direct efforts at lobbying for provincial change. i see page A2
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The City of Surrey will discontinue many of its outdoor recreation programs starting Jan. 1, 2014, citing cost, low participation and competition with the private sector as factors in the decision. Those most affected will be participants in aquatic activities, as all boating, paddling and boarding programs are scheduled to end. One past participant who will feel the impact is Karen Loveys, a realestate agent who used the indoorkayaking program extensively. There’s a need being met for beginners in the water sport that the private sector isn’t fulfilling, Loveys said. “(You can) learn what it’s like to flip upside-down and pull the plug and exit and get out safely in a safe pool environment versus in the middle of the ocean,” she said. “It’s much better to do it in the pool.” According to Loveys, the city is cancelling important programs that the private sector uses as a resource to help beginners, often referring them to those services. But Lisa White, the city’s manager of recreation services, said the number of people who used the programs wasn’t large enough to justify their existence any longer. i see page A4