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Mayor Lois Jackson (left) and the rest of Delta council heard from almost 75 speakers during the first day of the Southlands public hearing Monday at the South Delta Recreation Centre.
GORD GOBLE
Hearing it from both camps
Civic politicians get an earful as public hearing on development proposal for the Southlands gets underway BY
SANDOR GYARMATI
sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com
Emotions ran high on both sides of the issue as the longawaited public hearing on the Southlands development proposal got underway Monday. Close to 75 speakers had their say during the first of three scheduled days for the hearing, which is being held in the gym
of the South Delta Recreation Centre. It continued yesterday and was scheduled to wrap up today, although it will continue as long as there are still people wanting to speak. If the first day’s proceedings were any indication, the Southlands is as divisive as advertised, with proponents and opponents entrenched in their positions over a proposal that calls for 950
housing units while transferring 80 per cent of the property to Delta, primarily for farming.
What they’re saying Page 3
Following a brief introduction by Century Group president Sean Hodgins and presentation by architect Patrick Cotter, the first few speakers were enthusiastic
supporters, but by the conclusion of the evening session, opponents were in the majority, although that lead was slim. Many of those who spoke against the plan were Boundary Bay residents. Many opponents wore red hats that read “No Houses” and carried small “No” signs they waved for the TV cameras. Many supporters wore yellow “Yes” stickers and some also sported customary
green T-shirts. Although both sides tried to stress their viewpoints to Delta council, the hearing, for the most part, was civil, but it did get heated at times with occasional jeers. Opponents leveled familiar arguments, including the loss of farmland, flooding concerns and traffic. Some even questioned the See HEARING page 3