As of late Langford appears to be sexually attracted to development. Now, I see the need for development in some respects. I understand that as Greater Victoria grows, we will have to build new neighbourhoods and other community centres here, and I accept that. What I don't accept is when the environment is the after thought of development.
Take for example Sysco Foods in Goldstream. It's a large building to begin with, and after construction was completed, City Council throws up parkland status around the building. So, now a lake with what I believe to be industrial waste dumping into the lake and mounds of flat earth is protected from development. That's just great! Now, why we didn't protect the entire area in its natural state, considering that the development is misplaced (it's beside residential homes!) and excessive in size, I don't know. Oh wait, I do know! This Council doesn't care about the environment! How could I have forgotten?
Langford has a lot of lakes and natural beauty. Massive development projects on Bear Mountain, at West Hills and to a lesser degree Keetle Creek have severely diminished the city's true beauty: nature. Take a look at Spencer Pond right beside the Bridge to Nowhere, er... Spencer Interchange. Is it protected? No. All around Langford, water bodies with sensitive ecosystems are either being destroyed or disturbed. Forests are being wiped out to make room for commercial space and to fulfill the needs of the Council's infatuation with sporting venues. We also can't forget that the want to develop on the Agricultural Land Reserve.
If Langford really did care about the environment they would place all remaining water bodies that have yet to be impacted by development and the land adjacent to them as protected parkland. They also wouldn't open up development north of the Trans Canada Highway to ease up traffic issues (I see a logical fallacy!), and they certainly wouldn't proclaim that they care about farmers when they want to develop on the little bits of land that remain part of the Land Reserve.
Get your priorities straight Langford: it's time you put the environment before the dollar.
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