To the editor:
This is in response to Julian Kenney's letter, regarding the proposed development on Crown reserve at Bridge Lake, in March 23 edition of the Free Press.
I would like to thank Mr. Kenney for clarifying that $615,000 was the 2007 assessed value of Heritage Island and the online registry that listed the island for sale for $785,000 scavenges ads and information from other sources.
Mr. Kenney says I did not consider the costs of development in my estimation.
One doesn't need to be a qualified appraiser to know that an 18-hectare waterfront lot with rezoning in place and Crown reserve on all sides would sell for considerably more than Heritage Island.
If my 72 foot wide 0.35 acre waterfront lot on Greenall Road was assessed at $247,000 in 2011, it seems obvious two-acre waterfront lots more than twice as wide as mine are worth considerably more than this and there is profit to be made here.
Mr. Kenney reminds us that initially "the exchange was generally supported by the community."
On March 22, 2011, Ken Vanderburgh of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations told me 56 per cent of respondents (64 out of 114) were in favour of the swap in 2009. Friends of Bridge Lake's March 12, 2011 online vote of members resulted in two-thirds of respondents voting to oppose the development.
While the developer will benefit financially and the local economy will experience some short-term gain, the long-term economic benefits to Bridge Lake are with tourism. Preserving the environment and wildlife is essential.
Privately owned land on the shores of Bridge Lake will be developed as time goes by, and it is crucial we preserve the areas of Crown land and Crown reserve around the lake for future generations to enjoy.
Ann Blades
Surrey/Bridge Lake
