Re: Don’t be naive on farmlot fiasco, Letters (Oct. 31)
Clare Boucher is mistaken to assume that those people working to find a resolution to the Alberg farm – Saanich stalemate endorse bullying and “have stepped in to do the Alberg’s persuading for them.” I am not aware of anyone in our neighbourhood who supports bullying. No one is happy with what’s going on. I am however, aware of a number of people in the neighbourhood who have invested huge amounts of time and energy trying to find ways to move this deadlocked situation forward.
This is not about taking sides, it’s about finding a way to make the madness stop.
Regarding the Gary oaks and the application to cut them down: Please review the development proposal, as it includes restricted covenant areas to protect the Garry Oaks. As counterintuitive as it appears, the Garry oaks would stand a better chance of survival if the land were developed, rather than remaining in their current plight with cattle on the property.
It is profoundly sad to think that mature endangered trees will be lost because of the entrenched positions of decision makers who have not action for the sake of the greater good.
Mayor Frank Leonard has been the focus of attention recently because a committed group of neighbours have found a way for Saanich council to move this situation towards resolution without risk to either the District of Saanich or the land owner.
To date, Saanich has been very slow to consider these options, and has only now, after two years of pleading from the neighbourhood, started to take some action.
The fact that this action is occurring immediately before the election simply adds to a sense of jaded frustration.
I believe that all this neighbourhood wants is for anyone on Saanich council to care enough about this mess to do something about it.
We need leadership in action to work with all parties involved to find a resolution, and we need to move beyond in-fighting, positioning and posturing to achieve our collective goal.
Janet Stark,
Alberg farm neighbour
Saanich