Jul
26
2011
SCC
News Releases
2
for immediate release
A Surrey Civic Coalition motion on whether the City of Surrey should purchase land to be preserved as parkland was referred to staff at the Surrey Council meeting Monday, July 25.
SCC Councillor Bob Bose brought a motion before Council seeking to have the question of purchasing private land for parkland be put to referendum in conjunction with the civic election on November 19.
Bose said Council recently approved an Ecological Management System report, but said the most important parts of the plan, hubs and corridors, cannot be achieved within Surrey’s existing parkland acquisition program. “Time is of the essence if these lands are not to be given up to development pressure.”
Surrey First Councillors Barbara Steele, Judy Villeneuve, Linda Hepner and Marvin Hunt all spoke against the SCC motion before Councillor Barinder Rasode moved the matter be referred to staff.
Bose said he thought it was a partial victory. He said the Surrey First Councillors, “wanted to appear that they support environmental initiatives, but they certainly don’t want to give voters a say by going to a referendum.”
Bose said, “Surrey is in a unique position to be a better kind of city. But we need a strategy and we need a mandate from the people.”
Bose said he realizes this is a “bold initiative,” estimating it could provide hundreds of acres of additional parkland, in large and small parcels. He said staff could prepare recommendations about specific properties by fall.
Bose said many fundraising sources are available besides taxpayers’ dollars, such as federal and provincial green initiatives, Metro Vancouver, as well as private trusts and foundations.
Jul 30, 2011 1:07 pm
Councillor Bob Bose’s pointing out Surrey’s current plans to develop only 200 acres of parkland in the future is far far short of they own city’s long range plan that called for 6,000 acres to be acquired for park development. Thanks for his insight this lack of planning is coming to light. We need more Surrey Civic Coalition Councillors elected this November, Pat #voteSCC 604-594-9508
Oct 04, 2011 5:41 pm
Mr. Bose should be taken more seriously by the current council. It’s fine to develope with a clear plan of self sustainability, however, what seems to be taking place is a “knock it down and build it first” adgenda. Park lands must be clearly identified , properly zoned and protected.