Hawthorne Park – council meeting

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From SaveSurreyParks:

Save Hawthorne Park – Final Stage of the Campaign~please stand with us Monday, Oct. 23rd!

The City of Surrey is planning to put a two-lane road through Hawthorne Park, located in North Surrey. This road will destroy a very sensitive ecological area and change the nature of the park forever. The road is being built to support LRT and to provide convenient vehicle access for several prime lots that are waiting to be developed.

We submitted over 5,000 petition signatures on July 24th to the council, and we then submitted over 13,000 Elector Response Form (ERF) signatures on September 22nd.

At this point the council has not changed their minds and is planning to start construction on the road in January 2018. We need you to stand with the community to protect Hawthorne Park.

This battle is not just about this park but all of our parks. If Hawthorne Parks falls then it is so much easier for the city council to go after the rest of the parks using the same process.

The council will be deciding Hawthorne Park’s fate at an upcoming council meeting, and we are asking you to attend to show your support for all our parks.

Can you please share this info to those on your mailing list? Thank-you for any help you can give.

Date: Monday, October 23rd
Time: Arrive at 6:30 pm to get ready (council meeting starts at 7:00 pm)
Location: Surrey City Hall 13450 – 104th Avenue

Please join us on Facebook – “Save Hawthorne Park” https://www.facebook.com/groups/443005682741874/

For more info: https://savesurreyparks.ca/

Hawthorne Park – will it be lost?

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There is a risk that Hawthorne Park – at the intersection of 104 Ave and 144 St – will be lost if 105 Ave is expanded for vehicle traffic to offset the loss of 104 Ave when the light rail transit is put into place. If you want to speak out against the destruction of the park, you can do so at

https://www.change.org/p/save-hawthorne-park

There is a petition on that page that you can join. The main part of the web posting is below:

Save Hawthorne Park

Hawthorne Park is a beautiful forested area in North Surrey. It is home to countless wildlife species and is an oasis for the community. The forested area is used by numerous people who enjoy its system of walking trails, and the park area is host to an abundance of social gatherings.

Hawthorne Park

The City of Surrey is planning to build a two lane road, with an additional connecting road, through the south end of Hawthorne Park. The road will start on the west side and exit on the east side. There will also be a southbound two lane road connecting the main road to 104th Avenue.

Project Map

Construction was originally scheduled for January 2018, but has now been moved up to late August 2017. This road is being constructed to handle the traffic that will be rerouted from 104th Avenue due to the proposed LRT.

Wildlife living in the forest will be devastated and several of the well-used walking trails will be replaced with two lane roads. No longer will we be able to watch the red-tail hawks fly overhead or listen to the barred owl at night. The roads will go right through their habitats.

Print out the petition and hand it out!

We need to preserve this forest for our community, for future generations, and for the wildlife living there who have no voice to speak for themselves.

Please stand with the community and sign this petition.

Contact me if you want to join our campaign team – stevengpettigrew@gmail.com

 

Temporary Discontinuation of Online Reporting for RCMP

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Temporary Discontinuation of Online Reporting

Please be advised that online reporting has been temporarily discontinued for all RCMP detachments.

BC RCMP is currently in the process of creating a new, improved online reporting tool that is anticipated to launch in mid/late 2018. Previously, we were using an external company to provide this reporting tool and that contract has expired.

An alternative to calling non-emergency, online reporting allows residents to report less serious offences online such as thefts under $5,000, vandalism, unsafe driving, and vehicle break-ins.

We look forward to being able to provide you with an improved online reporting experience next year. In the meantime, please report crime via our non-emergency number at 604-599-0502 (911 for emergencies). Anonymous tips can still be submitted online through Crime Stoppers at www.solvecrime.ca.

Thank you for your patience and for your continued support in reporting crime and suspicious activity to police to keep our neighbourhoods safe.

BLAIR BERKNER

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COORDINATOR | COORDONNATEUR DES PROGRAMMES COMMUNAUTAIRES

Surrey RCMP – Fleetwood/Guildford

10395 148th Street

Surrey, BC, Canada  V3R 6S4
T 604.502.6509| E Surrey_Crime_Prevention_District_2@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Non-Emergency 604-599-0502

www.surreyrcmp.ca

Highcrest – application was denied – success for Fraser Heights

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At a Surrey City Hall council meeting last night, the application by the developer of Highcrest to all but eliminate the retail in the facility and increase the density of residences in the complex was DENIED.

A major contributor to this success was the 92 people who showed up to sign up in opposition to the proposal, the 4 who spoke against the proposal, the 37 who submitted letters in advance of the meeting, as well as the hundreds of emails sent to council by our Community.

As a result, the developer must still move forward with the retail and commercial space that can become a meeting point for our community and provide a convenient center to pick up essentials.

Thank you to all who participated in making our Community a better place to live now and in the future.

Development on Barnston Drive that will affect traffic and the feel of Fraser Heights

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There will be a public hearing for a development that will affect all of Fraser Heights on June 26 at 7:00 pm at City Hall at 13450 104 Ave, Surrey, BC V3T 1V8. The proposal below, 7916-0037-00, will be on the agenda. The developer of Highcrest at 176 St and Highway 1 has applied to increase the number of apartments in their development, and changing the proposal to allow more residences in what was previously zoned commercial (for stores and offices).

The impact on our community will be a further decline in the look and feel of our neighbourhood, more parking on the street, higher traffic accessing the highway through Fraser Heights, and increased load on our schools. If you object to this development change getting approved, you should do the following:

1. Write an email to council member and the mayor opposing – see details below

2. Go to City Hall on June 26. You can go to the main lobby between 6:30 and 6:55 where a City staff person has a list for people to sign: Name, Address & tick off “in favour” or “opposed”. You can also indicate if you would like to speak and address council. At approximately 6:55 the City staff person will collect the sheet(s), count the totals & deliver them to the Mayor in Chambers prior to the Hearing commencing.

You can then stick around for the council meeting and hear what happens at the proceeding, or simply head home now that your position has been recorded. Note that parking is underground at City Hall and is free on Council nights.

Your email can contain some of the following – please use your own words, since opposing emails with these words will be classified as only one opposing letter:

Indicate that you are writing about the development at 9933 Barnston Drive East, commonly known as Highcrest. Note that you live at (add your address here), and are affected by the development. You can then choose to include any issues on why you oppose the application, and could use any or all of the following points in your own words.

1. The Parking for Highcrest residents is already insufficient, resulting in excessive parking down 177A street, which does not even have any development on the east side but is already overloaded with parked cars from the density of development already there.

2. The project was originally approved by council in 2008 on the basis that ”While the proposal, if approved, would result in the loss of some employment lands, it has the potential to trigger the development of a neighbourhood village centre with up to 100,000 square feet of commercial space to serve the nearby emerging urban and established suburban neighbourhoods.”. With the Surrey council recently approving more developments and housing as part of the Local Area Plan for east Fraser Heights, the need for a neighbourhood village is even greater now than in was in 2008. Will the City really reverse the basis of approval for the project in the first place? Our neighbourhood is getting all the costs of the project and none of the benefits? Only the developer gains, the residents lose.

3. We need a “village centre” in the soon to be highly populated area of East Fraser Heights / Abbey Ridge. This current development proposal now seeks to reduce the commercial from 142,000 sq ft to just 4,050 sq. ft., just 3% of the originally committed amount. The only ”village centre” in Fraser Heights is at 160 St. & 108 Ave. There is clearly a need for another in the Abbey Ridge area.

4. There was great opposition from the community to the density of this proposal in 2008, resulting in it being revised downward a number of times, over concerns of overcrowding and stressing the resources in the community including but not limited to parking, traffic, schools, and transit (of which there is currently no service in this area, resulting in even greater concerns on parking and traffic).

5. The bottom line is that as a resident and caring citizen, you are expressing strong opposition to this proposal. The development should proceed on the basis upon which it was originally approved. Council should not be approving increasing density.

You can send your emails to the planner, dnip@surrey.ca. You should also send your thoughts to any and all of the mayor and council at the following email addresses:

Mayor Linda Hepner: mayor@surrey.ca

Councillor Tom Gill : TSGill@surrey.ca

Councillor Bruce Hayne: BruceHayne@surrey.ca

Councillor Vera LeFranc: Vera.LeFranc@surrey.ca

Councillor Mary Martin: MMartin@surrey.ca

Councillor Mike Starchuck: Mike.Starchuck@surrey.ca

Councillor Barbara Steele: HBSteele@surrey.ca

Councillor Judy Villeneuve: JAVilleneuve@surrey.ca

Councillor Dave Woods: Dave.Woods@surrey.ca

Fraser Heights Community Association minutes, May 10 2017 meeting

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FRASER HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MINUTES

May 10, 2017

 

President’s report

  • Web site – fhca.ca
  • Ed MacIntosh, president
  • FHCA is a volunteer non-profit organization – we volunteer our time to represent the community dealing with issues that affect our community such as safety, traffic, development
  • The FHCA gathers four times a year to discuss issues that affect our community
  • FHCA helps shape policy and issues that involve our community
  • If you have problems in our community, please send your information to us and we will look into these issues (go to Contact Us on the fhca.ca website). This is our primary site to collect comments from residents about community issues so we know about them and can send them on to the City.
  • Membership is free. If you are not currently on the email list, go to our website and sign up (on the right side of website page).  You will receive four notifications and four reminders of the upcoming meetings per year.  There may also be notifications of open houses or events affecting FH residents.
  • Our Community Association mailing address is PO Box 74042, Surrey, V4N 1N9.

 

Treasurer’s report

  • Financial statement – total account balance is $2638.85

 

RCMP update on safety and security – District Commander Cpl (A/Sgt) Bob Keay was in attendance tonight.  He is replacing Laurie Clarkson who was transferred to Richmond.  He can be reached at bob.keay@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.  District #2 Community Response Unit 10395-148 St.  phone # 778-593-3286 – you can leave a voicemail on Bob’s number if there is something taking place in community that you want brought to the attention of RCMP and is not urgent.

  • Bob Keay is still in charge of the operations side of the RCMP
  • Number of residential break and enters reported in FH from Dec 2016 to Apr 2017 was 79 (Dec – 16, Jan – 18, F – 27, Mar – 6, Apr – 12). Feb recorded the highest number
  • Many B&Es occurred early in the morning, after people have left for work (9 to 10 a.m.) but midday and evening (when becomes dark) were also targeted times.
  • FH is a wealthy environment targeted by thieves coming from outside the community. It was very concerning there was such a concentrated number so extra surveillance was done.
  • Large proportion of B&Es were attributed to several identified individuals – 2 key groups were arrested so March number dropped significantly.
  • Your home should be visible from the street – clear away bushes obstructing view to home (thieves can hide behind bushes and break in without been seen)
  • Lighting – thieves will go where they can’t be seen so light up your yard using permanently lit lights that come on at dusk and go off at dawn rather than motion detection lights. Make sure the lights are high enough so the bulbs cannot be removed.
  • There should be a minimum of 2 locking devices on doors. If possible, secure the frame with metal plates under the locks which help make it much harder for the door to be kicked in.
  • Sliding doors and windows can be secured with a deadbolt lock at bottom of slider – pin that goes through (or an expandable pole to jam the slider)
  • Window – a wooden dowel or dead bolt are good but bars are the best. Problem is, in emergency, it can be difficult to get out.  Best idea is to put bars on inside so they can be opened in an emergency
  • Put timers on your inside lights and have blinds/drapes open during day
  • Install alarm system on your home
  • Install a safe that is bolted down for your jewelry/important items
  • Join or start a Block Watch
  • Have a FREE Home Security Assessment completed through Blair Berkner, Community Programs Coordinator. He can be reached at:  Surrey_Crime_Prevention_District_2@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or phone 604-502-6509.
  • Stay informed – COSMOS crime mapping http://cosmos.surrey.ca (shows crime trends in throughout Surrey)
  • Install the RCMP app on your phone
  • Subscribe to eNews
  • If you’re going away on holidays, have someone stay at / check in on your house, put timers on lights, have video surveillance. Thieves scoot fast if alarm goes off.
  • Leave your phone number with neighbour. If they see something, get them to call police
  • Sometimes the crooks have someone ring your bell. If no one answers, they go away and send someone else to break in or they come back
  • Make reports to police and to Block Watch so patrols and surveillance can be done
  • Violent crimes are decreasing but property and economic crimes are increasing (they steal your ID to buy stuff)
  • Pamphlets on home security and Block Watch can be requested through Blair Berkner (see above for contact information)

 

Surrey Parks, Doug Merry, Parks Planner (djmerry@surrey.ca or phone 604-598-5778) – Presentation on Off-Leash Dog Park at Fraser View Park situated at north-east corner of 160 Street and 112 Ave in Fraser Heights

  • The off-leash park in Tynehead is a Metro Vancouver property and is not run by the City of Surrey
  • Local neighbourhood parks are good off-leash dog sites as residents with dogs can walk to them. Often, they are a gathering place for the community – benches and possibly a kiosk will be installed
  • Fraser View Park was selected as the best option as there’s an open grass area and good sight lines into the park
  • To avoid environmental impacts, the area will be fenced – it could be one open area or separated for large/small dogs
  • Currently, there is no parking along 112th Ave on the north side of the street but signs will be removed if dog park goes ahead
  • All parks in Surrey are closed dusk to dawn and are not lighted. The dog park will not be lit but fencing should protect dogs from wildlife.
  • There will be a Public Open House May 30th at Dogwood Elementary from 6 to 8 p.m. (will also be on City Website – webpage for Fraser View Park)
  • If residents are in agreement, construction will start in fall of 2017

 

Development – Conceptual Development at 15950 & 15960 108a Ave – by Mr Pomy Grewal

  • Ron Gill suggested Mr. Grewal should talk to our association – he owns 2 full size lots on the south side of 108A Ave and to the west of the mall with Red Shiso/Esso.
  • The combined size of these two lots is 40 metres wide along 108A, 38 metres deep
  • He was proposing putting in a 2 storey building that would blend with the surrounding buildings/houses.  It would contain a preschool, daycare and family doctor’s office that may have up to 2 or 4 doctors and a walk-in clinic on the main level.  It would  also have 24 parking spaces
  • Maximum 50 children would be able to attend the preschool/daycare.
  • He will contact neighbours in that area, if this project proceeds to planning before the formal process will start
  • Property has to be rezoned to accommodate this project so he values the input of our community
  • Trees will be lost but he ensured the property will have trees planted once it is built.
  • Members concern: Traffic flow could be congested at school times.
  • Grewal stated that the hours of the daycare would be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. so children arriving would be staggered. The preschool hours may be adjusted so they do not affect school traffic.

 

Fraser Heights Wine Cellar – Rebecca Hardin Presentation (Rising Tide Consultants – rebecca@risingtideconsultants.ca or phone 604-669-2928, cell 604-314-0176

  • Breanna Paulson is the general manager of this boutique-style store in the corner unit next to Nesters in the Fraser Heights Mall (mall at north east side of 108 Ave/160 St)
  • They want to amend the current business zoning (they do have the licence) which restricts the sale of beer, wine spirits and coolers at this location. Residents have requested these items.
  • The store size will remain the same but would be rearranged to accommodate extra products
  • Locational guidelines by City – no liquor store can be within a radius of 400 metres of a school or playground (this law has been relaxed in areas depending on a community’s wants)
  • Customers are asked for ID (19 is legal drinking age). As of Jan 23rd, if in violation of age limit, customer is given a hefty fine.  Business owner must make sure they don’t make sales to minors or the store is also fined.  If this happens 3 times, the business licence will be revoked
  • Gov’t liquor stores, which contain all types of liquor, cannot be within 1 Km of a local licenced retail store (the one at Guildford is more than 1 Km away from FH)
  • The Overwaitea development at the north east corner of 104 Ave/156 St has zoning for a liquor store but there was no information about it at this time.

 

Transmountain Pipeline – update comments

  • Modification to proposal – originally, it ran north of the SFPR but now is south of SFPR and the train tracks. This will have a big impact on homes in the area as trees, acting as a sound buffer from the Highways, will be taken down.  Currently, there are 29,000 to 30,000 trucks driving on SFPR and many of them use their noisy engine brakes, even though signage states no engine brakes.  The only noise abatement residents in that area have are those trees as noise abatement fencing cannot be installed there
  • KM – submitted proposal to National Energy Board. In early part of this summer, they will arrange a presentation to the community to show impact on FH
  • FHCA will send out email in the early part of July to let you know where presentation will be
  • The Golden Ears Connector is now open with street lights every block

  

Directors’ Report

  • Amended Proposal – 182a St in East FH / East Abbey Ridge
  1. The developer got together with directors/residents and negotiated a compromised plan
  • There is a proposal for property near Pacific Academy for nine homes with large lots up by freeway
  • Highcrest Development on 9989 Barnston Drive East – information on this development could come in late May or June – FHCA will send emails. The planner is proposing to decrease the 130,000 sq. feet retail that was originally planned down to 10,000 sq. ft. and add another 40 condos and 50 townhomes.  When this comes up for Public Hearing, make your voice heard by going to City Hall and signing in prior to the meeting so we can show how many are in opposition to proposal.  You need to make sure City Clerk is there so when you sign, it is registered and will be delivered to mayor.  Note – this register is a City-wide document and anyone in the City of Surrey can come in and sign.  Once you register, you can leave or stay for the meeting.
  • Tree Replacement – Urban manager of forests has provided a chart (on our website) with a list of the tree plantings going on in FH. Let the FHCA directors know places you’d like to see trees planted in FH.  Currently, developers taking down trees for development must put money into the tree fund which covers all of Surrey so trees being replanted may not be in FH.
  1. Cedar trees planted along an area of the noise abatement wall have died. These will be removed and replaced with other trees and the City said they would be maintained.

  

Other information

  • FH Greenway from 110 Ave to 108 Ave/156 St – contracts have been granted and plantings will happen soon
  • Terry Fox run – the foundation is looking for volunteers in FH to help with the Terry Fox run in September
  • Landlords and Tenants – the Newton Community Centre will be doing a presentation by a representative of the Residential Tenancy Board on Wed 24th at their centre.

 

The FHCA meetings for the 2017/2018 year will be announced by July or August 2017