FRASER HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MINUTES
\nNovember 30, 2016<\/p>\n
President\u2019s report
\n\u2022 Web site \u2013 www.fhca.ca
\n\u2022 Ed MacIntosh, president
\n\u2022 FHCA is a volunteer non-profit organization \u2013 we volunteer our time to represent the community dealing with issues that affect our community such as safety, traffic, development
\n\u2022 The FHCA gathers four times a year to discuss issues that affect our community
\n\u2022 FHCA helps shape policy and issues that involve our community
\n\u2022 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.
\n\u2022 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.
\n\u2022 Our Community Association mailing address is PO Box 74042, Surrey, V4N 1N9.<\/p>\n
Treasurer\u2019s report
\n\u2022 Financial statement \u2013 total account balance is $2,727.97<\/p>\n
RCMP update on safety and security \u2013 District Commander Sergeant Laurie Clarkson was in attendance tonight. She can be reached at Laurie.Clarkson@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. District #2 Community Response Unit 10395-148 St. phone # 604-502-6500 \u2013 you can leave a voicemail on Laurie\u2019s number if there is something taking place in community that you want brought to the attention of RCMP and is not urgent.
\n\u2022 Crime stats (suspicious persons, B&E, theft from motor vehicles) were up from 2015 to 2016 (Sept – Nov). The lowest amount of crime was in Nov 2016 of the past 3 months.
\n\u2022 If you see something suspicious, call 911 or non-emergency # 604-599-0502 to report it or call your block watch captain who will contact RCMP (Blair and Laurie) You can now also use the new Surrey RCMP app to report incidences.
\n\u2022 Surrey RCMP have just released an app that can be downloaded for free. It contains \u201cCall Us, Police Station Locations, News, Events, Help Identify, Missing Persons, Most Wanted, Emergency Alerts and Crime Stoppers\u201d. It is worth downloading onto your mobile device.
\n\u2022 There was a request made by a resident, who lived in the vicinity of the two recent homicides, for more police patrols and asked if the city was going to put cameras in the streets (as Abbotsford has). Laurie said there were more patrols now but did not know if Surrey was going to install cameras.
\n\u2022 If you notice any suspicious cars, take plate numbers, contact RCMP and the police will run them immediately \u2013 you can do this anonymously but it is better to leave a contact name\/number in case they need to follow up later on.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Blair Berkner is the new Community Programs Coordinator. He took over from Heather Paradis, who is on maternity leave. He can be reached at: Surrey.Crime.Prevention.District.2@remp-grc.ga.ca or phone 604-502-6509.
\n\u2022 Blair brought a handout on outdoor lighting for safety and security (put out by bchydro.com). Motion sensor lighting helps deter crime and prevents concealment of thieves (especially in these dark winter months when it is easier to hide in the dark). If you call Blair, the RCMP will come out and do a home security assessment to let you how to make your home safer. If you put lights on timers, use multiple on\/off times and vary those times for the days you are absent. More information can be obtained by calling Hydro at 604-431-9463
\n\u2022 Project Iris is a registry for anyone with a video surveillance camera system so if something happens in your neighbourhood, those people on the registry can be asked for footage (they can choose whether to provide police with footage or not). RCMP\/City of Surrey want to put together a collective data base for residential and businesses who have cameras that record live footage. See information at City of Surrey website under www.surrey.ca\/publicsafety or http:\/\/www.surrey.ca\/community\/20957.aspx
\n\u2022 Contact Blair if your neighbourhood wants to start a Block Watch
\n\u2022 Don\u2019t leave your car warming up outside unless you sit in it.
\n\u2022 Alarm your house \u2013 windows and doors can be wired
\n\u2022 Jewelry\/cash \u2013 put in secure place such as a safe bolted to the floor<\/p>\n
Development \u2013 Update on Oct 18 Public Open House for Abbey Ridge (east of 172):
\n\u2022 Originally this area was called East Fraser Heights\/Abbey Ridge but FH was dropped from this name. Anything north of #1\/ south of SFPR is normally considered part of FH
\n\u2022 A year ago, the FH REC centre was packed for an open house about this area.
\n\u2022 At the meeting on Oct 16, 2016, Don Luymes stated that the density of Abbey Ridge was scaled back slightly from what had originally been planned.
\n\u2022 Since then, some FH directors and residents had a meeting with Canadian Horizons who have made 3 proposals for that area
\n\u2022 The area from 182A\/98 Ave has a 40 lot subdivision that has all RF 13 lots proposed (these are 8 to 10 units per acre). These are small lots with big 3 storey homes, most containing suites and have an extra parking spot along the front of the house.
\n\u2022 The 49 lot subdivision has 8 RF or slightly bigger and 41 lots are RF13.
\n\u2022 The community wants to stop this. We need to get as many people to go to City hall\/write emails as possible so these proposals don\u2019t get passed. See Surrey.ca for list of councillors and their contact information (http:\/\/www.surrey.ca\/city-government\/2999.aspx). This is just the start of developing that area so if this is allowed, it will set a precedence of small lots\/big houses for future developments in that area.
\n\u2022 The map showed townhouses on a site by the gorge
\n\u2022 This developer, Canadian Horizons, has spent the last few years assembling land in FH \u2013 they were proud of the RF12 in Morgan Creek they have completed (very small lots with large houses and suites).
\n\u2022 Stage 2 hasn\u2019t passed but will be going before council before Christmas. Please write the mayor and each council member before Christmas
\n\u2022 The City is only required to send letters to residents that live within 100 meters of a proposed development. One block is 200 meters so 100 meters is a \u00bd block in any direction from the site. Those selling their lots won\u2019t protest and often, they\u2019d be the only ones getting the letters. Let your neighbours and our FH Community Association know if you see green signs going up.
\n\u2022 Ed MacIntosh created a page of the information you should include in your email which you can get by emailing him or at www.fhca.ca.
\n\u2022 State you are opposed to the proposal. Note the proposal # on your email. Say you are not opposed to development but not at the density proposed. If you have ideas as to what you\u2019d like put in that area, suggest it (e.g., RF housing instead of RF13).
\n\u2022 These small lots could devalue the property values of existing homes in the area.
\n\u2022 The townhomes at High Crest are still being constructed \u2013 these will have a heavy impact on our community as well.
\n\u2022 Abbey Ridge children would be in the Bothwell catchment area. Bothwell does have some space for new elementary students but not at the density proposed by all the developments going into this area. Fraser Heights Secondary School is 40% over capacity and has multiple portables on site (and this is after an extension to the school). The school population figures were as of Nov 2016 \u2013 the total capacity may not be correct as class sizes will be reduced as per the Supreme Court of Canada ruling which will come into effect in 2017 Sept.<\/p>\n
SCHOOL \/ CAPACITY \/ ENROLMENT \/ (UNDER) OVER
\nBothwell \/ 315 \/ 210 \/(105)
\nDogwood \/ 490 \/ 367 \/ (123)
\nErma Stephenson \/ 415 \/ 463 \/ 48
\nFraser Wood \/ 528 \/ 528 \/ 0
\nFraser Hts Secondary \/ 1000 \/ 1405 \/ 405<\/p>\n
List of Developments:
\n\u2022 5 new developments have passed 3rd reading at City Hall this year
\n\u2022 All were RF subdivisions \u2013 total of 43 homes
\n\u2022 Council meeting on Monday Dec 5th (advertised in Now paper this past Thursday) \u2013 the revised Parkview Place proposal is up for final reading and will most likely pass. It originally was full of RF12s a year ago but residents sent letters and showed up at public hearings to get the density decreased. There are now 58 lots \u2013 density 5.14 units per acre.
\n\u2022 11 RF homes had already been passed
\n\u2022 Note, with all the development in the Parkview Place area, there will be around 99 homes which will make it fairly densely populated with limited access.<\/p>\n
Trans Mountain pipeline:
\n\u2022 Meeting at Holiday Inn at Guildford on December 1, 6 to 8 p.m. to show proposed routes.
\n\u2022 They are staying to the Perimeter Road side, will jump up one of the hills and then back down<\/p>\n
Traffic Circle (108 Ave\/156 St) Public Art presentation by Liane Davidson (Visual and Community Art Manager):
\n\u2022 Surrey Public Art was established in 1998 (see website www.surrey.ca\/publicart or http:\/\/www.surrey.ca\/culture-recreation\/1653.aspx) and is put on City land, usually in a high traffic area so will be seen by many. There is a map online of all public art in Surrey and a page on Guildford\/FH on the site. Public art is at 152 St\/Lincoln Dr (north end of Aquatic Centre) to welcome those coming off the Port Mann Bridge into Surrey.
\n\u2022 It is funded by taking 1.25% of hard construction costs when building new civic facilities, not from public taxes.
\n\u2022 Public art is guided\/selected by residents
\n\u2022 In 2006, there was a recommendation for art in the traffic circle at 108 Ave\/158 St but no money was available at that time. Instead, a tree was planted in that circle.
\n\u2022 $90,000 was budgeted for public art at 108 Ave\/156 St a year ago and an infrastructure was installed in the traffic circle to support the art. The project is on hold to allow the community time to think about it. Planting a big tree is not an option for this roundabout as there are too many services running under the circle that could be compromised by a tree.
\n\u2022 Artwork that sits high above a traffic circle helps identify a roundabout is ahead. It is lit at night with soft light.
\n\u2022 Although the Public Art was recommended for the roundabout, it is possible to suggest other sites as long as they are on City land. There is a structure already inside the FH Rec Centre.
\n\u2022 104 Ave\/160 St is also a FH Gateway but it is provincial land so the City cannot place art there.
\n\u2022 If you have ideas on other locations in FH for public art, contact Liane
\n\u2022 Art Themes our community might like to explore could be about transportation past and present, nature, Circle of Connection etc., (as we are like an island between two Hwys (#1 and #17 or SFPR).
\n\u2022 Multipurpose Room 5 is reserved at Rec centre for Tues Jan 10th, at 7 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss sites and locations and what type of art for the Public Art in FH<\/p>\n
Fraser Heights Pond Planting presentation by Tamsin Baker:
\n\u2022 Tamsin Baker is the Stewardship Coordinator of the South Coast Conservation Program which facilitates the conservation of species and ecological communities that are at risk. They can be contacted at www.sccp.ca, on Facebook or contact them directly at info@sccp.ca
\n\u2022 BC Conservation Data Centre \u2013 their guide shows how various species are doing \u2013 red is for endangered or threatened, blue is to keep an eye on, yellow \u2013 the species is OK
\n\u2022 Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC)
\n\u2022 Development and changes in landscape are the biggest threats to animals\/plants
\n\u2022 Rare Critters of FH:
\na) Fraser Glen Pond at Fraser Glen Dr and 104 Ave has the Pacific Water Shrew (an insectivore). These little pointed-nose rodents are federally endangered. They exist in only 25 locations in Canada. They like to hunt for insects in the water. Hairs on their feet allow them to run across the water really quickly (also called Jesus Shrew). To capture prey, they blow bubbles
\nb) Pacific Great Blue Heron is a species of special concern. They may stand along pond feeding or may nesting there. Their nests are protected by law. Give them a lot of space and do not disturb.
\nc) Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly \u2013 It is found from July to Nov
\nd) Anderson\u2019s Water Boatman \u2013 swims in the water. Its hind legs look like oars and it eats plants by injecting a straw-like structure into the plant, injecting digestive enzymes then sucking up the juices formed.
\n\u2022 City of Surrey is onboard with the various projects of planting native species and removing invasive species (such as blackberry). In 2015, part of the southern side of Fraser Glen Pond was planted along with BCIT student volunteers. A March 2016 planting had the help of high school student volunteers. At last month\u2019s planting, it poured with rain but many volunteers helped and 400 plants were put into ground that day. The City supplies the tools, plants and food for the volunteers.
\n\u2022 There will be more work parties for this pond – the dates are to be determined.
\n\u2022 There is a Nature Stewards program that can help residents to improve their own property using native plants (may even get some free plants). For information on this, contact Tamsin at tamsin@sccp.ca, 604-202-2381, or www.sccp.ca
\n\u2022 Beavers still exits at the pond \u2013 new plantings have been fenced so beavers don\u2019t eat them<\/p>\n
The upcoming FHCA meetings for the 2016\/2017 year will be:
\nWednesday, February 22, 2017
\nWednesday May 10, 2017<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FRASER HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MINUTES November 30, 2016 President\u2019s report \u2022 Web site \u2013 www.fhca.ca \u2022 Ed MacIntosh, president \u2022 FHCA is a volunteer non-profit organization \u2013 we volunteer our time to represent the community dealing with issues that affect … Continue reading