Letter to the Editor

Well, Anmore residents stood up for their way of life.

So too are residents of Wildstone in Cranbrook standing up for their rights as citizens of the City of Cranbrook. It’s just a little value and principle thing that citizens off small town B.C. insist on:  Being heard; quality of life; safety; fair play; and something more important than money.

Despite a decision in 2021 against the developer trying to double the density on lot 5, contrary to the official community plan OCP, the very same developer is back on nearby lot 4 to do the same. It’s neighbour to lot 5.

Unfortunately, the developer has the ear of the city staff and council and the amendment to the OCP very quickly advanced to second reading. The residents of Wildstone were taken aback and surprised at the speedy progression by the city council.

Now the Wildstone residents are organizing to protect the concept they bought into; rural pastoral lifestyle; while benefitting from urban services within a few kms. The increased population density will disturb the nature of Wildstone forever.

Sure it’s a dirt country road. But it’s peaceful. And kinda quiet. It’s windy, narrow, no street lighting, mostly paths and not sidewalks. Geese and ducks cross the road slowly with their families. Just like the resident seniors. no traffic lights. No stop signs. Uncontrolled and uncontrollable.

It’s a different space and place.

 Deliberately so.

 Sought out deliberately by the homeowners.

Not so peaceful will be another 1,000 cars on this same dirt road with only one way in and one way out, with egress at a four point narrow intersection. McPhee hill maintained by the city? It’s gotta be the most dangerous intersection in Cranbrook. Maybe anywhere in B.C.?  With four stop signs, tight corners, pedestrians walking, no sidewalks, blind spots in all directions, blinding evening sun and a school bus stop all mixed up and  happening all at once.

 It’s a train wreck about to happen. Oh, and speaking of train wrecks, a real railroad track runs parallel to the country road and sits at the bottom of McPhee hill.

We are a community of seniors wandering around our peaceful rural community with walkers and scooters and canes. We cannot be playing dodgeball with a 1,000 more cars!

So far the city council plays the game of “not their problem” and maneuvering for new taxes from the developer. Playing both sides.
The development does not even meet the criteria of their own OCP targeting low income downtown area housing.

Wildstone residents said no four years ago.

What’s wrong with the city and the developer that they don’t get this?  Nothing has changed.  Oh, except maybe more money on the table.

Anmore, Cranbrook … developers and city halls need to start listening.

Lynn Armstrong,
Wildstone resident,
Cranbrook

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