The next scheduled SRA meeting is Thursday February 6th, 2020 @ 7:00 PM.
It will be held in the regular location at the Knox Presbyterian Church (403 East Columbia St.).
Posted in 2019
Posted in 2018
Due to monthly time conflicts with some of the most active members we have changed the meeting dates for 2019. They will now be held of Thursdays at 7PM.
These are the new dates:
Thursday February 7th
Thursday April 4th (AGM)
Thursday June 6th
Thursday September 5th
Thursday November 7th
Thank you, MSRA executive.
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted in 2017
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) is proposing changes to the Brunette Interchange that include big changes to Sapperton and beyond. Information on the project can be can be found here.
In response to the MoTI’s initiative to consult with the public on the construction of the Brunette Interchange we have sent the following email on behalf of the MSRA:
From: lukas hardjowasito
To: “Janelle Erwin” <Janelle.Erwin@gov.bc.ca>, “Jennifer Locke” <Jennifer.Locke@gov.bc.ca>
Cc: “Ashok Bhatti” <Ashok.Bhatti@gov.bc.ca>, “Minister Transportation” <Minister.Transportation@gov.bc.ca>, jcote@newwestcity.ca, bharper@newwestcity.ca, “pjohnstone” <pjohnstone@newwestcity.ca>, “Jaimie McEvoy” <jmcevoy@newwestcity.ca>, lwilliams@newwestcity.ca, cpuchmayr@newwestcity.ca, mtrentadue@newwestcity.ca, “Lisa Leblanc” <lleblanc@newwestcity.ca>, jlowrie@newwestcity.ca, lspitale@newwestcity.ca, “judy darcy MLA” <judy.darcy.MLA@leg.bc.ca>, “McBride/Sapperton RA” <mcbridesappertonra@gmail.com>, “Rupinder Basi” <rbasi@newwestcity.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2016 3:22:32 PM
Subject: Brunette Interchange Project – McBride-Sapperton Residents’ Association Official Position
Dear Ms. Erwin and Ms. Locke,
Further to our previous letter dated November 29, 2016, I am writing on behalf of the McBride-Sapperton Residents’ Association to express our Residents’ Association’s position on the Brunette Interchange Project as it has been presented to us so far.
As you know, at our meeting on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, attended by well over 150 residents, a motion was passed to request an extension of the consultation process. We have since received your response that this process will not be extended. Please know that we are very disappointed in this decision, and would like it noted for the record that we feel the consultation process thus far has not been sufficient nor extensive enough, as it was only based on four open houses that presented the same limited information upon which attendees were expected to provide meaningful feedback. Most specific questions and concerns that have been raised so far have been met with the standard answer that these are “conceptual, high level ideas”, and that specifics will not be available until after one, or possibly two, of the options have been eliminated, and a favoured option put forth for further consideration and study.
During your presentation and question and answer session with our residents, the issue of livability was raised several times by our residents, particularly as it does not appear as one of the “metrics” on your list. Ms. Locke and Ms. Erwin, our residents were surprised and dismayed at your comment that “livability means different things to different people”, and that, for you, livability means “being able to drive easily from Point A to Point B”. You stated that, as part of their feedback, individuals needed to define what livability means. As part of our community discussion afterwards, therefore, the following “definitions” were given, which clearly indicate how people interpret that term in the context of their neighbourhood, and the potential impacts that this project might have on it:
It is very clear from these direct comments from local residents that they feel their livability will be impacted by at least two of the options being considered for this project. It was also abundantly clear that they felt that livability was not given sufficient consideration as one of the metrics for the project, and that it should be included specifically in the criteria list.
Our residents’ concerns over livability will hopefully serve as a reminder that our neighbourhood is a long-established one within New Westminster, and, indeed, within the entire Lower Mainland. Sapperton was established in the 1860s, when the Royal Engineers, known as “sappers”, set up camp on the lands above the Fraser River. Over the past 150 years, Sapperton has become a thriving, historic neighbourhood and commercial district that is home to the Royal Columbian Hospital and Labatt’s Brewery, the historic cemetery on Richmond Street, the Brunette River, and numerous beautiful green spaces, including the Glenbrook Ravine, Sapperton Landing, Sapperton Park, and Hume Park, to name a few. Ours is a neighbourhood that includes a wonderful blend of many long-time residents and many new residents – including young couples and families – who proudly value its unique sense of history and community, its walkability and diversity.
Sapperton has experienced much change over the past 150 years, and is currently undergoing one of the biggest transitions in its history with the redevelopment of the Brewery District, the Royal Columbian Hospital, the E. Columbia commercial stretch, and Sapperton Green. We will also soon see a brand new school at the corner of Rousseau and Braid Streets, which will bring hundreds of schoolchildren into our neighbourhood each day. Ours is a neighbourhood that is not averse to change, but the residents of our area have a long history of taking an active part in the process and conversations about how that change occurs; we also have a long history of fighting to defend the unique characteristics that make up Sapperton, and fiercely defending against changes that will negatively impact the livability of all who live, work and play here. We recognize that if change is not managed properly, its impacts can bring long-term, and often irreversible, damage to the neighbourhood. Residents have clearly indicated that the Brunette Interchange Project, if not designed properly, could cause such longterm, irreversible damage to Sapperton.
Therefore, on behalf of the McBride-Sapperton Residents’ Association, based on the feedback from the residents at our meeting, I would like to inform you of our position on this project:
That after a reasonable amount of time to consider this summary and the answers to the questions, an additional opportunity for dialogue and feedback is provided.
We hope that you recognize the level of concern and anxiety this project has caused in our community. This was hopefully made evident by the presence of so many people at our November 22 meeting; it was noted by long-term members of the RA that this was probably the largest number of people to ever attend a Residents’ Association meeting. The concern in our area is that this project represents an existential threat to our neighbourhood, to residents’ livability, and to homeowners’ property values, and residents are determined to have their voices heard and respected.
A project that is worth, at the very minimum, half a billion dollars, must be done right, and in a way that involves full, transparent, and fair consultation of all stakeholders. If, as you stated at the meeting, there is no definitive timeline for this project, then it seems only appropriate that as much time as is needed be taken for extensive and detailed consultation to be conducted.
We trust that you will take our position and concerns seriously, and look forward to hearing back from you in response.
Sincerely,
Rnold Smith,
President, McBride-Sapperton Residents’ Association
Posted in Uncategorized