Who gets to live in Burnaby?
It’s a question raised by a delegation of Bainbridge residents at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Herb Simak and Salim Janmohamed attended council for a second time to present their opposition to the Bainbridge Urban Village project planned by the City of Burnaby just east of the Sperling-Burnaby Lake SkyTrain station.
According to the two residents, tax-paying homeowners are the most important stakeholder whose views should be considered in determining land use and zoning.
While there isn’t concern for the rezoning west of Bainbridge Avenue to Sperling Avenue, the residents are concerned about the east side, which is currently designated as a future planning area.
It isn’t a consolation that the area isn’t up for rezoning yet, said Janmohamed.
“That’s little solace to people who have decided to make this their long-term home, and are being told that ‘Well, we’re going to put your area on ice for now, but we’re coming for you later in the future,’” said Janmohamed.
Coun. Pietro Calendino asked the delegates what the city should do in the context of the widespread housing shortage and an increasingly growing population (Calendino said B.C. expects to see one million more people in the next decade).
Janmohamed asked in response, “Does everybody who wants to live in British Columbia, are they all entitled to live in the urban centres, or can they live where there is, you know, housing and space, like Abbotsford. Is it everybody’s God-given right to live in Burnaby?”
“Is it [the] God-given right of you to live in Burnaby? It applies to you as well,” said Calendino.
Janmohamed said he’s bought the land, built the house, and paid the taxes so it is his legal right.
Calendino said he didn’t think they should speak of entitlement, as everybody has a right to housing.
Simak and Janmohamed, who canvassed 108 homes in the area, found 66% of the homes were against the rezoning and further development, citing traffic, parking problems, and noise and risk from construction activity as reasons for their opposition.
Simak said it feels like an attack on the single-family development area. “Just leave us alone,” Simak said.
At least seven other Bainbridge residents also attended the council meeting to support the delegation.
Coun. Dan Johnston asked if there were basement suites in the Bainbridge neighbourhood. Simak said he knew of two.
The Bainbridge Urban Village draft plans a ground-oriented residential neighbourhood in the area east of Bainbridge Avenue, including lower-density housing options that could include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouse or rowhouse developments.
The rezoning is still in the public consultation period. The public is encouraged to share feedback on the urban village plan.
