Dear editor,
I live on Arden Road. Two weeks ago we were informed by the developer that they were going to be clearing the forest beside us before nesting season begins. We knew at some point this land would be developed; we did not know that we would be so assaulted. I know the new bylaw allows the work to go on from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., six days a week, and 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Sundays. There is some motherhood and apple pie statement before the hours are listed, statements about quality of life, but those parameters are hard to qualify. It seems that commerce triumphs a community and its citizens. Our lives have been totally disrupted, we cannot be outside, the fumes and the noise make that impossible. My low grade headache has been a constant companion. I would challenge any one of you to come and spend eight hours in my yard.
I would like the bylaw to have an amendment that either the city or the developer/contractor must notify the community in a half-kilometre radius of the work that is about to take place one month in advance, either by individual address mail-outs or through an advertisement in the local papers. I would also like to suggest that council revisit the ability for this type of work to take place on a Sunday. Everyone deserves one day of the week where industrial-type work cannot be heard. I have spent a day listening to a skidder, chainsaw and an excavator, not very relaxing when I have work in the morning. My quality of life has been greatly compromised, I dread coming home each day. I cannot wait for construction to begin; that should be a real blast (sarcasm intended).
I would like to thank the two councillors who answered my email last Sunday, Rebecca Lennox and David Frisch. The rest of council and mayor were silent and that speaks volumes.
Laurel Hodgins
Courtenay