Development is just what View Royal needs

Re: “Clash of ideas on View Royal gateway,” June 20.

I was one of about six or so residents of View Royal who attended a conference call last week on the proposed Eagle’s Nest development at Helmcken Road and Burnside Road West.

What shocked me the most about the naysayers, predominantly from a small townhouse complex next door, was the NIMBYism espoused.

So many of the comments were familiar: “It’s too high” or “It’s got too many people.” And one person even asked: “Would you want 200 to 300 people living next door?”

With View Royal facing significant losses from casino revenue, the only option I can see, if we want to maintain the service levels we have, is to permit this development.

This is a good development. It’s got one-, two- and three-bedroom units, it’s got electric car and bike charging stations and a repair station, it will subsidize transit riders with passes for the first six months, it is offering a rebate for ebikes, and giving nearly $3 million in development contributions to the town.

The developer has consulted broadly with the community, and withdrew the initial application and went back to the drawing board because of feedback.

Two weeks ago I spent four days knocking on doors in every neighbourhood in View Royal and of the 40 to 50 people I spoke to, only one or two were opposed.

They understood what benefits this development would bring to the View Royal north gateway.

This development is what View Royal needs.

It provides housing options, climate change mitigation benefits, and a solid source of ongoing revenue for a municipality with a small tax base and a hurting casino.

Ryan Painter View Royal