Brookswood Development on 200th at 27th

I started talking about an article that was posted in the Langley Times yesterday on Facebook iin the Brookswood Community Group - here's the article - https://www.langleytimes.com/news/trees-traffic-top-concerns-in-fernridge-development-say-residents/

My comments were this:

It is a travesty that we do not have an interim tree bylaw in place. The TOL Mayor, Council and Staff should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for allowing this development under the 1987 OCP ahead of Neighbourhood Plans and for not protecting/replacing trees properly. Please vote for change in October 2018 to stop this type of reckless behaviour with our Community! #buildabetterlangley

The conversation went a little off the rails with both Councillors Blair Whitmarsh and Charlie Fox adding their opinions. When I sat back and realized that this Rezoning Application is between 2nd and 3rd readings and post Public Hearing I realized there was a problem so I wrote the following letter to the Mayor and Staff at the TOL (and copied the rest of Council):

Letter Regarding - Township of Langley Rezoning Application No. 100491 - Platinum Group / 2740 - 200 Street

Dear Mr. Froese, Mr. Bakken and Mr. Seifi,

I'm writing to you because I believe that the Public Hearing for the above-referenced Rezoning Application has been compromised. I know that the public hearing for this matter was held on Monday, July 23, 2018 and the application is scheduled for third reading Monday, September 17, 2018. I am of the understanding that once a public hearing has been terminated no member of Council can take part in or receive any further public information, as outlined below as part of the comments the Mayor reads at the start of a Public Hearing.

From the Public Hearing Agenda:

A Public Hearing is a statutory requirement under Section 464 of the Local Government Act, and must be held before third reading... During a Public Hearing, Council acts in a quasi-judicial role... It is important to note that Council is not in a position to receive any additional information on the bylaws following the Public Hearing, as dictated by case law.

Sitting Councillors Blair Whitmarsh and Charlie Fox have commented on and participated in a post on Facebook yesterday in the Brookswood Community Group regarding this Rezoning Application and a corresponding article that was written by a local newspaper. In my opinion, from the screenshots attached from the discussion, this rule has been broken by not one but by two Councillors, specifically Councillor Whitmarsh and Councillor Fox.

By doing so, I believe that it is very clear that they have invalidated this Public Hearing and a new public hearing now needs to be held in accordance with the Local Government Act. Hopefully, this new Public Hearing will occur when Residents of Brookswood/Fernridge are able to attend, unlike the original Public Hearing that was held in the middle of summer vacation.

Mr. Whitmarsh has been a Councillor for four years and Mr. Fox has been a Councillor for 14 years - both of them should have known better. I believe as a result of their public discourse on social media, they have both potentially left the Township exposed to legal proceedings with regards to this application.

I look forward to your reply in regards to this very important issue as well as to the rescheduling of a Public Hearing on this application.

Thank you.

Michelle 604-341-0211 #buildabetterlangley