Info session and public hearing on 240th St development

A controversial development proposal is coming up for Public Hearing this Tuesday, June 15 at 7 p.m. 

If passed, the new subdivision will see more than 25 homes built along the south bank of the Alouette River at 240th Street. While some of the land will be protected as wild space, the overall density of the new homes at this location is raising serious concerns about the effects on the health of the Alouette River and the salmon stocks that rely on it.

On Monday, June 14 at 7 p.m. the Maple Ridge Climate Hub is hosting an online information session to learn more about environmental concerns over the proposed development.  Cheryl Ashlie, past president of the Alouette River Management Society, will present the ARMS perspective. 

Register for the online info session

Participate in the Public Hearing

Controversy, climate, and reconciliation

Environmental concerns are not the only issue coming to light with this development proposal. The controversy over the proposal, the process and the upcoming Public Hearing has revealed a startling omission. 

The planned development is located along the Alouette River, which lies in the heart of the unceded territory of the Katzie First Nation and provides the foundation for many Aboriginal rights, including title. 

In spite of this fact, the City has indicated that they did not and do not feel it is necessary to consult with Katzie on the development. 

Read why this matters, and how it's related to climate action, in our latest blog post.

Green Infrastructure speaker series 

Green Infrastructure is a strategically planned network of natural, semi-natural and artificial areas that deliver a wide range of ecosystem services.

Green infrastructure can include:

• natural areas such as woodlands, wetlands or meadows
• semi-natural spaces such as parks, public gardens, hedges or agricultural fields
• artificial features built to enhance ecosystem services or assist wildlife movement, such as green roofs and walls or eco-bridges and fish ladders  

The services green infrastructure provide range from stormwater management, flood control, air quality and water purification, to space for recreation. Multiple services are often delivered simultaneously and at a fraction of the cost of built infrastructure.

Increasingly we understand the important role Green Infrastructure can play in combatting and adapting to climate change. 

As part of the City of Maple Ridge’s work on its first Green Infrastructure Strategy, they are recording a speaker series featuring experts on topics such as "Designing Healthy Communities" and "Urban Forest Planning."

The recordings can be accessed on the Green Infrastructure Committee’s YouTube channel. So far there are three recordings, and more will be added as the series progresses.  

Feel free to forward

At this critical time in the race to combat climate change, it's crucial that we stand together and act in big and small ways to move our community to a low-emissions future.   

You can take one simple step today: forward this newsletter to friends and family members, neighbours and co-workers. One of the most effective ways to fight climate change is simply to talk about it. By sending this newsletter out into your world, you are talking about it, and helping others join the conversation. 

Sustainably yours,

The Maple Ridge Climate Hub team