91Ô­´´

Editor: In reply to the article by Miranda Gathercole, Township’s first purpose-built rental building opens, (the Times, Dec. 28).

I see the need for this kind of housing.  The Murrayville community rejected the first proposal for this building because Murrayville is a charming, quaint historical area in which we wanted no major changes.

The Township revised the plans and we now have Murrayville’s first apartment rental building.

Murrayville is starting to grow at the rate of Willoughby. My projected figures will give a shocking view of what is to come.  Fraser Highway, going south to 48 Avenue and then from 219 Street to 221 Street,  consists of a three-block square.

Within this area, we have had the following developments:

• 2013 — Winchester townhouse, 141 suites, three and four bedrooms; two-car garage;

• 2016 — Heritage townhouse, 59 suites, three bedrooms; two-car garage;

• 2016 — Lexington apartments, 105 suites, one to three bedrooms; underground parking;

• 2017 — Belmont Condos, 66 suites, one to three bedrooms, plus parking;

• 2017/18 — Township Project 11-06-0205, apartment, 48 suites, 1 and 2 bedrooms, parking; Townhouse, 61 suites, probably three bedrooms and parking.

I have estimated that the population within this three-block area will increase by 1,100 people over this time-frame.  This does not take into consideration the school land that just sold on 48 Ave and Old Yale Rd. (extension of 219 Street).

What has the township done regarding infrastructure?

Roads — minimum repair over the last 20 years;

Street parking — a major problem now.

91Ô­´´ Memorial Hospital is designed for a population based from the 1990s or earlier.

There will be a need for schools, community centres, parks and dog parks, policing and firefighters. More important is the need for water.

Municipal planning, when done wisely, has the infrastructure in place prior to expansion.  It is all very well and good to provide more housing.

It is not good to over-build areas without providing basic amenities and while disregarding the existing community ambiance.

Carol (Callie) 91Ô­´´,

Murrayville