What is the value of the Albion Flats and the agricultural land?
Is this where the “BIG BOX” stores should be?
What is the bigger picture? Environmentally and economically.
I hope to explore these questions and find the pros and cons of land use in the Albion Flats
Photo taken Nov 10 2008.
Hosta Royal Standard - Photo by Ken Hemminger
The month of May is a month of energy unfolding, with new growth…new garden plans and new plants.
The Hosta family is a diverse plant group of herbaceous perennials and for those gardeners in the Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows area who would like to include hostas in this year’s garden, come to to the Garden/Perennial Plant Sale at 12355 Skillen St., Maple Ridge on June 21st & June 28th, 2008 [8am to 1:00PM]
Hosta Wide Brim - Photo by Ken Hemminger
Planting time is now and easy care perennial plants should be on your list. Hostas, astilbe and ferns are smart choices!
The plant sale will be June 21 & 28, 2008 from 8-1:00 PM. Prices start at $5 for mature 1 gallon plants.
Location: 12355 Skillen St., Maple Ridge.
Hosta Gold Standard
Hosta La Vista
Another tree planting event…
….this time in Maple Ridge Park a total of 42 evergreen trees including Western Red Cedar and Douglas Fir. The trees were planted along the banks of the South Alouette River and was part of the many events of the Silver Valley Spring Festival 2008.
Between 500-600 people attended this event which included a fish release coordinated by the Alouette River Management Society [ARMS] along with a Katzie blessing by Willie Pirie.
The spring floral arrangement contest was enjoyed by all.
The 2009 Festival is now being planned
We thank the many volunteers and the support from the District of Maple Ridge
In 2007, the Mayor and Councillors of Maple Ridge created the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC). According to text on the website of the District of Maple Ridge (DMR), the purpose of the AAC was to review and develop an Agricultural Plan that would help conserve the area’s agricultural land base and promote local agricultural opportunities. Such a plan would recognize the cultural significance of agriculture and identify the industry as a viable contributing factor to the local economy.
Despite the sensibility of this methodical approach to developing recommendations for land use and the fact that the AAC’s work has not been completed or released, recent comments by some of our councillors suggest that these individuals have already made a decision about the viability of our agriculturally zoned land. In short, certain councillors feel sections of ALR-designated land should be stripped of its status and turned over to developers.
Instead of doing this, however, Maple Ridge has a great opportunity to show leadership, follow due political process and do its own due diligence, and stress the importance of our community’s agricultural land base. Currently, the District owns some agricultural land that is not being used for agricultural purposes, and it would be great to see an endorsement from Council that shows its dedication both to the Agricultural Advisory Committee and its work.
It’s time for our entire Council to “get serious” about the importance of the agricultural land base and to show our active agricultural community how significant its contributions are to the people of Maple Ridge, who will undoubtedly appreciate this approach when they recognize the value of this land fifty years from now, when it’s still being used for agricultural activities.
February 7th, 2008
On Thursday, the local “Maple Meadows Mommy Meetup” group participated in the first “Little Kid’s Tree Planting Day”. One tree hugger enthusiast, seven moms and fourteen children between the ages of 2 and 8 gathered for this fun and awareness-raising event. In total, 32 trees were planted at Crosses Cabin Park in the Alouette River watershed. The children (and adults for that matter) had a blast throwing snowballs, digging in the dirt, enjoying some fresh air, all the while learning a bit about nature and the importance of trees and actually doing something to help improve our environment.
This seven lot subdivision proposal at 28491 Dewdney Trunk [RZ/083/06] is part of the watershed of Whonnock Creek and the District of Maple Ridge have taken steps to protect Whonnock Creek and by connection Whonnock Lake. These steps include expropriation procedures of lands and the construction of a dyking system so that water levels of Whonnock Lake are maintained.
I do understand that the application reflects some of the OCP guidelines and has included some positive steps for “Rain Water Management”.
The seven proposed lots would need the following:
And then we have an impervious street surface of approx 9000 sq. ft. Total impervious surface approx 31000 Sq ft which is approx 3/4 of an acre. What steps have been taken to reduce this impervious area? These days you can use pervious ashphalt, brick walkways and patios and rain garden surfaces for rain run-off.
In the Executive Summary of this application the Engineering Department stated that, The lands to the east were recently subdivided and built on. These lands were subdivided over 15 years ago and since that time a higher level of awareness of sustainability is now reflected in the Official Community Plan.
The District had to extend the water system eastward to the Garibaldi St and McNutt subdivision due to a failure in a private water system [yes each home owner had a property assessment to cover these costs] However, at this site there is the BCIT woodlot between it and Garibaldi St [the distance is approx 2 kms.] so if a well water failure occurs in the future will this subdivision be a capital project paid for by the general public?
A significant number of residential homes located on these rural locations have suites [Whispering Falls, Rock Ridge] - due to the basic economics of affordability!
- Suites whether registered or not will increase demand on well water and septic systems so a Ground Water Impact Assessment Report should be required as all homes south of this lot are also on a well systems.
There is no provision for the densification of the tree and vegetation cover even though there is a housing densification.
The District should have a “Wildlife Habitat Assessment Report” as there is evidence of beaver activity in the South Eastern area of this property.
Beaver lodge in top center of photo taken 13 February 2008. Photo credit: © 2008 Ken Hemminger
If the District of Maple Ridge wants to protect Whonnock Creek and by extension Whonnock Lake we need to have more information for an educated decision on this subdivision application.
The use of evergreen trees for street plantings would be an opportunity to replicate the past evergreen-forested slopes of Silver Valley – Maple Ridge.
Acting as an enormous “carbon sink”, trees soak up carbon dioxide from the air, producing life-giving oxygen in return. In fact, a medium-sized tree generates the same amount of oxygen, as each one of us needs to breathe.
In a tree, ‘breathing’ takes place inn the leaf. Chlorophyll (the substance causing the green colour) absorbs the CO2 and uses it along with water to dissolve minerals taken up through the roots. After the chemical reaction is completed, the leaf releases oxygen and water vapor through its pores.
Because evergreen trees are not dormant during the winter months, they release oxygen 12 months of the year, so it would be wise to chose evergreen trees for street side plantings.
Serbian Spruce
Alternatives include: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’, ‘Green Arrow’, Weeping Alaskan Cedar, Picea omorika.
Alternatives include: Picea glauca ‘Pendula’, Weeping White Spruce (leader does not always stay straight), Cedrus deodara ‘Kashmir’ (broader than the selections above at maturity), Blue Haven Juniper
Leyland Cyprus: As recommended in the District of Mission – Tree Retention Bylaw.
There seems to be some choices!
A combination of deciduous and coniferous may also work in all development areas.
I think that the District of Maple Ridge should consider some of the evergreen trees as alternatives in our community.
As the size of our community increases, things that were deemed safe in the past are having an increasingly harmful effect on Maple Ridge, the environment, and, potentially, the people who live here. For example, pesticides, commonly used for commercial and personal purposes are showing up, with increasing frequency, in area streams and waterways. These chemicals are disrupting ecosystems, contaminating wildlife, and
Maple Ridge resident Maria Raynolds works with CEED, raising awareness about the harm that pesticides can cause and campaigning for the reduction of pesticide use for cosmetic purposes. Recently, Maria spoke to Maple Ridge Council about this subject, and she gave me permission to reprint her presentation on Growing Our Community. Read the rest of this entry »
There’s an interesting article up on the Vancouver Sun website discussing a recent study by UBC professor Michael Brauer. Brauer led a research team that investigated the short-term effects of wood burning stoves on air particulate levels in specific areas in and around Greater Vancouver.
Last winter, Brauer and his research assistants sampled air quality levels on 20 clear evenings (between 9pm and 2am). They found that, in certain areas, particulate levels were dangerously high — some places registered levels significantly higher than a 2010 target set by the federal government. High income residential areas close to the ocean showed little effect while inland areas like Surrey, Richmond, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows exhibited higher particulate counts. While Brauer declined to release the specific locations where high particulate levels were recorded, it was observed that levels were higher for a number of reasons. Read the rest of this entry »
Fishery failure declared for West Coast salmon fishery. A couple of weeks back, the United States Secretary of Commerce, Carlos M. Gutierrez, declared the West Coast salmon fishery ...
The CBC is Going Green. The CBC has a section of its website devoted to people and technologies that are dedicated to ‘going green’. There ...
Interview with Richard Balfour, strategic planner and architect. The Tyee has a good little piece that involves Richard Balfour, a strategic planner and advocate for smart, localized growth. ...
