Thursday, March 13, 2008

My Vision of Fulford in 20 Years - John Moore

A comfortable, happy, presentable, safe place with a rural, green “south-end” character, that lives in harmony with Nature.  Friendly to pedestrians and –yes– drivers too; a residential community with a quiet, older core and more dispersed surroundings, served by a variety of small businesses and community facilities that allow one to be self-sufficient locally and also to attract visitors from elsewhere; symbiotic with BC Ferries with a smooth flow of visitor traffic; extending around the head of Fulford Harbour from Drummond Park to Reginald Hill as well as a short distance toward the east. 

 

25 February 2008 

 

This vision may seem generalized, but it carries a number of implications that are more specific, for example: 

 

the core needs preservation but Heritage designation may be too confining 

there should be some expansion of commercial space, including gathering places, at least that allowed within existing zoning 

pedestrian walkways are necessary between the ferry and local businesses, extending to the marinas and the Fulford Inn area 

parking and wait space must be adequate for the ferries (passengers and staff) as well as for customers of the local businesses and should not break up the village core nor impede local vehicle and pedestrian flow 

Fulford needs to remove parking on Morningside and improve that road all the way to Fulford-Ganges Road, so as to avert the risk of serious consequences in the event of a fire or other emergency; there is a significant danger of further slope failure that would cut off road access via Morningside 

as there is presently no alternative access to the community beyond Patterson’s store, in the short term an emergency access needs to be established (best through Sunnyside)  in the longer term we need a regular alternative access to the village area.  The only prospective route likely to be acceptable lies through the large Fraser property  

any expansion of housing and commercial space requires an increased supply of water (but not necessarily a community sewer system) 

any development must take into account the conservation of the land, shoreline and marine environment  

  

How are roads, walkways, parking lots etc. to be financed? 


BC Ferries must be depended upon to undertake the main parking/wait space solution 

local parking could be integrated with the BCF development but requires funds from CRD 

road upgrading is a MOT responsibility 

Heritage designation is unlikely to be a fiscal solution 

other amenities will probably have to be tied to development any future medium/high density residential development will have to provide its own solutions to water supply and waste disposal.  To be economically viable, this will have to be of a suitable scale.  

 

rev. 13 March 2008 

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