Further to Jesse Bell’s letter (July 23) and in response to the front-page article on the July 30 Free Press. I too am saddened and disheartened by the destruction of the green spaces surrounding Fernie for the purpose of building new sub-divisions.
Every time I venture out for a run or hike I seem to come across more ‘For Sale’ notices, land already earmarked for real estate development, such as the trails up to Fairy Creek Falls or cleared land, such as the ugly scar at the foot of Mount Fernie or the area around the old Coal Creek barn.
Unlike Jesse, I was not born and raised in Fernie but chose to live in this small community in the mountains that did not have the horrible, endless sprawl so prevalent in many North American cities. Unfortunately, Fernie appears to be heading in the same direction of creeping urbanization and encroachment on wildlife habitat.
I often hear of the need for affordable housing within the city but am extremely skeptical that these new sub-divisions are aimed at those individuals on lower incomes. It will be interesting to see in five years time when the houses have been built, how many are occupied year-round.
This rampant real estate development needs to be brought under control before Fernie’s beautiful surrounding green spaces are paved over with new housing.
R. Thomas
Fernie, B.C.