A Sign of the Times - Anmore & SD43
Posted on | February 15, 2009 |
Dead end street - Don't clear cut the trees! - use the existing School property or a closed School
my letter
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Tom Grant
Superintendant of Schools SD #43
550 Poirier St.
Coquitlam, B.C. V3J 6A7
Via fax: (604) 939-7828
Dear Superintendant Grant,
I am writing to you today on behalf of not only myself, but the other individuals who mindfully signed a petition opposing the location of the new Heritage Woods Middle School site. We do not want to burden you with gripes and complaints, we simply would like some of our questions answered regarding transportation issues and the school. Thus far the cooperation we have been given has been less than adequate. We are citizens and neighbors of this community, and are entitled to answers regarding the infrastructure behind this project.
To this date, no one has provided us with answers regarding a traffic impact study of the area. At this point all we have is the speculation of non-experts regarding traffic patterns and schools. In my research regarding this matter and formulating questions regarding this matter, I’ve found that narrow streets are unlikely to provide ample room for cars to maneuver. Areas that are “landlocked” may offer few alternative routes into and out of the area surrounding the school, and streets that become one-way during peak school arrival and departure times may create confusion rather than resolving congestion issues. My question is, how are these issues being addressed?
If the traffic impact study hasn’t even been completed, why is the school district spending taxpayer’s money working through the re-zoning process when there is NO factual evidence that the area can sustain the additional traffic?
We are also concerned with the influx of population this could potentially cause in our area. In my research I’ve found that increases in the school population caused by changing demographics may lead to the use of temporary “relocatables” trailer classrooms that by necessity are placed in parking areas that would have otherwise served to decrease congestion. This of course would lead to overflow parking on the streets. In a previous school board meeting it was stated that this school could service much more than the 500 students we are being told now. How is this situation going to be avoided?
In addition, other concerns are:
- What are the main access points to and from the school (main drive, pedestrian entrances, side streets, etc.)?
- Where are the drop-off and pick-up areas?
- Are there alternate drop-off and pick-up sites that could be used?
- Where are the crosswalks and associated limit lines?
- What speed zones will exist in and around the school?
- Where are no-parking zones, bus-parking areas, bus-loading/unloading zones, and student drop-off and pick-up areas located?
- How many parking spaces are located on and around school property?
- What is the average time it takes to drop off or pick up a child during peak congestion hours (including wait time and time entering/exiting car)?
- How far is traffic backed up entering and exiting school at the busiest times (minimum, maximum, average)?
- What is the maximum number of students who could walk to school (distance is less than one-half mile or other standard by student age)?
- Do the children who walk to school live closer to the school than those who don’t?
- Has an alternative location for the school been considered, and if so, were impact analyses done on the alternative site and ruled it out as an option?
.
.
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For more information regarding the proposed building of Heritage Middle School please contact:
Village of Anmore - Anmore Mayor Hal Weinberg, Councilor John McEwen, Councilor Kerri Palmer Isaak, Councilor Mario Piamonte, Anmore Councilor Chris Sedergreen. 2697 Sunnyside Road, Anmore, BC, V3H 5G9
School District 43 – SD43 - Tom Grant Superintendant of Schools, Dan Derpak, Assistant Superintendant of Schools, Holly Butterfield School Trustee. 550 Poirier Street, Coquitlam, B.C. V3J 6A7
Comments
15 Responses to “A Sign of the Times - Anmore & SD43”
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February 16th, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
The petition mentioned above was not against the location of the Middle School but against the access of the Middle School being in our neighborhood.
Each signed sheet of the petition was worded as such;
“We the residents of Hummingbird Drive and surrounding streets petition the decision of School District 43 and Anmore Council to use Hummingbird Drive as an access street to the Heritage Mountain Middle School. We do NOT want Hummingbird Drive to be used as an access street for the Heritage Mountain Middle School.”
I hope to clear this confusion up. The petition is against the schools access, not the school itself.
Thank You
Nathalie Quinn
February 16th, 2009 @ 6:12 pm
I am just wondering who would qualify as such “experts” (regarding traffic matters) in your opinion? Surely, you donot consider yourself an expert and yet you post your research. Also, what experts have suggested that the new school may directly impact Anmore’s demographics? Certainly you do not intend to imply that the school would cause increased population growth. Such a cause and effect formulation could never be sustained by any manner of “factual evidence.” You must acknowledge that Anmore is growing with or without the new school.
February 17th, 2009 @ 8:15 am
Natalie,
Are these two positions not effectively the same thing? If the school can not be accessed then the school can not be built. Have you and your petitioners suggested any non-residential options for access? Schools are generally located in residential areas and so residential streets are of necessity used for access. I am sure that one of your children attends (or has in the past attended) a school whose access is residential and so it seems to many of your fellow citizens that this petition is yet another example of the “not in my backyard” syndrome that is so common in prosperous neighbourhoods. In other words,I will assume that although you and your petitioners agree that the youth of our community should be educated - you would prefer that they be educated in another neighbourhood so that the potentially negetive effects (if there prove to be any - a situation that can not be predicted with any accuracy) are felt elsewhere. You do realize that the high school that services our youth is adjacent to a large town home community on David ave. wherein many children live and play…It is a fact that the petition regarding access (signed by the members of approximately 15 households vs. the more than 400 households that are in support of the new school) is being used by its instigators to STOP the building of a new middle school that will be, when built, a significant community asset and enrich the lives of thousands of middle school aged children (11-14 years old) over the coming decades. Although this may not be your explicit intention - it is the effective outcome sought.
Cheers, Tammy
February 17th, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
First off this comment of yours is laughable, “You do realize that the high school that services our youth is adjacent to a large town home community on David ave. wherein many children live and play” DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH THIS COMPLEX TO GET THE SCHOOL!?
If you know anything about the proposed design of the school, which obviously you don’t, you would know that they plan on having two entries to the school. One being off of Herritage Mountain which in my opinion will be sufficient enough.
As for NIMBY syndrome, don’t be a hypocrite, this syndrome is in all of us.
February 17th, 2009 @ 3:55 pm
I noticed that no one ever responds to the questions being asked. Everyone simply picks on the fact that someone has an opposing opinion. Which mind you, is based on the FACT that no information is being provided.
February 17th, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
I’ll be honest. I don’t want it in my backyard.
I’m a nimby….otherwise I wouldn’t live in Anmore.
February 17th, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
Orlando,Thanks for answering the question! You are a bold soul.Natalie,
Wow - what an accusation! I am truly offended that you would paint all of humanity with a singular brush. Let me assure you that there are human beings who are firmly committed to the global community and who refuse to view the world through a narrow “how does this impact me” lens.
Regarding the singular access, have you ever driven down David at 3pmish? I really feel that your single access point suggestion is untenable which is why the access was designed as it is. (And yes, I have viewed the school plans)
Resident,
See you at the meeting - hopefully certain things will be made clear during the course of the hearing. Obviously, all grievances should be heard and addressed even if they cannot be answered with perfect certainty.
Cheers to your level head…
February 18th, 2009 @ 11:41 am
I have noticed that some of your quotes have been taken out of our school PAC meeting minutes and from our PAC school emails. Our email list for the school is confidential and most of the information on our sd43 site is password protected, I am sure you can understand why. We don’t circulate this list and the emails on it are to parents and considered private .I am hoping that the respect that I am offering is going both ways, Thanks , just thought I should bring this to your attention.
February 18th, 2009 @ 2:22 pm
Kerri,
Thanks for your posts.
All of this information was in the public domain and none of it was marked as confidential.
You may want to follow up regarding PAC minutes, as they were very easy to find with a Google search, so they are not being hidden from the search engines.
(FYI - The actual link is embedded within the blog post showing the website, and does not require a password.)
Please identify the specific info that is confidential in an email to me and I can remove it.
February 18th, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
I take it that none of the residents opposing the building of a new middle school in Anmore will not be making use of it, but will continue to send their children to Moody Middle or Summit. I also assume that they do not make use of any of the Port Moody facilities - not just the rec centre, but also the grocery stores and the gas stations, the police and other emergency services. It’s OK not wanting the school in your backyard but it works both ways. The school is a necessity to the ever growing population in this area, and while Anmore residents may not want it and are balking about the traffic and environmental issues, perhaps those in opposition should be condemning the new houses going up in central Anmore. It’s all those houses (plus the proposed ones in Heritage Woods) which are contributing to the need for another middle school, and in a few years, another elementary school on Heritage Mountain.
March 29th, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
[...] A Sign of the Times - Anmore & SD43 [...]
March 29th, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
please refer to these additional blog posts
More NEW Money FOUND for School District 43 … when is the announcement?
NO FIRE / EMERGENCY RESPONSE plan for Heritage Woods Middle School in Anmore
NO POLICING plan for Heritage Woods Middle School in Anmore, BC
More NEW Money FOUND for School District 43 … when is the announcement?
Summit Traffic Report - Try to avoid the 8:30 AM & 3:00 PM rush.
Heritage Woods Middle School, Anmore BC - TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY
INCREASE GHG EMISSIONS proposed by School District #43
Heritage Mountain - Enrolment Projections
-2- Proposed School - Requires Anmore Bylaw Enforcement Officer?
Why not re-use empty schools -2-
I’m PRO Education
Summit Middle high risk to get to school when it snows
a number of assaults, both within and outside of the schools
Condoms, broken beer and various items have been found on school grounds
School talk ~ about town ~ traffic/parking
city has a number of concerns about the planned middle school…
A Sign of the Times - Anmore & SD43
Port Moody Police Annual Report - What about the proposed Anmore Middle School
Anmore Mayor and Council to Rush Rezoning for SD43 - Heritage Woods Middle School
Dan Derpak Assistant Superintendant
Tom Grant Superintendent of Schools
holly butterfield school trustee
March 30th, 2009 @ 5:33 pm
For more information regarding the proposed building of Heritage Middle School please contact: Village of Anmore - Anmore Mayor Hal Weinberg, Councilor John McEwen, Councilor Kerri Palmer Isaak, Councilor Mario Piamonte, Anmore Councilor Chris Sedergreen. 2697 Sunnyside Road, Anmore, BC, V3H 5G9
Michael Rosen – Planning Consultant
School District 43 – SD43 - Tom Grant Superintendant of Schools, Dan Derpak, Assistant Superintendant of Schools, Holly Butterfield School Trustee. 550 Poirier Street, Coquitlam, B.C. V3J 6A7
Tom Grant Superintendent of Schools
Holly Butterfield school trustee
April 13th, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
Very nice site!
August 18th, 2009 @ 11:32 am
The biggest concern, and one that no one is mentioning, is that the assessed value of the homes located near the school will plummet.
Everyone wants schools but no one wants them near their house because it negatively affects the resale of the home.