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Unwelcome densification is unacceptable

White Rock - The Editor, Re: "White Rock: Should It Stay or Should it Go?" the Now, July 24 How appropriate White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin spoke about development continuing unfettered in White Rock. He is the champion of the pro-developer clique on council and politicians tend to serve first contributors to their campaigns.

Without contributions received from developer interests, this career local public service bureaucrat may not have been elected as rookie mayor in his first campaign.But suggesting that White Rock is committed to "another 8,000 residents in the next 30 years," Baldwin neglected to mention that White Rock's support to this strategy, quoting city records, is "not binding" and the 8,000 number is only a projection.Attempting to justify relentless densification in White Rock "whether we want it or not," Baldwin alludes to a document found as Amendment 10 to the OCP.Baldwin has never been regarded an OCP advocate, preferring instead to dismiss it as mere guidelines whenever the public demands to stick with the OCP.The OCP contains no general plan keeping future high rises north of Thrift Avenue. Nor does the OCP designate an area as the town centre in the apartment zones which is where Baldwin suggests growth best be put.The best suggestion is for the city first to openly and transparently engage the public, heed public wishes and follow the OCP.Unwelcome, uncontrolled development and ill thought, unnecessary densification of our community is unacceptable.The November election will be the next real opportunity for us to say what we want for White Rock.Let's use it well.Dennis LypkaWhite Rock