Crescent Beach property owners have launched a fundraising campaign to help support legal efforts they hope will stop the City of Surrey from "destroying the character of this historic and cherished neighborhood."
The GoFundMe – organized by David Mitchell – is hoped to raise $14,000, a news release issued Friday (March 21) states.
"The city is using its deep pockets to steamroll over the community, hoping we won’t have the resources to fight back," reads an explanation on the GoFundMe page.
"But together, we can stand up for Crescent Beach."
City crews have been busy in the seaside village in recent weeks, including removing encroachments from public property on Kidd Road and Alexandra Street to make way for a pedestrian walkway, which city officials say will boost safety and accessibility.
They've also been on Bayview Street, working to install railway safety fencing that council on Feb. 10 approved staff to proceed with.
The measures have led to protests at the sites, and prompted residents to band together to retain legal help.
Earlier this month, they asked a Vancouver lawyer to draft a letter to city officials advising that the planned walkway work contravenes the community's existing land-use plan – which, according to information at surrey.ca, "provides direction on the area's development" and "is focused on preserving and enhancing the semi-rural seaside village character of Crescent Beach" – and requesting that the city pause its steps until adequate consultation has occurred.
Residents also told Peace Arch News that an emergency petition was filed March 18 in an effort to pause the Bayview fencing work for 30 days to allow time "significant concerns" to be addressed. That effort, however, was unsuccessful.
City officials have stated that residents impacted by the walkway work were notified about it last fall, and that numerous public-engagement steps were taken earlier last year.
Coun. Linda Annis told PAN March 18 that the legal steps underway prevent her from commenting on the walkway issue. Similarly, a statement emailed to PAN and attributed to the city's engineering department cited legal action as the reason comment could not be provided regarding the railway fencing project.
On the fundraising page, Mitchell describes the city's measures as "unnecessary and harmful developments" that will result in "irreversible damage."
Funds raised – more than $600 was donated within the first 24 hours – will go towards an injunction on the Bayview work, followed by court, "to prove they have not been lawfully following their Official Community Plan."
Step 3 of the residents' planned use for the funds notes a legal precedent would be set by winning the case, the online information continues, "allowing all Crescent Beach residents to challenge unlawful city actions, seek reversals, and fight for the protection of our homes, community, and public spaces."
