Tonight, I met some of the most friendly, diverse and interesting people ever in Sunset Ridge. They certainly have a lovely view. I was most impressed with the passion that I heard about the neighbourhood and the sense of pride and ownership people demonstrate. Almost every home has some element of naturescaping, and the ingidenous species used in rain gardens are hardy and well selected and assembled for water conservation. The neighbours are truly land and water stewards.
There were five main issues:
1. The lack of care of common areas by the Town and the developer-there are weeds everywhere and the little lansdscaping of boulevards that has taken place has been let go wild with no maintenance-this is not naturescaing-it is absolute neglect of common lands. There is debris in the ravines, thistles and other invasives everywhere and no matter what the citizens do, nothing gets cleaned up. Everyone just blames the other guy. I suggested forming a community association or neighbourhood stewardship group and those ideas were met with excitement. I sense that people just want permission to get out there and help take care of these lands. Erosion and lack of proper storm drainage management is obvious. Something needs to be done-enough talk and empty promises!
2. Speeding. While I stood there, five drivers went through a stop sign without so much as tapping the brake. I was absolutely appalled, given the large number of pre-schoolers who live in those houses. The Town should immediately get out there and give out some tickets and do so on a regular basis. That entrance way to the neighbourhood off the main drag is like a freeway! Speed bumps may be something to explore. Certainly the Traffic Control Bylaw needs to be enforced, and not for errant RVs!
3. Getting through Highway 22 and Highway 1A intersection takes citizens in Sunset Ridge anywhere from 10 minutes to 25 minutes during busy rush hour times on week days and even longer on weekends-they want some left turn lanes-so do I!
4. Using the storm pond for recreation-some citizens would like the Town to help them mainain the storm pond as a skating pond during the winter. Right now the citizens who like to gather there for winter events are told that they cannot skate on that pond. This is a wasted amenity.
5. Lack of proper access and no connectivity-any pathways they do have are finished with pea gravel so bikes and baby carriages cannot be used safely. The pathway slopes are too steep and erosion is rampant. 4th Avenue has been closed and is not maintained even as a connector pathway to the rest of Town.
There is a lot to be done in Sunset Ridge and yet, the people were interested in the election, telling jokes, welcoming, happy and overall optimistic. Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop and chat with Andy and me. We truly enjoyed it. I will be back.
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