There are many ironies in life, and I love to look for them. In Parksville, for instance, I find the names developers give their subdivisions deliciously ironic. I particularly love Cedar Ridge being built at Renz and Humphrey. Gazing on it, I think it should be called Clear Cut Acres.
Just up the road from it, at Cold Water farm, the only tree you can see left there is the iron one on the gate across the driveway. Even the eagle tree has been taken down. I can hardly wait to see what is in store for us there.
You may not be aware, but Parksville does have a tree protection bylaw. I know! Who knew? There are exemptions, of course. More irony! Developers are exempt. The very folks who hack down hundreds of trees every year.
The tree issue that the city brought forward, stating a survey showed we in Parksville don’t want trees, I found very interesting (Parksville subdivision bylaw eliminates street trees, The NEWS, Dec. 28). When challenged, it turns out there wasn’t a survey. Fourteen people were asked if they wanted a tree and when only two replied yes, that meant the people of Parksville don’t want trees.
Apparently there was also a tree “committee” that decided it was too expensive to have trees. I never did find out who was on that “committee.” Ironic, though, the folks in Parksville were credited with that decision.
You don’t have to go far in your hunt for irony in Parksville. I challenge you all to go out and find more. Plenty to be had!
Sally Soanes
Parksville
Editor’s note: The term “survey” to describe a canvas of residents was inserted into the subdivision bylaw story by the author, not by the city’s development engineer in the presentation to council. The NEWS regrets any misunderstanding that resulted from this wording.