Many view the pending developments at the Tsawwassen First Nation in a negative light given the traffic they'll generate, the farmland they'll cover and the general congestion they'll bring to our little slice of paradise.
Despite these legitimate apprehensions, I've noticed on a couple of occasions, and perhaps there have been others, where civic types have found a silver lining to what's being planned by the TFN, believing the projects could actually come in handy in development-averse Delta.
During the recent debate over how to revitalize the Ladner waterfront, it was mentioned that we might be able to capitalize on the thousands of shoppers that will soon be flocking to the pair of mega malls to be constructed on TFN land.
There isn't enough, at least not yet, to prompt outsiders to make a specific trip to the harbour, but since all these disposable income-packing shoppers will be in our midst anyway, maybe we could convince some of them to make a small detour. Yes, it could well be wishful thinking, particularly given the dearth of attractions at the waterfront at present, but it's telling how the oft-feared TFN malls can also be looked upon in a different light.
The same thing happened a couple of years ago when civic officials were struggling to diversify the housing choices in Tsawwassen. Recognizing the community is too single-family centric, an idea was floated to upzone a neighbourhood in order to introduce more variety, but that proposal was quickly turfed amid public uproar.
Without another viable answer to bring more variety to the community's housing stock, one high-ranking municipal official opined that perhaps what was slated to be built by the TFN might satisfy the needs of those who were left wanting by the choices in Tsawwassen.
It seemed like a bit of a cop out, but it underscored how what's taking place with our First Nation neighbours might actually - gasp! - provide some benefits on this side of the equation.
That's not to say it's all rosy with the housing and mega malls now in the works. They will transform pastoral acreage and, in the case of the malls, create a destination, save for the ferry terminal, the likes of which has never been seen around here.
There's absolutely no doubt that what's going on down at the Tsawwassen First Nation will change the landscape of this area forever, but that doesn't mean, if you listen closely, we can't take advantage of the situation.
