RACETRACK TALE

The future of Colony Farm became a quiat issue until October 24
1990 when the Ministry of the Solicitor General gave a news release
to the press (see App. 3.-). Soliciter General Russell Fraser gave
the green light to the British Columbia Racing Commission to call for
specific proposals for a one-mile racetrack to be located in the
Lower Mainland. The Provincial Government agreed to assist in
servicing the debt of the developer by foregoing two percentage
points on its share of the thoroughbred handie for ten tears. The
deadline for these proposals is March 1, 1991 (APP. BS. & 3.4).

This announcement brought back all the fears of Coquitlam and
Fort Coquitlam residents about an unsuitable development being
located im Colony Farm. They argued that the problems created by
excessive traffic, naise pollution, soil and air pollution, and
increased crime all made Colony Farm the wrong place for a
racetrack. Mr. Gary Newman, the Fresident of Colony Farm Ltd. s
immediately began to claim that the placement of the track at Colony
Carm was "a done deal." (see APP. 3.5) A working map of the plans

for Colony Farm by this developer (see App. 2) reveals that Colony
Farm Ltd. would totally occupy the Wilson Farm with parking lots (1/3
or about 100 acres of the land), with barns and buildings for the
horses (again 1/3 ar about 100 acres), and finally with two tracks
Located at the narth end (1/3 or more of the land, same 100+ acres).

Surprisingly, and despite the fact that it would be difficult to find
much beyond asphalt and buildings at the site, the developers claim
that the land would remain in the Agricultural Land Reserve.

The Mayor of Caquitlam immediately wrote to Mr. Robert E. follis,
Executive Director of the B.C. Racing Commission, that Caquitlam
remained uninterested in a racetrack at Colony Farm (App. 3.4).

In the municipal election held in mid-November 1990 in Fort
Coquitlam Colony Farm became according to a number of the candidates
and reporters a central issue, and one that influenced the outcome of
the election as many Foco residents expressed themselves at the
polls. Residents clearly expressed their displeasure at the thought
of a ractrack in their community and overwhelmingly expressed the
desire to elect candidates who would work towards a reasonable
solution of the Colony Farm issue. AS with the residents meeting
held in October 1989, they once again made it clear that they wanted
Colony Farm to remain green and they looked to candidates who would

speak on their behalf.

What has in addition changed since 1989 is the ongoing
construction af the Westview subdivision. Hundreds of new residents
are pouring into Fort Coquitlam and buying properties that overlook
Colony Farm. One of the developers indeed has posted a sign that
advertises "View Lots For a Lifetime!" These new residents are
shocked to learn that the conditions under which they purchased their

properties might be arbitrarily changed by politicians and

developers. Mary Hill residents are reminded of the outcome of th (Tea

Delta and Richmond elections and think that they played their own
gmall part in keeping the Lower Fraser Valley green.

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