NationStates Jolt Archive


One Town or Two?

Posi
03-04-2006, 07:28
Ok, this is about a fairly local issue, but I hope that people will still be able to share theiropinion on the subject.

The towns of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are considering merging into one town. The districts already share the same police service, school board, health region and recreation department. The two towns are also very close to eachother; you wouldn't know that you were crosing from one to the other if it wasn't for the sign. Minor sports are also shared between the two towns and are listed as from "Ridge Meadows," which would be the town's name if merged.

Some of the main reason's for merging are:
1. If the towns joined and applied for city status, it could get approved. This would be good for buisness (which make up a small amount of both towns).
2. Six politicians would no longer be needed and would be fired.
3. Pitt Meadows is cornered between Maple Ridge and two rivers, which limits its abillity to expand. Pitt Meadows is expanding very quickly and does not have much desirable land to develope. Estimates think that Pitt Meadows will max out with about 4,000-5,000 more people.

Some of the Cons of the merge are:
1. Maple Ridgers and Pitt Meadows are oddly patriotic, and think that they are much better than the other.
2. Would cost about $10,000 upfront.

What do you guys think?
Lunatic Goofballs
03-04-2006, 07:33
Maple Pitt has a ring to it. :)
GreaterPacificNations
03-04-2006, 08:23
*snip*
3. Pitt Meadows is cornered between Maple Ridge and two rivers, which limits its abillity to expand. Pitt Meadows is expanding very quickly and does not have much desirable land to develope. Estimates think that Pitt Meadows will max out with about 4,000-5,000 more people.
*snip*

This would be good for Pitt Ridge, (from a town planning perspective), as then the town would be forced to buid upwards rather than spread outwards. This makes the population distribution more condensed, and thus provides a better oppurtunity for business to flourish. Paired with the need to build apartment blocks (Injecting money into local construction companies), this will start off a never ending cycle of upwards developement (economically, that is, socially things may not be as peachy; with increased noise, crime, and pollution). I would imagine that it would be in the interests of pitt ridge (If they are indeed on a business boom) to remain independant, then absorb Maple ridge at a later date. If however, the business prospects aren't that amazing, then they should merge.
The Bruce
03-04-2006, 09:52
I would have gone with Maple Meadows, but I'm not some greasy counselor backed by questionable special interests and business groups. I’m not certain that the two communities are suited to merge, because the residents of one aren’t in step with the other. I know that there is a lot of cooperation between these two municipalities already, with a lot of services shared, so it could be argued that this is a natural extension of this trend.

This almost sounds more like a municipal hostile takeover as anything else. Pitt Meadows wants the tax base from the largely residential area of Maple Ridge to help develop Pitt Meadows. Apparently the two municipalities were one and the same for 20 years after Maple Ridge was first incorporated in 1874, but Pitt Meadows broke away (something I didn’t know until just a few minutes ago).

Wasn’t Maple Ridge in the Lower Mainland news a few months ago for standing in the way of some major construction agreed on by almost every other municipality for either an extensive enlarging of existing routes or building a new transit route?

The Bruce
Posi
03-04-2006, 16:20
I would have gone with Maple Meadows, but I'm not some greasy counselor backed by questionable special interests and business groups. I’m not certain that the two communities are suited to merge, because the residents of one aren’t in step with the other. I know that there is a lot of cooperation between these two municipalities already, with a lot of services shared, so it could be argued that this is a natural extension of this trend.

This almost sounds more like a municipal hostile takeover as anything else. Pitt Meadows wants the tax base from the largely residential area of Maple Ridge to help develop Pitt Meadows. Apparently the two municipalities were one and the same for 20 years after Maple Ridge was first incorporated in 1874, but Pitt Meadows broke away (something I didn’t know until just a few minutes ago).

Wasn’t Maple Ridge in the Lower Mainland news a few months ago for standing in the way of some major construction agreed on by almost every other municipality for either an extensive enlarging of existing routes or building a new transit route?

The Bruce
I really wonder why everyone is think of this as a hostile take over by Pitt Meadows, all the people I have talk to about this IRL have seen it as a takeover of Pitt Meadows.

This would be good for Pitt Meadows (from a town planning perspective), as then the town would be forced to buid upwards rather than spread outwards. This makes the population distribution more condensed, and thus provides a better oppurtunity for business to flourish. Paired with the need to build apartment blocks (Injecting money into local construction companies), this will start off a never ending cycle of upwards developement (economically, that is, socially things may not be as peachy; with increased noise, crime, and pollution). I would imagine that it would be in the interests of Pitt Meadows (If they are indeed on a business boom) to remain independant, then absorb Maple ridge at a later date. If however, the business prospects aren't that amazing, then they should merge.
Pitt Meadows actually isn't as infavor of the change as Maple Ridge is. As for building upwards, While Pitt Meadows has lots of 4 and 5 story buildings, the apperanceof large buildings would be quite surprising. A large high-rise could house more than 10% of the towns population. Also,there is alot of good, undeveloped land in Maple Ridge. Plus, since 5 times more people live in Maple Ridge than Pitt Meadows, the absorbtion would work the other way around.
Ilie
03-04-2006, 16:22
Do it. And pick better town names while you're at it.
Heavenly Sex
03-04-2006, 16:23
2. Six politicians would no longer be needed and would be fired.
That reason alone already makes it well worth it! http://assets.jolt.co.uk/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif
Posi
03-04-2006, 16:25
That reason alone already makes it well worth it! http://assets.jolt.co.uk/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif
That is the main reason I am in favor of it.