Help SAVE Abbotsford Heritage Property Slated for Development - The Cooper Farm/Red Barn

Tell Abbotsford City Council to Vote NO to PRJ21-070-McMillan Rezoning & Polygon’s Development Proposal (448 Residential Homes) of The Cooper Farm/Red Barn property slated for Public Hearing and vote on July 25, 2022

“The proposal at this time includes transferring approximately 17.7 acres of land to the City (3 Parks), 82 single detached lots, 45 duplex lots, 26 rowhouse units and approximately 230 townhouse units.

The land being transferred to the City of Abbotsford consists of three parcels which are approximately 8.4 acres, .1 acres and 8.4 acres 

The above numbers are subject to change.” City of Abbotsford Planning Department

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The Cooper family have been farming the 63 acres on McMillan Road in Abbotsford for 94 years. The farm house and iconic red barn pre-date the arrival of the Cooper family to the farm in 1926. These structures and the farm have heritage, cultural and community value to Abbotsford.

The Cooper farm, it's red barn and the farm's beloved caretaker and owner until 2016 - Miss Kathleen Cooper (Miss Kathy to most) - are iconic and woven into the history of Abbotsford.  Miss Kathy was one of the first women elementary school teachers in Abbotsford and was an educator for 44 years. She directly influenced the lives of many Abbotsfordians over those 4 decades.

Miss Cooper took over the running of the farm after her father passed away in 1977 and ran it until her death on September 13, 2020.  Miss Kathy loved her farm and her cows - the “girls” - and took great pride knowing how much the farm was loved and appreciated by the neighbourhood.

As a working farm it employed many residents through the decades and one wonders how many liters of milk to the community?! "Cooper Hill" to toboggan down, a fun place to trick or treat,  a community greeting of "Merry Christmas to All" spelt out in white letters on the side of the beloved red barn each December and the beautiful rolling hills dotted with dairy cows – all iconic and priceless. 

"Ms. Cooper was a teacher and she's (Miss Kathy) still teaching us," she said. "I think almost every person in the world would sell for $20-million, but we would all wish we wouldn't if something meant that much to us."

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/reaping-the-rewards-of-a-simple-life/article18244922/

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We ask City Council consider the following points and Vote NO to PRJ21-070-McMillan Rezoning & Polygon’s Development Proposal (448 Residential Homes) of The Cooper Farm/Red Barn property slated for Public Hearing and vote on July 25, 2022:

1. Traffic concerns of citizens living, working and traversing in the vicinity of the proposed development with the influx of at least 2 or more cars per 428 homes = 856 more vehicles compounding current issues.

o   Vehicle estimates increase for those properties with suites

o   Local neighbourhood traffic congestion, especially around school hours

o   Lack of parking proposed for the development with suites with such small lot sizes

o   Access to Highway 1 via an already congested Sumas and Whatcom corridors with more development planned

2. Lack of school student spaces to accommodate the influx of new students from said proposed development. More portables planned for Margaret Stenersen this year. Concerns around re-drawing school boundaries for existing families in the neighbourhood.

3. Lack of recreational facilities for influx of new families from said proposed development. 

4. The environmental loss to the area is a significant one - East Abbotsford had a 63-acre carbon sequester, air filter and air conditioner; even though 17 plus acres will remain green space it cannot compensate for the additional carbon footprint to be created by Polygon's proposal. 

5. The greenspace, the cows and the iconic Red Barn provide many mental & physical health benefits to the community. The greenspace also provided a sound barrier to dissipate traffic and other noise pollution in the area.

6. That the density be lowered - comprising of bigger lots and more single-family homes with no allowance for secondary suites; this could be revisited when the surrounding infrastructure such as schools, recreational centers and roads exist to support additional residents. We understand Polygon is proposing less density than what is allowed by the OCP.

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Alternate Modifications/Suggestions: 

1.Retaining the 2 acres where the original farm house predating 1926 and Red Hip Roof barn currently sit. That said 2 acres be included as part of the proposed park "Cooper Hill" providing an opportunity to preserve the farm house or an alternative restoration.

o   With parking included in the design to "Cooper Hill" park it would alleviate street parking concerns and facilitate access to the new park and planned connection to existing trail systems.

o   Ideas for the 2 acres for community benefit: petting zoo, heritage site designation, community gardens, teaching farm, educational park for Abbotsford School board, playground for children.         

o   If preserved, the farm house and land could be rented out to the film industry as a prime movie location to bring revenue to the City of Abbotsford

2. Requesting Cooper Farm photos and documents be donated to The Reach/Heritage Abbotsford. 

3. Erecting a statue of Miss Cooper on an ATV traversing up “Cooper Hill” with a German Sheppard in tow and a couple cats a top. An interactive memorial where people can take selfies and children climb upon. 

4. Moving/Rebuilding the Margaret Stenersen location to the Cooper Farm and developing the location Margaret Stenersen now sits on. A bigger school is needed to accommodate the growing population. It would be a fitting tribute to have an elementary school located on the Cooper Farm as Miss Kathy was an educator for 44 years. 

5. Including a playground and water park on the Cooper Farm.  Miss Kathy always encouraged and enjoyed children to play and visit on her land.  

6. Including a sports field Cooper Farm; the field at Saddle park field is always busy with games and demand will only grow as the population grows.

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Tell Abbotsford City Council to Vote NO to PRJ21-070-McMillan Rezoning & Polygon’s Development Proposal (448 Residential Homes) of The Cooper Farm/Red Barn on July 25, 2022

 

Photo credit: Deb Lowell