Even without answers, it was a good meeting

It seems almost contradictory, but Monday's five public meetings on proposed subdivisions in King City produced a number of positive results, even if it came up short in the answer department.

Indeed, it was clear from the start that there were going to be no answers provided, at least not that evening. The whole session was geared toward letting members of the public raise their issues and pose their questions. There were numerous assurances that these matters will be addressed in reports that will come forward in due course. That's fair enough, as long as those promised reports are produced fairly soon. We have to accept the fact that since we're heading into the holidays, it might take a little while longer.

But it was also refreshing to see that most of the people at the meeting were willing to listen to the concerns of others. True, there was a bit of heckling and a couple of side comments. It would have been nice if the people at the meeting could have been spared such gestures, but they are part of the process too.

There was a lot of passion as well, with a couple of people questioning the wisdom of dealing with all these development proposals is such rapid succession. The fact is these developments have been in the works for some time, and they have been moved forward by the installation of sewers in the village (evidently still a sore point for some in the community).

It is not realistic to assume that King City can avoid some development, and in the midst of comments made in opposition, there were a number of people who have been active in the issue for years making constructive suggestions and raising issues that can and should be addressed.

Such cooperation can go a long way toward planning the type of community most people in King City want.