By Elvis Glazier - The Tsawwassen Area Plan committee has recommended that Delta’s municipal council retain the current agricultural designation on the Spetifore Farmlands now known as the Southlands and adopt it as such into the official community plan. The committee met yesterday evening for a final discussion on how the recommendations in their report would be presented to city council.The meeting had to be diverted to the main council chambers to accommodate the influx of people wishing to attend. The contentious nature of the proposed Southlands development has been a rallying point for the battle hardened citizens of Tsawwassen. Land developer, Sean Hodgins was in attendance as the committee deliberated over the parcel of land that his family has held for over 20 years.
A unanimous consensus couldn’t be reached as one member of the committee spoke out against maintaining the current agriculture zoning. Helen Kettle, who served on the Century Groups community planning team, was alone in voicing her concern that people in favour of the development weren’t being represented in the document. In the end it was agreed that staff would add a disclaimer to the policy statement:
“The Southlands: The existing Tsawwassen Area Plan has policies related specifically to the lands known as the “Southlands”. It is recommended that the existing land use designation of AGR be retained for these lands. (added)A consensus on this policy issue was not reached among Committee members.”
"While it is certainly a positive step forward, it is unfortunate that a single dissension results in a statement about a lack of consensus,” said Dana Maslovat, co-founder and spokesperson of the group Southlands the Facts. “Another section of the TAP was not unanimously supported but no statement about lack of consensus was put into the Committee report."
The Tsawwassen Area Plan Committee may have one more gathering prior to being struck but their heavy lifting is done. The document will now be prepared by staff and presented to Delta council on August 30th for ratification. It is expected that the public hearings will take place sometime in the early fall.
Are you going to have to pull this article too?
ReplyDeleteThe eight to one vote was for the additional wording on the Southlands issue as suggested by Mr. Konkin.
There was no concensus within the committee on the Soulthlands...never was.
Nice try Mike.
ReplyDeleteThe facts on this one are a matter of public record and I received further clarification from Thomas Leathem through Councilor Heather King:
"there was 8 in support of the Southlands staying as agriculture and one opposed."
The minutes will reflect this outcome as well. I do believe eight to one is a consensus. Of course anything can happen between now and the public hearings. There is a vocal minority opposed to maintaining the agricultural designation of this piece of land and I wouldn't discount their resolve.
As this meeting was well recorded and reported similarly throughout all the media outlets I doubt a retraction is in order. But, if the fact change, I will report it.
Always good to hear from you Mike
Why don't you ask the chair of the committee what the vote was on.
ReplyDeleteNot necessary Mike. The meeting was filmed and I received further clarification from staff and the vice-chair. I do believe the outcome would have been different if all the cameras and media weren't present. It's truly amazing how different people act when they are being recorded. I know the cameraman from Global was hoping for an all out war.
ReplyDeleteThis would be a good topic for your column in the Delta Optimist. I look forward to reading it.
Elvis, The Delta Free Press has done such a great job bringing important issues to our attention in an honest and transparent manner. You are at the cutting edge of a "New Media" that is forming around the world. The "Old Media" will try and thwart your attempts to publish what should be in the public domain. It will be difficult at times, but you have more support in this community than you may realize. So please keep up the important work of letting the light shine on what we need to know to make Ladner and Tsawwassen a better place to live and call our homes.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Nic Slater
thank you so much for helping to make this area a more transparent, honest and desirable place to live.