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Metro hearing on Southlands wraps in a day

Speakers limited to three minutes as regional district hears pros and cons of Southlands development plan
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The Metro Vancouver board heard from 73 speakers last Thursday.

It's now going to be up to Metro Vancouver's board of directors to decide the fate of the Southlands development plan.

An overflow crowd jammed the regional district's headquarters in Burnaby last Thursday for a public hearing and, by mid-afternoon, 73 speakers had made a presentation. Metro had a second day scheduled for Friday if needed, but heard from everyone on the first day, due in part to a threeminute limit per speaker.

The majority of the first 50 or so were in favour of the application to amend the Regional Growth Strategy, many wearing the green T-shirts that have come to symbolize support for the Century Group proposal.

Opponents, some voicing anger at the speaking time limit as well as time of the hearing, began to outnumber supporters later on, many insisting the application doesn't comply with regional objectives.

Century Group is proposing to build 950 housing units on 20 per cent of the 214-hectare (537-acre) Tsawwassen property. The remaining 80 per cent would be given to Delta, much of it for farming.

The Century proposal went through a five-day municipal public hearing last fall before getting conditional approval from Delta council. Delta then made an application to the regional district to amend the Regional Growth Strategy.

Architect Patrick Cotter, retained by Century Group to design the housing component, noted the process to get to this point was the result of an unprecedented level of community engagement.

Helen Kettle echoed that view, saying the proposal represents the best possible use of the land.

"There are many advantages to the Southlands development that will have a positive impact on the local community and set an example to other areas of Metro where similar land use issues arise," Kettle said.

Several opponents said Metro would be setting a dangerous precedent by allowing housing on farmland in exchange for land being given to local government.

"The risks of saying yes are far greater than the supposed benefits that will be derived," said Richard Kunz of Southlands the Facts. "I urge you to say no to this application and preserve the integrity of the Regional Growth Strategy and the Tsawwassen Area Plan and the majority opinion of the community."

Susan Jones noted the important environmental attributes of the land, saying wildlife is compatible with farmland but not high-density housing.

Delta Coun. Sylvia Bishop, the only council member to vote against the plan last fall, also spoke, saying Delta already has enough housing and more is to come with development at the Tsawwassen First Nation.

Brent Kelly, a farmer who has worked part of the Southlands for several years, described irrigation and drainage problems, resulting in a $75,000 potato crop loss last year.

Farmer Peter Guichon described the proposal as "a no-brainer for agriculture" in that the owner would provide drainage and irrigation upgrades to what's been a historically difficult site to farm, putting hundreds of much-needed acres into production.

Urban farming advocate and author Michael Ableman, noting he normally opposes development on farmland, said it's an opportunity to increase regional food security.

Patrick Condon with the UBC School of Agriculture said the plan is a worthy pilot project, one that could result in a new movement for preserving farmland.

Also speaking in favour, Kelly Guichon said Tsawwassen lacks housing types to attract young families, and that the application is an innovative, community-minded plan.

Another speaker said a sign reading "geriatric detour" should be installed at the entrance to town.

Several speakers from both sides claimed they were speaking for the majority, an argument also heard during last fall's Delta hearing. The community's division was again evident at the Metro hearing, a point noted by some of the speakers.

The Metro board will accept written submissions until Friday. Over 500 have already been received.

The board could vote on the proposal at its next meeting, which is set for Friday, May 23.