Regional politicians went against a Metro Vancouver staff recommendation and approved the Southlands development Friday morning.
Metro directors voted 93-31 in favour of amending the Regional Growth Strategy to allow the Century Group's proposal for the contentious piece of Tsawwassen land to proceed.
There was much debate at the table with regards to the precedent approval could set, but ultimately directors believed the proposal was a benefit to the region as well as to the municipality.
Century Group is proposing to build 950 housing units on 20 per cent of the 214-hectare (537-acre) Southlands. The remaining 80 per cent would be given to Delta, much of it for farming.
Delta council gave the proposal conditional approval last fall after a five-day public hearing, but it also required Metro Vancouver's blessing to proceed.
Metro held its own public hearing on the proposal earlier this month.
