The public hearing on the Southlands proposal began May 1. There's nothing terribly newsworthy about that statement beyond the fact it not only applies to last week's regional district forum in Burnaby, but also to the record-setting hearing that played out here 25 years ago.
When the Metro Vancouver board of directors assembled last Thursday to hear from the public on the latest proposal for Tsawwassen's most controversial piece of real estate, it marked a quarter of a century - right down to the day! - since the opening of a previous hearing for the exact same property.
It was on May 1, 1989 that Delta council embarked on what would turn out to be an odyssey, a 25-night public hearing that heard from over 400 speakers and received almost 4,000 written submissions. It was an unforgettable time in this municipality's history as the TDL proposal galvanized residents and the often-raucous hearing garnered international attention.
I don't imagine the symmetry of the dates was the least bit intentional on Metro Vancouver's part, but it does highlight the fact the never-ending debate over the future of the property has been synonymous with Tsawwassen for more than a generation. The issue actually predates the celebrated 1989 hearing by well over a decade, alternating from a simmer to a full-out boil throughout the years.
Now, however, it looks like a resolution may finally be within grasp. After the Metro hearing wrapped up in a day, and directors heard from more supporters than opponents, it's highly likely they will amend the Regional Growth Strategy to permit the Century Group proposal to proceed.
It's almost surreal to think this issue could be put to rest once and for all given it's been as much a part of the community's fabric as sunshine and ferry traffic. Tsawwassenites are well known for being fiercely protective of their quality of life, particularly as it relates to development, and the Southlands has long been that line in the sand.
In recent years, however, the line has blurred, primarily because Century president Sean Hodgins has reached out to the community in an effort to find that elusive compromise. The proposal now before the Metro board, a plan that has gone through much revision, still has its opponents to be sure, but is being looked upon by many as a way to settle the issue once and for all.
It's hard to believe settle and Southlands could be used in the same sentence, but it looks like that time is not far off.
