The Southlands development application cleared a historic hurdle last Friday but still faces one more.
After officially terminating the public hearing, civic politicians gave conditional approval to the Century Group's controversial proposal, many calling the plan a great deal for Delta.
Before final approval can be given, the application must go to Metro Vancouver, where regional approval is required to amend the site's urban containment boundary designation.
It remains to be seen if district directors are willing to derail the ambitious plan for the Tsawwassen site, which is zoned agriculture but not in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Last Friday, Coun. Ian Paton described the proposal as "an unbelievable deal" for the municipality, one that will add some much needed quality farmland to the inventory once drainage and irrigation work is undertaken.
Council's decision stands to end four decades of unrest for Delta's most contentious piece of real estate, which has been the subject of several high-profile development applications over the years. Coun. Robert Campbell said approving the Century proposal would end the uncertainty about the future of the land.
"It's not simply a numbers game when reaching a decision.
The numbers were certainly a factor to weigh in the force of our deliberations. However, the numbers for and against are only one of the many factors we consider," he said in reference to a five-day public hearing where a majority of speakers voiced opposition to the proposal.
"As much as some want to make it a neighbourhood issue and a numbers game, it is not. This is a decision that impacts all of Delta. This is a community-wide decision and community interests must be taken into consideration," Campbell added.
As expected, the lone councillor to vote against the application was Sylvia Bishop, who reiterated many of the opposition complaints regarding saving farmland, increased traffic and building on a floodplain. She also said the majority in the community remain opposed to development on the site, contrary to supporters' claims.
Saying democracy is dead in Delta, Southlands the Facts is continuing its fight, wasting no time in starting a new petition.
"As previously indicated, our best chance of defeating this proposal is at the Metro level who must consider not only public input but also that this proposal violates many planning principles of the Regional Growth Strategy and sets a precedence for agricultural land swap in exchange for development on farmland," the group stated on its website.
Comprising 217 hectares (537 acres), the Southlands, formerly known as the Spetifore farm, is easily the most contentious property in Delta's history. The last development application, which resulted in the longest public hearing in Canadian history, was by TDL in 1989.
Since then, the Southlands has remained a simmering issue, one which started to heat up about seven years ago when Century Group president Sean Hodgins began engaging the community on the property's future.
Following the concepts of new urbanism and agricultural urbanism, the application by the Century Group, which has owned the property since the failed TDL housing pitch, is different in many ways, involving 950 residential units in various forms and densities on the easternmost 20 per cent of the site.
The company is proposing to transfer 172 hectares (425 acres) to Delta, amounting to 80 per cent of the site. That land would be used for agriculture, natural habitat and greenways. The proposal also includes a market square. In addition, Century will provide millions to improve the land's drainage and irrigation for farming.
The recent public hearing, though, clearly demonstrated how the plan was a deeply divisive one for the community. Unlike the TDL proposal, which garnered an overwhelmingly negative response, the Century plan met fierce opposition but also had ardent support.
Supporters said the plan would create much-needed housing variety and boost a stagnating community as well as improve agricultural land that will be in Delta's hands.
Hodgins, whose father George was behind much of the growth in Tsawwassen in the latter half of the last century, was commended by supporters, who said his plan is innovative and thoughtful. Opponents didn't level criticism against him personally, but complained his company is nothing more than a land speculator that knowingly purchased farmland.
However, Mayor Lois Jackson described the deal by Century as "the most astounding" she's ever seen in all her years on council.
The idea was floated last Friday to put the land to be given to Delta back in the ALR, but CAO George Harvie noted the application must first be dealt with at the regional level.
