Delta council this week deferred an application by the provincial government to subdivide a parcel of agriculturally designated land in Brunswick Point.
Once occupied by the Brunswick Cannery, the 1.67 (four-acre) site is known as the "wedge parcel" and is surrounded by Canoe Pass to the north and agricultural uses to the west, south and east.
The province wants to subdivide the parcel, where no farming is currently taking place, into two lots, but no building or site improvements are planned.
One of the new lots would be an upland portion and, according to a staff report, the province's intention is to dispose of this lot. The Tsawwassen First Nation has first right of refusal to buy the property.
The second lot, which is partially under water, would be retained by the province, thereby ensuring sensitive environmental habitat along the shoreline would be protected, the report states. Although the application received the support of Delta staff, as well as the Agricultural Land Commission, Delta civic politicians held off making a decision until provincial representatives can appear to respond to questions from concerned residents.
Council has recently received several letters from people opposed, many concerned about what the TFN would do there if the First Nation decides to purchase the site.
At least one letter writer noted the parcel that would be sold off is too small to be a viable farm, thus it's clear some sort of development would take place on the valuable habitat.
A public notice sign was installed on the property last month, prompting an area resident to complain the municipality was trying to sneak the application through during mid-summer, when many may not be aware of it taking place.
If Delta council approves the application, the site would continue to be designated as agricultural in the Official Community Plan, requiring any future owner to make an application to change that designation before any development could go ahead.
