The next step in the odyssey that is the Southlands development process begins later this week.
On Friday, the Metro Vancouver regional planning and agriculture committee will hear from representatives from the Corporation of Delta and Century Group, as well as local residents, on the municipality's application to amend the regional growth strategy.
After receiving conditional approval from Delta council last fall, it will now be up to the Metro Vancouver board of directors to say whether the contentious development gets the go ahead.
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 Southlands is zoned agricultural and is also designated agricultural under the Official Community Plan and area plan as well as the Metro Vancouver growth strategy. Any change in regional designation would require a two-thirds weighted vote by the board of directors.
After the regional committee hears from speakers on Friday, it is expected to make a recommendation to the Metro board. If the bylaw receives preliminary approval from the board, a date will be set for a public hearing.
Before the committee considers the application, George Harvie, Delta's chief administrative officer, civic planning director Jeff Day and planner Marcy Sangret will give a presentation. Century Group president Sean Hodgins is also scheduled to address the committee as well as several residents opposed to the application. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the Metro Vancouver office in Burnaby.
