Editor:
The net benefit to Delta and its Tsawwassen residents can best be considered based on two separate considerations: the benefits of Delta owning 80 per cent of the land and the benefits of Century developing the remaining 20 per cent.
Benefits from Delta's ownership of the 80 per cent include:
. Century could no longer seek permission for uses other than agricultural, nor employ an offensive form of agriculture. But then there is no clear plan or commitment by Delta for the 80 per cent, rendering the land's future use perhaps as uncertain as under Century ownership.
. There is no credible commitment by Delta to have the land farmed.
Century would pay for improvements, but there are no statements of intent by interested farmers.
. Sensing Delta's apparent lack of interest, Century offers to equip one-quarter of the farmland with equipment and facilities to be shared by potential farmers. This could benefit residents should any wish to farm.
. There is no intent to improve the forest or the other two parcels as parks.
. Delta's ownership of the 80 per cent would result in loss of property tax revenue from that land, which is perhaps on the order of $100,000.
I see no persuasive net benefit to Tsawwassen's residents from Delta's ownership of the land. I can't judge any benefits to the municipality as the longer-term use of the land is unclear.
Century's plan for development of the 20 per cent seems to include both advantages for Delta and disadvantages for Tsawwassen residents. Benefits to Delta would include:
. The construction of 950 more residences would help Delta achieve its growth commitment to Metro Vancouver's Regional Growth Strategy.
. New residences would yield perhaps $3 million in added property tax revenue.
. The red barn and Gunn house would provide Delta with additional venues for community events. Delta should examine its inventory of such facilities, including the new Harris Barn, and judge the need for additional facilities.
Disadvantages to Tsawwassen residents would include:
. An incremental increase in commute and shopping traffic on 56th Street.
. An influx of tandem dump trucks during periods of site preparation for Phases I and II construction. Assuming an equal amount of fill is required for each phase, and that one year is required to prepare each site, there would be more than 30,000 loaded trucks in each one year period plus an additional 30,000 unloaded ones returning. Assuming a 40hour work week, that's one every four minutes in each direction.
. The farmers market would be an additional source for locally grown produce. The cost of operating the market, and who would pay that cost after the lease to Century expires, is unknown.
I'm unable to judge the balance between benefits to Delta and burdens shouldered by Tsawwassen's citizens. That's for Delta council to weigh and decide.
Ed Ries
