Delta council predictably voted 6-1 to support the Southlands development proposal earlier this month following a five-day public hearing and additional time for written submissions.
Notwithstanding the short turnaround between the end of the hearing and the council decision, civic politicians got it right this time. In saying that, the applicant in 1989 withdrew the development proposal before any council vote due to overwhelming opposition and sensing council's reluctance to support the application.
Metro Vancouver now has the final say, just as its predecessor, the Greater Vancouver Regional District, did in 1979 in rejecting the Spetifore application despite Delta's unanimous support. Delta council then applied to the provincial government to remove the land from the Agricultural Land Reserve, which occurred by orderin-council in 1981.
This "political" move initiated by local council was the genesis for this divisiveness in this municipality for the past 30-plus years. Traffic issues and land use has always been the purview of local authorities and these issues were always central to those in opposition, along with the concern about the environment and save-farmland-at-all-cost visionaries. So what have we learned and why was there sufficient public support to sway council's decision? A lot of the credit should go to Sean Hodgins for working with Delta's senior staff, planners and public forums.
He firmly resisted any attempt to have the land returned to the ALR, yet was willing to compromise on density and "gift" 425 acres to Delta along with $9 million for soil enhancement to create viable farmland.
I believe it fair to state no farmer could finance this expenditure from farm revenue. This latter benefit seemed to sway public opinion. Those in opposition to loss of farmland, even 530 acres of marginal farmland, should take comfort for the upgraded 425 acres under Delta's control, which will be actively and productively farmed.
Delta's mayor and council also had to look at population growth forecasts and Delta's fair share, recognizing we don't live in isolation to Metro Vancouver and Lower Mainland interests. These divergent interests will form the debate of the Metro Vancouver board when it considers this development as approved by our locally accountable and elected council.
I have always found fault with an unelected board having final say over our affairs. The GVRD, now Metro Vancouver, was originally formed because of water, sewer and transportation issues.
Thirty-odd years later, we have come full circle on this contentious land use issue. As Mayor Lois Jackson and others have said, "It's time for healing." If only that were true. Should Metro Vancouver approve the application, one would think the enhanced 425 acres under Delta's control could be returned to the ALR, thus ending further uncertainty.
And a good night to you, Mike.
