Many who were undecided about the Southlands development application are now beginning to indicate support, according to Century Group president Sean Hodgins.
On hand to answer questions at a well-attended public information meeting at the South Delta Recreation Centre Thursday, Hodgins told the Optimist he's been getting more positive feedback from the so-called "middle ground" as further details are unveiled and questions are answered.
"That's who we are trying to appeal to," Hodgins said. "We obviously are working on people who have been vocally supportive in the past and make sure we explain to them how we refine things, but I think we've shifted to a whole middle ground of people who said, 'Wow, look at the work that has gone into this to answer questions and be very, very reasonable, if not extraordinarily generous.'"
The Century Group is proposing to develop the 536-acre Southlands in Tsawwassen with 950 housing units on 20 per cent on the site. The housing types would range from small cottages, residential over retail, to country flats.
Century would hand over 80 per cent of the land to Delta. Much of that land would be used for farming, including the creation of what's being described as a community-based farming district. The proposal also includes a market square.
Storyboards at Thursday's event hosted by the municipality provided information on the application, while civic staff and Century representatives were on hand to answer questions.
Hodgins said the plan has undergone a few refinements but the overall concept remains unchanged.
One important detail is the cost of providing the necessary infrastructure improvements, he said, a figure in the $20 million range to be paid by Century Group.
Also attending Thursday's meeting to check out the storyboards was Richard Kunz, a vocal opponent and member of Southlands the Facts.
He said that while the loss of prime agricultural land remains a concern, other critical issues have come to the forefront that have residents concerned.
"Until the municipality is able to answer all the key questions, time and time and time again this matter will never be resolved and settled in my mind," Kunz said.
"Now it's a whole issue of liquefaction, fill. Look what's happening at the TFN. Does the community really want to be subjected to that?
"What's going to happen in the next flood with all that fill, when all that floodwater from Boundary Bay comes zooming through the current community and is blocked on the west side by all that landfill. How are we going to get out of our community?" he asked.
Southlands the Facts notes Delta's own traffic study indicates several intersections on 56th Street will likely fail by 2015, causing traffic gridlock. The group also notes development at the Tsawwassen First Nation alone will add thousands of cars to area roads.
Prior to the meeting, Delta CAO George Harvie told the Optimist a report will be prepared for Delta council to consider either dismissing the application, asking for further information or granting first and second readings. That report will come in mid-July.
If council grants preliminary approval, staff would prepare the necessary bylaws during the summer for a public hearing in the fall.
