Public consultation is about to get underway for the proposal to develop the Southlands property.
Century Group president Sean Hodgins, who recently outlined his rezoning application to Delta council, will make a presentation and answer questions at a meeting with several civic advisory committees on Thursday, May 3 at the Ladner Community Centre at 7 p.m. The public can attend, but only to observe.
The Century Group is organizing information sessions on Saturday, May 12 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Tuesday, May 15 (4 to 8 p.m), both at South Delta Recreation Centre.
Delta will also be holding a public information meeting, likely in June.
A few weeks ago, a rezoning application was submitted for the first phase of the proposed development of the 500-plus-acre property in Tsawwassen. That phase involves 14 hectares (35 acres) and includes 450 residential units in various forms and densities, including cottage-style and single-family homes, duplexes, manor homes, live-work studios, townhomes/rowhomes and condos. At 345, condos would make up the majority of that housing.
Pointing out his development would offer the community a variety of housing now unavailable, Hodgins told council the next phase would see a predominance of cottage-style homes. He plans to set up an example of one at his nearby mall.
His development would eventually result in 950 homes and the transfer of 80 per cent of the Southlands to Delta, working out to approximately 173.7 hectares (429 acres).
Up to two-thirds of that land to Delta would be used for farming, while areas would also be set aside for public open space and greenways, natural habitat, a market square and farming school.
It's on the remaining 20 per cent of the Southlands where the housing would be built.
The proposal's website states, "Many people in our community, and in the region, are looking to Southlands to provide a Canadian model for sustainable neighbourhood development. The initial phase will focus on creating the initial community trust farmlands and open areas, the Market Square and Farmers' Market, and the first phase of family townhomes."
The application notes the proposal, drawing on traditional neighbourhood and new urbanist principles, is "a unique concept of urban settlement integrated with various scales of agricultural activity and other community uses."
Continuing its fight against development is the group Southlands the Facts.
Spokesperson Dana Maslovat recently said they are unhappy about the process being "completely driven by the developer" and that Delta staff is "unconcerned with the bias this will create."
"We requested an equal opportunity to present the residents' concerns regarding impact of the development to the committees of council on May 3 and were refused and told only the landowner is allowed to present during this time."
In addition, he noted, Delta staff is allowing Century Group to prepare its own comment sheets for its information meetings, which can either be submitted to Delta directly or to Century Group, which will forward them to Delta to become part of the public record on the application
More information about the application and the process can be found on Delta's website at www.corp.delta.bc.ca.
