During the week of May 31 - June 5, every household and business in Tsawwassen will be receiving a Tsawwassen Area Plan public opinion mail-in survey. This survey will have two questions which refer to the Southlands. A new website Southlands:The Facts has details and background information. Please see: www.southlandsthefacts.ca
The 531 acre Southlands property is an area of prime agricultural land which has been farmed successfully and profitably for decades. Farmland is vital to maintaining our ability to feed ourselves and generations to come.
DO WE WANT THIS FARMLAND DEVELOPED?
NO!!!
BUT WE NEED TO ACT NOW!
The Southlands is under threat.
The Tsawwassen Area Plan, the part of Delta’s Official Community Plan (OCP) that affects us, is under review by the Tsawwassen Area Plan Committee (TAPC). This committee was selected by Delta Council. The majority of these councillors, by approving the Tsawwassen Golf Course development, have shown that they WILL permit development on agricultural land. At the same time, Century Holdings has submitted an application to change the OCP designation of the Southlands from Agriculture to a variety of designations that would permit commercial and residential development.
If the Tsawassen Area Plan Committee recommends the changes that Century has asked for, and if Council agrees, we could lose the agricultural jewel in the center of our community.
How could this happen?
Mayor & Council have decided to wait for the TAPC recommendations BEFORE debating the Southlands application. If the TAPC recommends dropping the agricultural designation of the Southlands, Council may well decide to accept their recommendation and change the OCP.
Changes to the OCP will eventually require a public hearing, BUT
The time to act is NOW - before the Tsawassen Area Plan Committe makes its recommendations.