OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN COMMITTEE
JANUARY 19, 1995
COMMENTARY ON ENDOWMENT LAND CONCEPT
WHAT ABOUT “AREA X”?
Since the area in question, “Area X” (please see attached map) falls within the boundaries of the District of Sechelt, and since the status and proposed designation of this land as Rural Resource was added late in the Kai Kreuchen drafts of the OCP, representatives to the Official Community Plan felt a responsibility to make some observations and comments regarding this “overlooked” area..
The representatives are fully appreciative of the fact that the role of this committee is advisory only. It is within this mandate that the following observations are made.
As can be observed on the map, topographical lines indicate a sloping hillside, with a stream indicated (Upper Davis Brook), and a viewpoint feature at 197.9 meters, situated near scrub lines. It is approximately 200 acres in size, and displays typical mixed species tree cover of second growth.
INTERNATIONAL FOREST PRODUCTS - INTERFOR
Our understanding is that Interfor has no “tenure” or “timber rights” on this land. Their forest license is “quota” - that is, volume based, not area
based. Interfor is given an area in which to look for possibl ciit..?locks.J
There is one cut block within “Area X”; #160, which is approved by the Ministry of Forests for “alternative logging” in 1997. It is directly adjacent to the Sechelt Heritage Forest on the north side of that Forest. (Interfor does not plan any proposals for the Sechelt Heritage Forest: see attached letter).
JURISDICTION OVER “AREA X”
The question of whether or not Sechelt Disrict has jurisdiction over what happens inside of its boundaries, when it comes to logging cutblocks, is, from initial inquiries pertaining to this specific area, known to be as follows:
“Aj is not managed forest lan the Assessment Act.
Therefore, Section 943 (2) c of the Municipal Act does not apply, and because Interfor’s forest license is volume based (see attached definitions), Section 943 (2) d does not apply.
In addition Section 944 (2) regarding OCP’s and Section 963 in its entirety under Division (4) of Land Use Designations should apply.
What the above means to the Committee, is that this area could be re designated (from Rural Resource) within the OCP and zoned accordingly.
It is also suggested that the official designation be developed after careful legal research and serious consideration of the potential long term benefits this area may provide and in recognition of the area’s largely DPA1 zoning in the Golder Report.
It is possible, in our view, for the District of Sechelt to have a voice in determinations regarding industrial logging activity within its boundary.
PRECEDENT:
THE VIEW FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT
\According to our former planner, Rob Buchan, in his letter of comment from the District of Sechelt Planning Department to Interfor, dated July 15, 1994 (see attached), “From our viewpoint, it is totally inappropriate for any logging of any kind to occur within Municipal boundaries.”
LOCAL CONCERNS IF AREA IS LOGGED
The bridge over Gray Creek could be inundated with excessive water flow if clearcuts increase water runoff. This ten year old bridge might sustain enough damage to need another replacement.
The congestion due to logging trucks entering and leaving the traffic flow on Inlet Road is problematical in terms of safety due to the extreme curvature and steepness of the roads in this community.
Private water rights, held by a resident of Sandy Hook, also lie within the area in question, and the resident is concerned regarding loss of water quality and volume should logging occur anywhere close to his reservoir. Interfor is aware of the existance of these rights.
LONG TERM POSSIBILITIES:
ENDOWMENT LANDS CONCEPT
What about some future possibilities?
The Golder Report shows this area on the map as a DPA- 1, so that tree cover should be retained, no clear cuts and no cutting of trees over 7.5 meters in height should be allowed.
This area could be set aside for a special future use, so that when the right opportunity presented itself, Sechelt would be prepared.
This area, set aside as “Sechelt Endowment Land” (or some such name), could provide the District of Sechelt with a base for a showplace institutional facility, unique to the Sunshine Coast, possibly reflecting the forest related activity of the area, and appropriate to the natural setting, such as:
a New Canadian Forestry Techniques Institute
• a Sustainability Study Complex
• a Biodiversity Habitat Research Station
• a GIS Mapping Facility
• a Campus for Government, Industry and Community
Or, this Endowment Land could be appropriate for other unique municipal activities in keeping with the long term goals of the District of Sechelt - such as those to be explored in the official community plans of the future.
LONG-TERM STUDY SUGGESTED
An area of this size and location could be a prized asset if handled in a careful manner, and developed with cautious planning.
Perhaps further study of this area could be pursued in depth when Sechelt has a long-term planner on the Planning Department Staff.