FRIDAY NOV. 16, 2012 VOL. 39, NO. 27
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Continuing the tradition
Camp Bowen builds on long history of the CNIB program
Rekindling the passion
Furniture maker exhibits studio-made, west coast pieces of art
A lesson in ‘chemistry’
Wine aficionado invites islanders to a Tour the France of wines
More than just plans Government Road corridor improvements program focuses on doable phases SUSANNE MARTIN EDITOR
O
ture” was shown in a 2004 environmental impact assessment document prepared for Bowen Island Properties and provided to the municipality. The park land was transferred to the municipality in 2005. In 2011, detailed engineering drawings showing the drainage works were submitted to the municipality. And municipal staff participated in a pre-construction meeting and an on-site review of the proposed works and contributed some monies for the removal of a number of alders at Seymour Bay that were specifically identified by municipal staff as posing a risk to the beach access route.
nce again, plans for the Government Road corridor were presented to council. Yet at the November 13 committee of the whole meeting, the accompanying report mapped out a series of phases that could be initiated as early as this year. Planning consultant Tom Fletcher presented the Government Road corridor improvements program, together with a list of recommendations for next steps as well as long-term goals. “I reviewed the many previous efforts on ferry marshalling in order to propose what could be implemented in the near future,” Fletcher said. “There was some excellent comprehensive work completed.” He added that he believes that “grand plans amount to no plans” as there hasn’t been a way to make them reality. Fletcher recalled that the 2004/2005 plans were based on projections that estimated population growth for the last five years. But this growth has not happened. “The growth factor was what was needed for [some of the] ferry marshalling plans,” he said, adding that another factor was private sector development. Without population growth and development, the tax base was not there to support the realization of the plans for Snug Cove. His strategy, says Fletcher, was to come forward with a long-term vision that could be realistically implemented: “We wanted to come up with something that is realistic and affordable and that ultimately contributes to the long-term plan for Snug Cove.” Fletcher said that the plan illustrates the redesign of Government Road to accommodate improved ferry marshalling. The long-term plan envisions an expansion of the village centre to the north of Government Road and adds additional traffic lanes to permit two lanes of both loading and unloading.
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Islanders came out to participate in the Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph on November 11. More photos on page 12, Debra Stringfellow photo
Report suggests moving forward at Seymour Bay SUSANNE MARTIN EDITOR
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eith Wahlstrom, the Bowen Island Municipality’s manager of development and operations, has examined documentation relating to the drain pipe construction and cut trees in Seymour Bay to find out whether Bowen Island Properties had proper authorization to do the works in the small municipal park. In his report to council on Tuesday, November 13, Wahlstrom said that he didn’t find an actual stamp of approval but he believes that, rather than spending more resources on finding out what happened, the focus should be on working with the developer
on a remedial plan as well as improving municipal processes. Wahlstrom said he went through a “host of files, papers and documentation” for his report but didn’t find anything conclusive. His report says that “a forensic review of all material has not been completed and such a review would take significant staff time and/or consultant time.” What Wahlstrom found out is this: Drainage works in the Seymour Bay Municipal Park were constructed in 2011, with additional work in 2012. In 2002, an Official Community Plan amendment bylaw noted stabilization and erosion issues in relation to a passive park at Seymour Bay. An “overland flow outfall water fea-
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