FRIDAY MAR 3, 2017
VOL. 43, NO. 08
$1
including GST
Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
The “Bowen”connection
Green building professionals aim for big impact through island networking
Puppy love
International Women’s Day
Tunstall Bay family supports their dog in early days as a new mom
Bowen women remind you to mark March 8th on your calendars
Architect chosen to design community centre Application made Members of the Municipal Community Centre Working group stand in front of the long-standing sign marking the centre’s proposed location. From left, Coun. Melanie Mason with daughters Emily and Pippa (above), Shauna Jennings, Coun. Gary Ander with grandson Henry (below), Coun. Alison Morse, Kristen Watson, Jacqueline Massey, and municipal Chief Adminstrative Officer Kathy Lalonde. Meribeth Deen, photo
SOPHIE ISDINGA BOWEN ISLAND MUNICIPALITY
Bowen Island Municipality took one step closer towards achieving the dream of a community centre for island residents. On February 10, BIM Council passed a unanimous motion to sign a contract with Principle Architecture as Prime Consultant for the project. The Community Centre project envisions the construction of a 14,300 square foot facility providing community, recreational and performing arts spaces plus municipal offices, to be built on Area 3 of Lot 2 of municipal land (east of Bowen Island Community School). The value of the architectural contract, from design to completion of the building, is approximately $535,000, financed from the municipality’s 2017 capital budget. The first stage of work, expected to be delivered by the end of April, 2017, includes the development of a schematic design that will be used to validate costs, currently estimated at around $10 M for the entire project. The selected lead design firm, a partnership of Principle Architecture and local resident Drew Rose of Still Point Architecture, responded to the Municipality’s RFP, as did 23 others. Its submission, along with a subsequent interview, highly impressed the Community Centre Project Steering
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Committee, which was tasked with the job of evaluating proponents. “Principle’s presentation was outstanding in terms of its scope and thoroughness,” said Councillor Gary Ander, Chair of the Community Centre Steering Committee. “The firm demonstrated a deep understanding of the project and awareness of the demand for an innovative design to accommodate the diverse multi-use functions of Bowen’s future civic facility. They also understand that we are a small, some would say unique community and that they’ll be challenged to come up with creative approaches that fit our needs while ensuring budget constraints are respected. We also liked the fact that key members of the team have a personal knowledge and connection to Bowen.” Principle and Still Point and several members of their engineering disciplines have extensive background and expertise leading the design of warm and welcoming community-based budget-driven projects. Drew and his family have lived on Bowen Island for several years and are active members of the community. Drew has chaired the Bowen Island Municipal Advisory Planning Commission for the past four years. BIM is looking forward to developing a facility that will act as a gathering place for people of all ages and interests in our community, fostering and inspiring connections, caring, economy and creativity.
for TransLink bike infrastructure funding MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
After councillors raised objections based on process and concerns raised by Grafton Road residents and BIHORA, council agreed have municipal planner Emma Chow submit a funding application to TransLink to help pay for a pedestrian and cycling pathway on the corner near Charlie’s Lane. In late January, Chow presented an idea for the corner and a proposal to seek assistance from a new TransLink fund to improve cycling infrastructure in Metro Vancouver communities. The proposed project would tackle between 150 and 200m of roadway with a cost-estimate of between $250 and $300,000. If the grant application were successful, Bowen Island would be required to cover half the cost of the project. Council agreed she should set to work on the application. In the weeks following that meeting, Grafton road residents near Charlie’s lane as well as the Bowen Island Horse Riders Association (BIHORA) made objections to the plan. John Kerr, who lives on the corner, said the plan’s price-tag was too high and that it was too urban. Members of BIHORA complained that the project was not inclusive to the island’s horses and riders. A decision on whether or not to pursue the funding for this project needed to be made this week, as the grant application deadline came to a close on Wednesday. “I’m left with the feeling that we’re grant chasing,” said Councillor Allison Morse, noting that plans for a cross-island pathway will be laid out in the Integrated Transportation Master Plan, which won’t come to council until May. She said she felt the recent concerns brought forward by members of the public had not been adequately addressed, and added that while plans discussed meeting “path standards,” no such standards have been developed or approved for Bowen Island. “This is a paved path, which makes it easier for bikes, but when we met with MLA Sturdy he mentioned that in Whistler started as fine-compact or crushed materials to be biked or walked on.” Councillors Maureen Nicholson and Gary Ander expressed their lack of support for similar reasons. The community planner addressed each of the concerns brought forward by the objecting councillors. If Bowen’s application is successful, Chow said, then an agreement to acquire the funds would be signed with TransLink some time in May. From there, the Municipality would have four years to complete the project. The funding, she said, would allow more geo-technical work to be done and ensure that the best possible solution be implemented.
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