Boardwalk To Nowhere…
October 14, 2022 Leave a comment
A little “recent” history of the Ganges Boardwalk. (recent since it actually started in 1988)
The following are extracts from CRD, Islands Trust and Driftwood reports….
The Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee (SSI LTC) added Ganges Village Area Plan to its work program as a top priority in June 2013.
A project charter was developed following meetings with senior CRD staff and the Community Economic Development Commission. Grant funding was sought including from the Union of BC Municipalities Community to Community Forum for early engagement with First Nations.
Based on feedback from early engagement and funding results, the SSI LTC focused developing a Ganges Village Plan first on developing a Ganges boardwalk.
In 2014 a revised project charter was drafted in consultation with the CRD and with help from a contracted management consultant.
A volunteer Ganges Harbour Walk Steering Committee was created, broad and ongoing discussions with upland land owners commenced, a concept design was commissioned and a bylaw drafted (Bylaw 491).
Jan. 27&30, 2016- Special Business Meetings for community engagement
Feb. 11, 2016 – LTC direct staff to draft bylaw; to consult with PARC to change zoning of Pecks cove to PR4(a); rescind the resolution requesting an appraisal; and develop a Terms of Reference for a Joint Task Force
March 10, 2016-LTC give first reading to Bylaw 491 and sent for referrals
10.3 Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee Bylaw No. 491 Referral (for Response) MA-2016-024 It was Moved and Seconded that Mayne Island Local Trust Committee interests are unaffected by Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee Bylaw No. 491. CARRIED
April 26, 2016 – Planner Chloe Fox contracted to advance project deliverables
July 28, 2016 – Planner Jason Youmans assigned to file
August 3, 2016 – Project update received from Chloe Fox. Planner Youmans reviewing work to date and next steps March 10, 2016-LTC give first reading to Bylaw 491 and sent for referrals
September 15, 2016 – Communications with land owners and other stakeholders. Communications with CRD. Anticipate report to LTC October 13 meeting.
November 15, 2016 – Trustee Grove and Planner Youmans meet Ganges Marina owners
June 1, 2017 – LTC directed planning staff to prepare information materials for community engagement about the scale and type of development the community would want to see on the properties upland from the boardwalk.
The result of that was the beginning of the backtracking on Bylaw 491 by the Trustees and the CRD Director.
In the spring of 2018, the SSI LTC wrote to the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development advising of Salt Spring community’s desire to see renewal of Ganges Marina water lease made contingent on securing the harbourwalk route for public use.
The SSI LTC, and subsequently the CRD, applied for a statutory right of way within which a harbour walk can be constructed.
January 27, 2019 CRD Director Gary Holman reported he had written to the Province and recommended that the renewal of the foreshore leases be dependent upon the securing of a public Right of Way in front of the upland property owners.
On October 1, 2019, the SSI LTC removed Ganges Village Planning – Harbourwalk from the Top Priority List and placed it on the projects list.
May 26, 2020 – Despite the “demotion” to the projects list, the project still receives minor attention through communication with the Ganges Harbourwalk Steering Committee and responding to communications such as received by the SSI LTC in April and May 2020.
Bylaw 491 remains at first reading and could be elevated back to a top priority for consideration of amending in order to consider the Ganges (and Salt Spring) Marina’s request for float homes. CRD communications indicate their support in the process and “look forward to providing input from the various local commissions in an effort to coordinate impacts on utilities and help obtain community consensus” (attachment 2).
Priorities and Resources Village Planning has been an SSI LTC strategic priority since August 2019. However, Ganges Village Planning has been a top priority since 2013 with a focus on the harbourwalk, since 2014.
The top priority was placed on the projects list late in 2019 which gave room to, eventually, elevate protection of the CDF ecosystem as a top priority. Despite being on the projects list, staff continue to communicate with stakeholders primarily through the Ganges Harbour Walk Steering Committee and as correspondences are received.
Appointing “Village Planning” to a top priority versus elevating “Ganges Village Planning – Harbourwalk” from the projects list back to the top priorities list, would respectfully be akin to taking the existing Ganges Village Project – Harbourwalk to its 2013 origin.
Staff recommend that instead, the SSI LTC consider elevating Ganges Village Planning – Harbourwalk back to a top priority, when resources are available, and focus on responding to recent CRD communications and use existing Bylaw 491 as a starting point for further stakeholder discussions.
The SSI LTC 347 Islands Trust Staff Report 5 could amend the bylaw to function as local area plan albeit refined to the foreshore and immediate upland land owners between Salt Spring Marina and Rotary Park.
Staff also remind the SSI LTC that implementation of the Local Planning Services Review further proposes to use planning resources to draft policies and to refine its own implementation strategies. In regards to the rest of the work program, staff will remove Affordable Housing – Cottages from the top priorities list and assign Island Planner Jason Youmans to Protection of the Coastal Douglas Fir Ecosystem. No resolution is required.
And here we are….October 2022 and still a Boardwalk to Nowhere….
islandstrust 