Developer Zweitse de Wit got a big green thumbs down for his development proposal for a housing project in the agricultural land reserve in Qualicum Beach.
In a report from staff at a special council meeting Feb. 23 to discuss what would and would not be included in the first draft of the official community plan document, council was urged to reject the proposal to call for the removal of land at Berwick and Fern roads.
“The conversion of the Berwick ALR land would encourage developers to speculate on other agricultural land with the intention of changing land uses to permit development,” the report said. “This would make it even more financially difficult for people with an interest in using farm land for agricultural purposes.”
Councillor Jack Wilson defended the proposal, noting de Wit’s proposal, under the stewardship of noted American green developer Randall Arendt, had incorporated food production on the site and urged council to come to some form of compromise.
Coun. Kent Becker suggested the ALR properties could incorporate a winery, which would stay true to the intent of the land use designation. Coun. Barry Avis stressed that not only council’s action on this file was important, but also the message it sent.
“I believe there is a lot of importance in the messaging,” he said. “In my last nine years on council, the messaging had been very clear. Lots can be on that land, but agricultural land doesn’t mean residential land.”
Mayor Teunis Westbroek agreed.
“If you can’t feed yourself, you can’t be sustainable,” he said. “You can’t live on houses. You have to eat something.”
Coun. Mary Brouilette was away on holiday.
De Wit was disappointed in the decision.
“On the whole, I am saddened by the fact that council doesn’t seek ways to address the concerns of the chamber of commerce and to explore opportunities outside of those they perceive as opportunities only,” he said.
Despite the setback, de Wit held out hope that the municipality might still change its mind.
“As Teunis indicated, it’s not hard and fast what decisions they made at the time,” he said. “Many people have corresponded with mayor and council in support, so maybe numbers of them may be able to influence some council members and give this an opportunity to go to a public hearing.”
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