A three way land-transfer agreement involving Metchosin, Langford and Beecher Bay First Nation is expected to receive provincial approval this afternoon.
It’s expected that Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Peter Fassbender will make the announcement while joined with Beecher Bay Chief Russ Chipps, Langford Mayor Stew Young and Metchosin Mayor John Ranns.
This marks the final approval needed for the agreement to go forward.
The swap – dubbed by many as historic because of its creative solution to a potentially problematic treaty settlement – will see Metchosin keep three parcels of treaty land within its borders as green space, while shrinking its northern border with Langford to allow for the creation of a business park and residential development. Beecher Bay will receive 30-per-cent ownership of the business park and the three parties will enter into a tax-sharing agreement on land planned for industrial use.
The agreement has survived numerous hurdles, including a January referendum in Metchosin that passed with more than 75 per-cent of voters in favour.
