Langford’s new city council faced its first big vote since October’s election, voting to approve borrowing up to $46 million for the Centre Mountain Business Park in Monday’s (Dec. 5) council meeting.
Scia’new (Beecher Bay) First Nation Chief Russ Chipps and the nation’s lawyer Robert Janes both spoke passionately in favour of the industrial development - saying it’s an important step for reconciliation.
The property was part of the land-swap agreement between Scia’new, Langford and Metchosin in 2017, with tax revenues set to be split via a tax-sharing agreement between all three, with an added understanding that Scia’new would obtain an ownership interest in the development.
Janes said Scia’new has been cut off from the economic benefits of the development of surrounding lands as the West Shore has grown, with the lands neighbouring the First Nation – owned by the Department of Defence and District of Metchosin – limiting how Scia’new could develop and also any changes it could make through ongoing treaty negotiations with the federal government and the province.
“To describe these as arduous, hard and drawn out would be an understatement,” said Janes of the negotiations.
Janes added this meant the community had seen people forced to move elsewhere for work as the First Nation was unable to build an economic base.
“Without maintaining its community that sense of being together as Indigenous people, Beecher Bay faces a harsh and difficult future.”
Chipps said his priority was building housing for people on the First Nation to allow them to return home, saying Centre Mountain would allow that to happen.
“The seeds of reconciliation were planted that day,” said Chipps, recalling the initial conversation between former Langford Mayor Stew Young, former Metchosin Mayor John Ranns and himself when Centre Mountain was first discussed.
The upfront costs to construct the water service, a community roadway and a business park road will be paid for with loans by the city.
Ownership, operations and maintenance of the water will then be handed over to the Capital Regional District, with the roads being kept by the City of Langford.
In total, the city will borrow up to $46 million – $15.1 million for the water service, $10.7 million for the community roadway and $20.2 million for the business park road – on a 25-year term.
The bylaws to establish the local service areas and the loan authorization bylaw – the loan authorization also had to go through the Inspector of Municipalities of BC – were approved by the previous council.
Staff will bring a parcel tax rate bylaw to council at a later date. The parcel tax would be on the property owners within the Centre Mountain development to pay back the cost of the loans.
Editor’s note: This article has been changed from its original version to correct an error. Council must first pass a bylaw before putting in place a parcel tax. We apologize for the error and any confusion it may have caused.
READ MORE: Plan would see Langford borrow initial $46 million for Centre Mountain water, road connection
bailey.moreton@goldstreamgazette.com
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