There was a good turnout for the Annual General Meeting of the Elphinstone Community Association on April 10. Dave Newman from the Town of Gibsons was invited to attend by Director McMahon to answer questions about the Gospel Rock Development. He discussed the land under covenant, from Cross Rock down to the ocean, and said that the developer cannot build past 250 units until an additional access road is put in. People expressed concern about the scale of the development and had many questions including about the hotel; he said he would get any further information to Donna. In response to his statement about Chaster and Pratt being under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation, it was suggested that the Town of Gibsons could have set some conditions about roads into the development.
McMahon’s report covered Bylaw 310, the Highway 101 Corridor Study and what she is learning from the conferences she’s attended. Donna is very concerned about water and the below average snowpack. She reminded people that additional rebates for rain storage systems start again on April 15. Apply to the SCRD. They are looking at wells and additional storage and she mentioned that Gibsons will be starting to supply Upper Gibsons from its aquifer in 2020. The Reed Road Forest (DL 1313) has been saved for now and Donna cited a plan to consider it as an educational forest. She discussed agriculture and Land Use planning, and answered many questions.
Tony Richmond and Vel Anderson, stepping down from the ECA board, were given flowers and cards and thanked for their many years of service; also thanked was Marilyn Richmond, who had stepped down as secretary the previous year. The other board members agreed to stay on and were acclaimed, and new member Taya Docksteader was added. Vel reminded everyone that Eve and Rob Corlett have won a Com-munity Achievement Award for the amazing daycare they run out of their home.
In response to my last column about wildlife, Sandy Russell wrote me that the ditches of Russell Road are filled with frogs but she worries whenever there is roadwork that might destroy their habitat. Gord Bishop told me about an eagle nest tree in his Gower Point neighbourhood that has long been there. He went to investigate when the lot was logged recently and discovered that the owner planned to retain the tree along with its eagle nest. A little off-topic, but did you hear that 200,000 honey bees living in hives on the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral survived the fire?
Anna Lumiere contacted me to say that out hiking, she has noticed extensive die-back of salal, at Sprockids, Tramway and B&K. She says, “It’s all brown and extremely dry – perfect conditions for forest fires.” Please contact me if you’ve noticed this too, or have other community news at: elphin@coastreporter.net.
