The District of Sechelt has planned how they will spend proceeds from the sale of portions of Lot L before the property has even been subdivided or a public hearing held on its rezoning. Both have to happen before any sale can officially take place.
On Oct. 23 the District of Sechelt issued a press release saying council unanimously approved an offer to purchase four properties in the Davis Bay neighbourhood contingent on funds from the sale of portions of Lot L on Dusty Road.
Those properties include Blocks 27, 28 and 29 on Mission Road and Lot 16 on Gun Club Road, which amount to 4.9 hectares.
“The properties adjoin Brookman Park along Chapman Creek,” the press release stated.
Sechelt is currently taking “offers to purchase” portions of Lot L and potential buyers have until Nov. 3 at 4:30 p.m. to make an offer that is $300,000 or more per subdivided lot, as stipulated by council.
However, Lot L hasn’t been subdivided yet or had its zoning or official community plan amended, which is needed before any sale can take place. And those changes can’t happen until a public hearing is held on the issue.
There was a public hearing scheduled for Lot L on Oct. 28, but it was cancelled by the District because of legal requirements, Sechelt communications manager Connie Jordison said.
When asked what the purpose of a public hearing would be if the District has already decided to rezone and subdivide Lot L, Jordison said, “Under the Local Government Act, amendments to zoning of property require a public hearing.”
Lot L was purchased by the previous council for a new sewage treatment plant, but the current council built on Ebbtide instead. Sechelt needed to move their public works facility to Lot L to make room for the treatment plant on Ebbtide.
Recently council decided to rezone Lot L to industrial and subdivide and sell the portion not being used by public works, approximately 1.6 hectares.
There have already been expressions of interest in the subdivided property from a medical marijuana producer and Sechelt Innovations Ltd.
