A Vancouver-based businesswoman wants to transform Gospel Rock into an ecology park featuring the latest in wind, solar and water desalination technologies - and that's just for starters.
"It will be a showcase for the world. It will bring Gibsons into the international scene," said Marjorie Wong, a research scientist and the CEO of Village Green - 50 Plus Inc. Canada.
Wong appeared before Gibsons council's committee of the whole on May 14 to outline her company's vision for Lot 7 on Gospel Rock.
"A letter of expression of interest has gone out to the owner and today I'm here to see if there's any interest," Wong told council. "There's no point in purchasing the land if there's no interest. It's not logical."
The project's list of intended developments includes serviced apartments, a community centre, institutes and trade schools, a geodome, vertical farming, aquaculture tanks, a solar pond, general parking with a roof greenhouse, public gardens and pavilions.
About 180 residential units are also proposed, but Wong told council that phase of the project would come "maybe two years later." Only some of the units would be for 50-plus residents, she said, and no development is envisioned for the waterfront.
Energy for the complex would be generated by wind, solar and water technologies.
Vertical windmills would be 30 metres high -one-third of the height of conventional windmills -and would create far less noise, Wong said.
"Our windmills always blend in with nature, so they don't stick out like a sore thumb," she said.
Only golf-carts would be allowed within the development, which would use LED lighting to significantly reduce energy costs.
Among the benefits, Wong said an institute of marine services would provide training and jobs for young people and could specialize in servicing and repairing small crafts from Gibsons Harbour. A cooking school would have a restaurant and do catering for weddings and conventions, while the geodome and hydroponics operation would provide part-time jobs as well as organic produce.
Wong said she and her partners have developed some of the technologies that would be showcased in the eco-park, predicting it would draw interest from many countries. The desalination plant, she said, would be of interest to Middle Eastern countries and China. To date, the company has "built homes in Africa for poor people" and has plans to do six developments in Peru.
"We can provide housing that is very, very reasonable," she said.
Asked by Coun. Charlene SanJenko to sum up why she wants to create the eco-park, Wong said: "To share it. I am very passionate about leaving something good for the people. Otherwise I'm like a miser."
Mayor Wayne Rowe called the proposal "certainly intriguing" and "outside of the box a bit, certainly for me."
Rowe advised her to provide more details to staff.
"I'll be very frank," he said. "I don't look forward to opening up the official community plan for Gospel Rock."
Coun. Lee Ann Johnson cautioned Wong to be aware of the constraints on land use that exist under provincial legislation and the Town's bylaws.
"Our purpose here is to share - not to possess," Wong said.
Following the meeting, Wong spoke to a small group from the Friends of Gospel Rock, exchanged business cards and agreed to meet with them to discuss her proposal.
