Gibsons councillors said they’ve heard the appeals from a group of citizens who want to see the Charman Creek Lands protected as a park “in perpetuity” – and they’re fully on board.
Al Beaver presented a petition to council on Sept. 1, saying it had received more than 1,450 signatures. “With these sort of numbers, this is no longer a petition, it’s more like a movement,” he told council.
Beaver asked council to make “a motion to protect this unique and irreplaceable forest ecosystem in perpetuity.” The 13-hecatre forested area is located between the end of Shaw Road in upper Gibsons and Stewart Road in lower Gibsons.
Such an initiative would dovetail with the Town’s asset management strategy and strategic plan priorities, including to honour local and Indigenous history and traditions, said Beaver.
Following his presentation, all councillors present – Annemarie De Andrade, Aleria Ladwig and David Croal – expressed their support, as did Mayor Bill Beamish.
“We are working exactly in the direction you are talking, in fact our vision is larger,” said Beamish, adding that he wasn’t at liberty to disclose that larger vision just yet.”I fully anticipate that council will move towards the protection of those lands.”
The only thing council didn’t agree with Beaver on was a line in the petition that said Charman Lands had once been zoned as park but was rezoned in 2015 by the Town then slated for development.
“It never occurred,” said Beamish. The current Official Community Plan identifies the Charman Lands as “future parks,” and in 2019 council declined to rezone a portion of the area for an affordable housing project after a petition circulated asking council to abandon the proposal.
Beamish said the Town’s intention is to link the Charman Lands with protected areas within the Gospel Rock development and White Tower Park. In 2021, he said, it will follow through with appropriate park designations for identified Town-owned parcels, using trails to connect the harbour waterfront and further up the waterfront near Armours Beach.
The Town has also submitted its application to establish White Tower Park as the province’s first Healing Forest, which would be used to educate and reflect on Canada’s history and the legacy of residential schools.
During discussion, Beamish also told Beaver the process for re-designation will require a public hearing. “Not everyone supports it,” he said, adding previous councillors had expressed concerns the land would be protected rather than developed when he was running for council. “I assured them in the next four years that that protection would be in place and it will be done, so your support at the public hearing will be very important.”
