The push for a comprehensive land-use management plan for Howe Sound is gaining traction, with several key jurisdictions poised to join the call, Future of Howe Sound Society (FHSS) executive director Ruth Simons said last week.
Simons said Squamish First Nation council is expected to consider a resolution supporting the plan next month, when Metro Vancouver is scheduled to formalize its support, which has already been approved at the committee level.
The District of West Vancouver and District of Squamish are slated to vote on the resolution at their next council meetings.
Simons said she expects all jurisdictions in Howe Sound will be onside.
"It's all good news. The timing is right," she said.
The decision by Squamish First Nation to consider supporting the plan came after a meeting on July 30 between FHSS and Chief Bill Williams, Simons said.
On the same day, Gibsons council gave its support to the concept. But, at the suggestion of Mayor Wayne Rowe, council's resolution stipulates that the plan "takes into consideration local government autonomy."
Coun. Dan Bouman brought forward the original resolution, saying higher level planning for the region "is an intelligent way to approach a lot of thorny issues."
The concept, Bouman added, is solidifying. He pointed to the public interest shown by the recent Save Our Sound flotilla at the mouth of McNab Creek and the support for long-term planning expressed after the event by member of Parliament John Weston.
"So I think there's a good possibility that if jurisdictions are in favour, probably there will be some support from the federal government to make this happen," Bouman said.
Coun. Gerry Tretick said he did not oppose the idea, but was reluctant to endorse it without more information.
"Because I am very concerned about the million-dollar property owners and the people who own these fancy yachts telling me what to do in our jurisdiction," Tretick said. "I think we can look after ourselves and I suspect the focus will be on this side of the water, not that side of the water."
Later in the meeting, Tretick gave a specific example.
"We're really trying hard to develop Hillside Industrial Park [at Port Mellon], and I really don't want Lions Bay sticking their nose in that. Is this going to open that door?" he asked Bouman.
Bouman said it would not. The planning process would provide decision-makers with "state of the art information on how to deal with perceived conflicts," and would bring an element of certainty to the region, he said.
"Certainty is certainly important," Tretick said. "As long as we are able to make decisions as it evolves."
Council unanimously endorsed the amended resolution.
Meanwhile, Sunshine Coast Regional District directors agreed at their July 25 board meeting to table an emergency resolution calling for support for a Howe Sound plan at the fall Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention.
The board will also try to set up a meeting on the issue at the UBCM convention with Steve Thomson, provincial minister of Forests, Lands and Resource Operations. Officials from Squamish Nation, Metro Vancouver, Squamish Lillooet Regional District, and Islands Trust will also be invited to join the discussion.
Simons said the SCRD resolution could be "really helpful," but the meeting with the minister is "probably more valuable," she added.
"If attendees from Howe Sound communities can meet with Minister Thomson, I think that would have some great value," she said.
As for Tretick's concerns, Simons noted that McNab Creek and Gambier Island property owners pay taxes to the SCRD and that 65 organizations were represented at last spring's Howe Sound community forum.
"This is not Lions Bay," she laughed.
