Coun. Fred Taylor resigned as chair of the newly-formed biosolids handling facility subcommittee and member of the Sechelt Sewage Facilities Commission (SSFC) at Sechelt council Wednesday, Nov. 3, citing a concern that in future sewage decisions, "council leadership" will cater to not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) interests.
Taylor raised concerns with council's most recent change of direction on the Davis Bay highway-widening issue - nixing the proposed seawall expansion, and requesting no southbound left turn bay at Davis Bay Road - which he said will result in the loss of the project, which he assessed at $9 million of economic activity for the community.
"We've lost the Davis Bay federal/provincial project by catering to NIMBY-ism in that community," he said, stating that "council leadership" had changed direction with no notice, no warning and zero internal communication with colleagues.
Taylor said he was concerned that a similar situation would play out with looming sewage decisions - which include planning for a new biosolids handling facility and, eventually, a new sewage treatment plant. He said that NIMBY complaints have started for that project; he called the recent resignation of John Henderson from the role of SSFC chair "the first inkling of trouble."
"I now do not have faith in the council leadership to follow through on the [biosolids handling facility] project," he said, just before announcing his resignation from both committees. "I've done considerable work, many meetings and massive reading in terms of this project; however, I am not prepared to lead the committee forward with the best recommendations we can make, knowing the likelihood of capricious or arbitrary decisions, made with no consultation or involvement by council leadership."
Connector
Council ratified two recommendations, passed at committee Oct. 27, concerning a West Sechelt connector. One recommendation supports the road network plan illustrated in the draft official community plan, which shows a West Sechelt connector that approximates the future highway bypass. A second recommendation states that Neptune Road not be used as an interim access road for development in West Sechelt.
Gray Creek
Council ratified a recommendation, also made at committee of the whole Oct. 27, to have staff ask the province what the process would be to have the Gray Creek community watershed protected from future logging activity.
Committee passed the recommendation after hearing a presentation about the Sunshine Coast Community Forest (SCCF), which has a contract with the province to manage local forests, including the Gray Creek community watershed.
The recommendation also asked that staff inquire into the process of having an equivalent area of forest added to the SCCF's tenure to replace the community watershed, and that staff write a council report with their findings.
