Sechelt residents raised concerns about water, trees, blasting and roads at the Nov. 2 public hearing for West Sechelt Infill Area One and the first phase of building in the area proposed by Sawarne Lumber.
The District of Sechelt wants to amend the official community plan land use schedule to designate certain parcels of land in West Sechelt as Sechelt Comprehensive Development Area #1, seeing the 120 hectare area between Trail Bay Estates and Norwest Bay Road as an ideal location for future residential development.
It is the District's policy to have a comprehensive development plan for the area in place before any subdivision occurs.
The infill area could accommodate up to 2,300 homes in the future, and the land use plan calls for parks, public amenities, new roads and walking trails from the area to downtown Sechelt.
The first plan to build in the area has come forward from Sawarne Lumber that wants to build a 30-home subdivision on a 9.6 hectare portion of their approximately 45 hectare property next to Trail Bay Estates.
Both the comprehensive development plan and Sawarne's building plans were up for public comment Nov. 2.
While no specific concerns were raised about the Sawarne proposal, residents had some comments about the overall plan for the 120-hectare infill area.
Concerns were raised by some over the proposed connection through the new development area to Cowrie Street. Speakers said that connection was not up to the collector standards it would need to be if heavy traffic started using the alternate route.
Others were concerned possible increased traffic from Chatelech Secondary School flowing onto Derby Road would be an issue in the future and asked that the District look at traffic calming measures before that road is opened to vehicle use.
One resident worried there would not be enough water to service all the 2,300 homes proposed for the area, and one resident was concerned about potential risks of blasting in the future, saying he was seriously impacted by the blasting done at Trail Bay Estates during their build-out.
Some were concerned about the trees in the area, asking that council try to ensure developers don't just clear cut and leave the property bare until the housing market improves. Concerns were also raised about trees along the new pathways, and how they need to be kept up by the District after the developers' commitment to maintain them is over.
District of Sechelt staff will now take all the comments from the public hearing and present them in a report to council at an upcoming council meeting.
