Editor:
I attended both the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and the Trellis meetings this month for the proposed Silverstone Care Centre. I would like to say, “Don’t panic – it’s not a done deal.” The printed information distributed and sometimes the official verbal responses from each of those meetings would have the general public believe otherwise.
Two points:
• If VCH has a legally binding contract with Trellis, that does not guarantee the approval of the required change to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and the zoning bylaw. Changes to these bylaws will be discussed first in planning committee and then regular council meetings (both open to the public) before proceeding to a required public hearing, which must meet a number of requirements.
• As of the day after the Trellis meeting (Sept. 20), the District of Sechelt did not have an application for either the OCP or zoning amendments. They did have a preliminary pre-application for the OCP amendment, but Sechelt staff had not yet provided input.
Two thoughts:
• What level of care was Trellis told to provide for? The handout from Sept. 19 states: “They live at home and occasionally go on bus outings that are supported by team members and/or volunteers.” Most residents in Totem Lodge are not mobile and yet the building presented by Trellis appears to be designed for a mobile person.
• I assume this development is based on usage of the Sechelt sewer system. There is already a long, overdue waiting list for that service and existing capacity is being investigated. This development would seem to be on the bottom of that list.
Lynne Forrest, Tillicum Bay, Sechelt
