A motion by Mission Coun. Danny Plecas to delay any new construction in the Silverdale area, was quickly voted down at the council table.
On Monday night – after council had already approved adoption of a zoning and Official Community Plan (OCP) change that paves the way for a new development in Silverdale – Plecas had the chance to present his motion. It states:
“That the District of Mission Council endorse a moratorium on all new development and building permits pertaining to all or any multiple resident applications that require zoning changes or Official Community Plan amendments in the Silverdale Comprehensive Planning Area (the neighbourhoods Silverhill, Silverdale Gateway, and Silverdale) and the Israel Bench neighbourhood until December 31, 2020 or such time that District of Mission staff have completed and submitted; and Council has accepted the Master Infrastructure Plan and Neighbourhood Planning documents for said neighbourhoods.”
Plecas said the reason for putting this motion forward was because of the number of concerns raised by the public and the council about what are the next steps for the Silverdale development proposal.
“My concern is that we as a council have left a great deal of uncertainty out there in the community… what can they anticipate beyond this point.
Coun. Jenny Stevens seconded the motion saying Silverdale is a boon of an opportunity and she wants Mission to grow.
“Silverdale is a huge area… it has the possibility of being a really beautiful part of Mission, if it’s done right. And here we are, before we’ve even got the overall plan, we are letting a developer put his little bit, his little patch on.”
She said if it continues, Silverdale will end up being a disconnected patchwork.
Coun. Pam Alexis said she would not support the motion.
“This would actually, basically reverse the decision we just made because we haven’t received building permits on the new application for the Nelson Street property.
“I’m amazed actually that this has come up because when you have a working council, even if you oppose something, moving forward, everybody has to work together. That’s called consensus. I really feel that you’re taking away that natural thing that happens with councils where, even though you don’t agree, you still have to move forward.”
Alexis also said old councils can’t dictate the work of new councils.
Coun. Carol Hamilton agreed and refused to support the motion.
Coun. Jim Hinds said the development of the Silverdale lands has been in the works for years. He noted that council was shocked when Genstar, in 2015, announced it was selling the land. However, Polygon bought most of it, and council was relieved.
“Now after a year, a motion that would stop development in the Silverdale lands was dropped on us. I hope you all see the message this will send to the business community in the Lower Mainland. For the last few years, our economic development office has been working to entice business to our community and the Polygon development is all part of this. Companies need places for their workers to live, or they will not move here.
“What this motion says is Mission is closed to business. It also says don’t trust Mission, they will tell you one thing and then do a complete reversal.”
Coun. Rhett Nicholson also stated he would not support the motion, saying he had full confidence that staff would be able to take care of the future of Mission.
Plecas, after hearing council’s comments, said council just needs to go through the proper process.
“I think people want to see some proper planning done. What I’m hearing from council is we don’t support proper planning… We’re allowing developers to come in at their own pace.”
Mayor Randy Hawes told Plecas that he didn’t think its right for an outgoing council to try to fetter an incoming council.
“We have an incoming council who must be allowed the discretion to make decisions. That’s not saying they are going to allow holus-bolus development. It says that they are gong to be exercising the powers, rightly, that they are given by the electorate.”
Stevens said she seconded the motion, knowing that it would not get passed, rather she just wanted the discussion to happen so that the new council was aware.
This council’s final vote, before a new council takes over, was to deny the motion.