Southlands in Transition

Agriculture In BCThe following is a chronology of land use events for the Southlands:

The Southlands Story

2008 Working towards a Public Design Charrette:

During the 7 days beginning Tuesday the 6th of May and ending the evening of Tuesday the 13th of May, the firm of Duany Plater-Zyberk and Mr. Andrés Duany will work with the Southlands Community Planning Team and the wider community to craft the vision and principles of the Planning Team into a detailed plan to present to the public.

2007

In response to the public invitation at the October 2006 public open house, in February 2007, two dozen citizens came forward to work with Sean Hodgins of Century Group to shape the vision into a plan. The group would form under the name “Southlands Community Planning Team” and begin a process lasting into 2008.

2006

Century opens a public dialogue on Southlands laying out a broad vision statement for the property that would see:• One-Third of the land developed for residential and other uses;• One-Third retained as small-scale community agriculture• One-Third offered for public amenities and park.During this public session, citizens are invited to participate in the shaping of the vision into a plan.

1995

Century sells 220 acres of the Spetifore lands east of Boundary Bay Road to the Province of BC for expansion of Boundary Bay Regional Park and withdraws its lawsuit against Delta

1994

Spetifore family leaves the Southlands and active dairy farming ceases on the Southlands1993 Century starts litigation againsgt Delta after 20 acre agricultural subdivisions, allowed under the agricultural zoning, were denied.

1992

The Tsawwsassen Area Plan is passed by Delta Council which redesignates the Southlands as agriculture and TAP is adopted and the OCP is amended to reflect an agriculture designation.

1991

Century proposes the Heritage Place concept plan for one thousand homes, a municipal golf course and parkland.

1991

Delta initiates the Tsawwassen Area Planning (TAP) Committee process

1989

Century acquires title to the land by default on the TDL mortgage

1989

TDL application denied after what is purported to be the longest public hearing in Canadian municipal history

1989

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce sells its mortgage on the Spetifore lands to Century Group.

1988

TDL applies to develop over two thousand homes and a private golf course and the dedication of the land for the regional park in keeping with the OCP.

1986

Tsawwassen Development Lands (TDL) acquires Spetifore lands from Dawn Development

1986

Delta adopts Official Community Plan (OCP) and designates the Southlands as “Urban”.

1981

Dawn Development acquires the Spetifore lands and makes an unsuccessful application for the development of the entire property

1981

Spetifore, Wilson and Guichon farms removed from ALR by Provincial Order in Council No. 1936/74(attached below in a pdf file)

1981

Spetifore buys 138 acre Wilson farm, bringing the total Spetifor acreage to 758 acres.

1979

George Spetifore agrees to a plan proposed by the GVRD and Delta Council to apply for release from the ALR of the Spetifore lands west of Boundary Bay Road for housing. This ensured the non-ALR lands would be kept available for future park expansion.

1979

Delta Council, by a unanimous vote, agreed to apply to the provincial government to have the Spetifore, Guichon and Wilson lands excluded from the ALR.

1978

George Spetifore applies to develop the Spetifore lands east of Boundary Bay Road which are not in the ALR, unaware of the GVRD plans showing this land was desired for park.

1977

Greater Vancouver Regional District (now Metro Vancouver) prepares a plan for the expansion of the Regional Park on Boundary Bay, onto the lands east of Boundary Bay Road owned by the Spetifore family.

1973

Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) established in British Columbia. This included the Guichon and Spetifore farms between Boundary Bay Road and 56th Street as well as the Wilson farm south of Third Avenue.

1920s/1930s

Samuel Spetifore acquires several properties in the Southlands area, both east and west of Boundary Bay Road, which would become part of what became known as the Southlands.1880s Original settlement of the Delta area by pioneer families. This included the Alexander family on the property south of Third Avenue where now the Alexander/Gunn House has been restored as a heritage structure.