Richmond council is opposed to the large-scale MK Delta Lands industrial park proposal in Delta.
Despite a staff recommendation to support Delta’s proposed amendment to the Metro Vancouver regional growth strategy to allow the development, the majority of Richmond council this week voted to inform the region the city is opposed. Only Mayor Malcolm Brodie voted in favour.
Coun. Michael Wolfe warned the development would result in a direct loss of wildlife habitat and endangered plant species, while increased high speed vehicular traffic would pose a further danger to animals that live in Burns Bog.
Coun. Carol Day noted the land to be removed for the industrial development is being farmed and that it “doesn’t take a rocket scientist” to know more surrounding farmland would fall victim.
Saying it was a surprise the Agricultural Land Commission gave conditional approval, Coun. Harold Steves pointed out the site is only zoned for peat extraction, which hasn’t been done for decades, and that the port would follow suit by industrializing more land in the area.
Coun. Kelly Green agreed the entire area would eventually be lost to industrialization, saying it’s a bad deal that “highly enriches very wealthy people at the expense of people that live here, that depend on having good quality farmland, and making sure that our bog is protected.”
Earlier this summer, the Metro board granted first and second readings to a land use designation change from agricultural to industrial and referred the development proposal to municipalities for comment. Cities had until Sept. 6 to provide comment, although Richmond was allowed to submit its comments late.
Adjacent to Burns Bog, the development proposal west of Highway 91 near Nordel Way and the South Fraser Perimeter Road includes 2.2 million square feet of industrial space.
Delta council granted conditional approval following a public hearing in the summer of 2016, but final approval was pending a number of conditions being met.
The plan includes the transfer of all of MK Delta’s other land holdings, which total 132.7 hectares (328 acres), to the City of Delta for conservation, including land east of Highway 91 where the company had originally sought to build housing.
