The District of Metchosin is exploring the possibility of using 113 acres of buffer land as a space for post-secondary students’ research.
Using the buffer land as a place where post-secondary students could research would go along with the recommendation from the district’s Buffer Land Working Group (BLGW) as that council is considering the primary recommendation of having the space as a protective ecological space.
Coun. Jay Shukin has received interest from a University of Victoria student in the ecological restoration program who suggested using the land for research.
“That’s just one little bit of research interest that we could entertain as we go along,” said Shukin.
The council voted Nov. 7 to ask the BLGW what the rezoning process would be, what a park management plan could involve, and what the budget could be in terms of managing the buffer land as a protective ecological buffer.
“What we’ve done is we’ve asked staff to come back with more information so council can do further deliberation on what the next steps are with the buffer land,” said Shukin.
At the council meeting on Oct. 4, the municipality was given three options by the working group. The first option was to do nothing about the land, which was eliminated at the most recent council meeting. The other options were to rezone the buffer land to Parkland P3, or to keep the idea of selling the land to the CRD which has continued to be in discussion since 2017.
READ MORE: Relationships strained over Metchosin buffer zone sale
READ MORE: Metchosin buffer land eyed for special conservation zoning in draft plan
Metchosin has been feeling pressure to decide on what to do with the land as the provincial government soon could be eyeing the land.
“I’ll just add the elephant in the room, which is the provincial government’s housing plan. I think we’ve only had a moment to look at the legislation,” said Shukin during the council meeting. “It’s not entirely clear what will happen to the housing in Metchosin and so I think we need to get that clear before we move too far down the path here in terms of rezoning these things. You know, what is our role in the provincial housing strategy? Because this is the only property of significance that is publicly owned sitting right beside sewer and water hook-up. So we decide that we’re full-court press on preserving this piece of property when we face the province.”
The next council meeting will be on Nov. 20.
Black Press Media has reached out to the Sc’ianew for comment.
ALSO READ: Langford has third most shopping centre vacancy after Saanich, Victoria
