Life on Gabriola TV Listens in on a Development Permit Debate at a Recent Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee Meeting

Life on Gabriola TV presents video of a heated debate over a development permit from the Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee’s (LTC) meeting held on September 14th. Chair Peter Luckman, along with Trustees Tobi Elliot and Susan Yates, reviewed an application for a development permit from Centre Stage Holdings, which seeks approval to cut down trees on property it owns on Gabriola.

Elliot challenged the request as she is not convinced the concerns of the Snuneymuxw First Nation have been adequately heard by the LTC itself and the company. Two representatives spoke about the company’s goals and confirmed there are no plans for a subdivision on the land, which contains some sensitive Indigenous sites.

The conversation became heated and, at one point, a company representative accused Elliot of rolling her eyes as she spoke. Luckman intervened and asked everyone to “calm down.”

Then another representative of the company spoke about the frustrations it has experienced getting a clear answer from the Snuneymuxw about why they do not support the use of the land for anything. He said, “It’s just some thing in the sky” and Elliot shot back, “Just some thing in the sky?”

Then the representative provided the following background: the applicant has been in discussion with First Nations for 20 years. Three archeological assessments have been done, the most recent one a couple of months ago, with a representative from the Snuneymuxw First Nation in attendance. The company has also agreed to register covenants to protect archeological sites on the property.

But that was the controversial nub of the meeting and until that is confirmed by staff and others, the LTC trustees voted to delay a decision until their next meeting in October.

(Note: This video is taken from the Islands Trust Zoom feed. The individual shown in the right-hand window is an applicant on a different matter who was admitted to the Zoom call prior to his application being discussed.)

Life on Gabriola TV is generously sponsored by: The Gabriola Arts Council https://artsgabriola.ca/

The Haven, Gabriola Island https://haven.ca/

Journalist: Theresa O'Leary