Wait on recall
Zalm advocates holding off until early 2011
Everest ascent
3
Holly principal readies for fundraising climb
7
Tax incentives
Delta hoping to spur investment in Tilbury
13
Optimist
Beantown bound
Brodie Reid set to play at Northeastern University
Summer fun
Delta
Newsstand 50¢
27
YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT! WWW.DELTA-OPTIMIST.COM The Voice of Delta since 1922 SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2010
See Page 23
Tour de Delta keeps rolling throughout weekend
Circle of cool!
The 10th edition of the Tour de Delta continues tonight with the Brenco Criterium in Ladner Village. The fan-friendly race, one that sees riders fly around a onekilometre street course, will also double as the Canadian criterium championship for both men and women.
PHOTO BY
Three-year-old Makenzie Grant beat the heat by joining countless other youngsters at the Kinsmen Waterpark in Ladner’s Memorial Park this week.
CHUNG CHOW
Racing begins at 5:15 p.m. and continues through to 9 p.m. The annual cycling weekend, which got underway last night with the MK Delta Prologue in North Delta, continues tomorrow morning with the White Spot Road Race. The women will do all their 85 kilometres of racing in Tsawwassen, while the men will begin their 140-kilometre trek in North Delta. The finish line for both races is at Winskill Park. It’s not all competitive cycling, however, as the weekend will also feature a Community Ride and Pancake Breakfast this morning at Holly Park and a Kids Crit and wheelbarrow races this afternoon in Ladner Village.
Major housing plan for reserve Individual Tsawwassen First Nation members join forces in an attempt to develop more than 1,000 homes BY
SANDOR GYARMATI
sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com
Kim Baird TFN chief
A major housing development could be on its way at the Tsawwassen First Nation reserve. A request for proposals has been issued by Colliers International to purchase and develop 50 hectares (123 acres) that has the potential for 1,100 single-family lots or multiplefamily housing. The land, located between Highway 17 and Tsawwassen Drive North, would be purchased
on a 99-year prepaid lease. Chief Kim Baird told the Optimist the project is not an initiative of the band’s leaders, but individual members who own the land under what’s known as fee simple interest. She said the land is in an “enterprise zone” within the TFN’s land use plan approved by members last year. Under the zoning, a variety of uses would be permitted except industrial. “If it complies with the existing land use plan, they won’t need (band council) approval. The land
use plan sets out densities and permissible uses,” said Baird. “But in reality, as the lands get developed, council and our staff will have to be involved in it, ensuring there’s roadways and proper infrastructure. So there will be regulatory involvement from our government.” Last month an industrial park, the Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre, was launched on the reserve, marking the band’s first major post-treaty economic initiative. Baird said the TFN is currently
focusing on industrial development opportunities. The band is also in talks with a company about opening retail in its commercial zone. Wanting the develop carefully, the band, for the time being, isn’t looking at building housing, said Baird, noting she sees some exciting possibilities down the road. “We’re taking advantage of the most feasible opportunities first. While we have some pressures to start building an economy and See TFN page 3