New sign
Council votes to make changes to new Ladner sign
3
Fire fundraiser
Event to raise funds for fire victims on today
7
Pipe band
DPD Pipe Band set to perform at PNE
15
Optimist Delta
Newsstand 50¢
Girls of summer
Ladner players help B.C. win girls Bantam title
Hospice Update
YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT! WWW.DELTA-OPTIMIST.COM The Voice of Delta since 1922 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
Eagle release
16
See Page 3
Council endorses draft Tsa. area plan BY
SANDOR GYARMATI
sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com
PHOTO BY
DAVID FRIEDERICH
Jill Foster, a longtime OWL (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society) volunteer, released a young eagle back into the wild Saturday eight weeks after it fell from its nest at the Westham Island Bridge. The eagle was rescued by the Bates family, who own a farm near the nesting site, after it was found under their truck on July 3. OWL volunteers had attempted to rescue the eagle, which had not had any food or water for four days during a heat wave, earlier that day but could not find the barely fledged bird. The bird, who was named McIvor, was captured by Vancouver SPCA and then turned over to OWL. After two months of recovering at the East Ladner facility, McIvor was released back into the wild within sight of the nest where it hatched. Members of the Bates family were present for the release.
There was hardly a mention about the Southlands as council endorsed the proposed new Tsawwassen Area Plan moving to the public hearing stage. On Monday, the civic politicians agreed to send the draft area plan back to staff, which will come up with a bylaw that’s tentatively scheduled to go to a public hearing Oct. 26. The new area plan calls for modest growth, explained community planning director Tom Leathem. Some elements in the new plan that council may end up changing, based on their discussion this week, included the proposed four-storey height limit for buildings in the town centre. Several council members noted it would leave no incentive for property owners to redevelop. Coun. Anne Peterson described the limit as “a waste of vertical real estate.” Another issue was the proposed height limit for homes in Beach Grove and Boundary Bay. The idea of retaining a slightly higher limit for properties fronting the beach didn’t sit well with councillors. Coun. Bruce McDonald noted the height issue should be examined for Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta as a whole. The proposal to designate the power line corridor as a potential townhouse area was also discussed. Coun. Anne Peterson wanted to remove that provision but her motion was rejected. Coun. Heather King said she’d support such a designation if it meant a developer would have enough financial incentive to bury the power lines. The new area plan calls for the designation of the Southlands property to be maintained as agricultural. McDonald started off the area plan discussion by reading a statement expressing his disappointment that members of the Tsawwassen Area Plan Committee, which he chaired, were accused of being bias. He said there was a “win or lose” attitude by some in the community who also attacked staff. The bylaw will come to council for first and second reading Sept. 13.