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Metchosin to hold referendum on land-swap deal with Langford, First Nation

Metchosin will hold a referendum on a deal that would change its boundary with Langford. Mayor John Ranns said the project’s scope warranted a district-wide vote. “This is probably the biggest thing that has happened for Metchosin,” he said.
Metchosin Langford Beecher Bay
Map shows proposed land swap by Langford, Beecher Bay First Nation and Metchosin.

Metchosin will hold a referendum on a deal that would change its boundary with Langford.

Mayor John Ranns said the project’s scope warranted a district-wide vote.

“This is probably the biggest thing that has happened for Metchosin,” he said. “We’ve always made it a policy that Metchosin residents get their say, and all of us [on council] felt uncomfortable about any other process.”

Council voted in favour of a referendum at a special meeting on Oct. 27. The referendum is scheduled for January.

The boundary adjustment is part of a land swap among Metchosin, Langford and the Beecher Bay First Nation.

Beecher Bay would transfer to Metchosin three Crown land parcels totalling 250 acres being offered to the band as part of a treaty package. The parcels would be protected as green space.

In return, Beecher Bay would receive ownership in a proposed business park on land straddling the Langford-Metchosin border. The boundary adjustment would place 380 acres of Metchosin lands within Langford, including all the lands for a business park, as well as land intended for residential use on Centre Mountain. Being within Langford boundaries would allow access to sewer services not available within Metchosin.

In addition to the three Crown parcels, Metchosin would retain a 92-acre parkland buffer to protect Metchosin Creek and provide a transition from Langford’s border to Metchosin’s rural land uses.

A tax-sharing agreement for the business park is also part of the deal, giving Beecher Bay tax revenues and providing Metchosin with compensation for the boundary adjustment.

About 150 people attended an open house last week, Ranns said.

“As expected, the people who have the concerns — which are legitimate concerns — are the ones nearest the subject property,” he said. “We’ll have more information that we’ll mail out, and we’ll probably have a town hall meeting.”

More than 50 per cent of Metchosin voters will have to cast ballots in support of the deal for it to go through, based on Election B.C. guidelines.

Langford will not have a referendum. Instead, those objecting can submit a signed elector form to the municipality by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 2. The deal will go through unless 10 per cent of Langford’s population submit forms.

Beecher Bay has presented the plan to its members and will not hold a referendum.

asmart@timescolonist.com