The Islands Trust and the Agricultural Land Commission may have paved the way for Slegg Lumber to establish a new building supply centre on Salt-spring Island, but don't expect ground to be broken anytime soon.
According to Bob Slegg, the family-owned company hasn't made concrete plans for a new Saltspring location. "We do own some additional property there, but we haven't made any firm plans to relocate or do a new building," Slegg said. "Some rezoning has gone through, and ultimately, yes, [a new location] is our intent. But is it going to happen next year, the year after or the year after? That is unknown."
Last month, the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee approved new zoning on Beddis Road that would allow subdivision of the five-hectare property to allow for a new building supply centre and agricultural production facility.
Beddis Developments Ltd., controlled by the Slegg family, initiated the rezoning application.
According to an Islands Trust statement, the Agricultural Land Commission agreed to allow exclusion of a portion of the site from the Agricultural Land Reserve.
In return for the exclusion, the ALC would see just over a half hectare and funding provided by Beddis Development for the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust Society, which would in turn establish a farm-grown food distribution centre on the site.
Though the Slegg family is not about to act on the rezoning immediately, the Islands Trust expects Slegg Lumber to relocate and expand its existing island location at the site.
Rezoning allows for the construction of a 3,250square-metre retail and wholesale facility.
Measures were put in place during the rezoning process to retain storm water drainage on site and to protect two watercourses on either side of the property.
A tree setback will remain to buffer neighbouring agricultural lands.
