Director of Planning Staats says the developer can apply for a tree cutting permit in advance of a building permit
(By News Desk)
Town of Gibsons staff has lifted the stop work order for Block 7 Gospel Rock. The Town is satisfied owner and developer Ji Yan will abide by the conditions in the development permit. The order was lifted on May 26.
“The tree protection fencing is placed on site appropriately now and, in addition to the improved on-site markings, the developers will meet the requirements of the Development Permit,” the Town’s Director of Planning Lesley-Anne Staats told The Coast Clarion in an email.
The Town imposed a stop work order for the development on December 21 after three trees in the buffer zone on the edge of the nature area to be protected were damaged, according to initial reports by the Town.
In April, the subcontractor who had worked on the site said that 2 to 3 acres of forest were felled in November. The Coast Clarion took pictures of felled arbutus trees and trees in the nature area to be protected.
During council meetings it became clear that more had happened than damage to three trees, but details remained vague. The developer was fined $900 for infractions of the Tree Preservation Bylaw.
When The Coast Clarion asked Staats if it is correct to assume the Town will not issue a permit to cut more trees on Block 7 until a building permit is in place, she replied “No, that’s not correct. A tree cutting permit may be issued in advance of a building permit if they apply for one. It really depends on the intention of the tree cutting and whether it meets the requirements of the tree bylaw.”
The title to Block 7 contains a covenant that almost half of Block 7 is to be preserved as a nature area. However, the covenant does not contain measures or consequences if the area is disturbed. The owner, the Town, the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA) and The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) are engaged in talks about a further covenant to protect the area.
Development on Gospel Rock has been controversial for at least forty years. Hundreds of people have campaigned to buy Block 7 for park use.
In a letter dated May 27, Elphinstone residents N. Gaudry and S. Danroth asked the town what it is going to do about the 2 to 3 acres of trees that were lost in November.
“Now that this catastrophe of tree cutting has occurred, what is the remedial action plan going forward?” they asked.
Developer Ji Yan did not return calls about when the work on Block 7 will resume.