FVRD reviewing plan to build almost 300 homes in tiny Lake Errock, population 343

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According to Google Maps, the town has one gas station, one church, and a Canada Post location. The nearest elementary school is about seven kilometers away. FVRD lists on its website a fire department, North Fraser Fire Hall No. 2, in town at 43824 Watkins Road.

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Documents from the applicant indicate the property is currently utilized as a gravel mining operation under a temporary use permit. The properties in question carry an Official Community Plan designation of LU, or limited use, which is intended to minimize developmenti n remote, inaccessible, hazardous, or environmentally sensitive areas. However, the applicant indicates geotechnical and environmental assessment conducted for this project show that the area can accommodate a broader range of uses without being affected by any geological hazards or damage to any environmentally sensitive areas.

“This supports the redesignation of land through the OCP amendment from LU to proposed residential and mixed industrial and commercial land uses,” engineer Andrew Baker and project manager Samira Khayambashi wrote in proposal documents on behalf of Aplin & Martin, a consulting company retained by GWEB Holdings. “The proposed land uses will accommodate diverse residential and employment uses on the site. The proposed land uses are discussed in the Land use and Policies document.”

An archaelogical investigation in partnership with Stó:lo Research and Resource Management Centre was done in late 2021 and early 2022, and found no evidence First Nations features or materials were present on the properties in question.

Recognizing the critical need to consult nearby First Nations to both the southwest and northeast, Giesbrecht & Company was engaged by Aplin Martin (AM) to consult First Nations for what’s being called the Harrison Rise development project.

“In understanding the importance of First Nations support for this project, meetings with Sq’ewlets First Nation began in August 2021,” Khayambashi wrote. “This included weekly and biweekly stakeholder meetings with Sq’ewlets First Nation Councillor/Leadership. The project team presented the proposed project update during a consultation session with the Sq’ewlets First Nation Elders on April 13, 2022 and met with the Sq’ewlets First Nation Elders again on May 31 , 2022 to present the proposed plan for the development. Sts’ailes First Nation communicated with Sq’ewlets First Nation leadership as agreed between the proponent’s consultants and Sq’ewlets First Nation partnership. Consultation with Leq’a:mel First Nation also began in August 2021.”

Project updates have been communicated with Leq’a:mel First Nation by Sq’ewlets First Nation leadership as agreed between the consultants and Sq’ewlets First Nation partnership, Khayambashi indicated.

Harrison Rise project intends to acknowledge and maintain the indigenous culture and enrich its sense of place and belonging. This project will dedicate 16.6 acre potential park and environmental area to Sq’ewlets First Nation and will also propose First Nation’s arts and features in amenity space to represent First Nation’s culture.