Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Seabird Island northeast of Agassiz has submitted a proposal to the District of Kent that would see a single home on a 117-acre lot converted into a mixed-use facility that could include uses like assemblies, dormitories for a cultural campus and education facility.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Seabird Island

Seabird Island Holdings Ltd. submits proposal for educational campus, dorm on 117-acre parcel northeast of Agassiz

Mar 25, 2024 | 9:33 AM

AGASSIZ — Seabird Island Holdings Ltd. has submitted a proposal to the District of Kent that would see a single home on a 117-acre lot converted into a mixed-use facility that could include uses like assemblies, dormitories for a cultural campus and education facility.

According to a staff report from District of Kent planner Bronwen Verigan, the property being envisioned for a mixed-use facility is located at 12499 Lougheed Highway east of Agassiz. The property is not located on any First Nations land or reserve.

Seabird Island Holdings Ltd. applied to amend the district’s Official Community Plan designation from agriculture and resource management to institutional and rezone the property from agricultural and resource management to institutional assembly. The district says discussions with the applicant reveal that Seabird Island intends to integrate traditional agriculture and food practices into the proposed development.

The staff report from Verigan states the Agricultural Land Commission has confirmed that a non-farm use application is not required if the renovated residence does not exceed ALC’s maximum floor area.

District staff reviewed the OCP guidelines and identified no concerns with the redesignation of land from agriculture and resource management to institutional. The governing philosophy behind the district’s institutional land use in the Official Community Plan takes into consideration places and venues that provide a foundation for community life and meet needs such as educational, spiritual and safety since they contribute to the overall well-being of the broader community.

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The property at 12499 Lougheed Highway in Agassiz is assessed at $1.7 million. According to B.C. Assessment records, the property was purchased on December 3, 2021 for $1.4 million.

Image: Google Maps / The red pin in the upper right section of this Google Maps picture shows the property in question at 12499 Lougheed Highway. The easternmost boundary of Seabird Island is pictured just to the southwest of the red pin.

A public hearing had been scheduled for Monday, March 25 to consider the bylaw amendment. However, it has been postponed at this point. No rescheduling date has been filed as of Sunday, Mar. 24.

“The Amendment bylaws 1508.25 and 1727 public hearing originally scheduled for March 25, 2024, at 7:00 PM has been postponed,” the district of Kent wrote on its X/Twitter account. “The updated hearing time will be announced once it is finalized. We appreciate your patience during this process. Stay tuned for further updates.”