Wildwood residents were given notice that the first phase of an agricultural project on the large tract of agricultural reserve land near Wildwood bluffs is set to begin in the coming weeks.
City of Powell River councillor and portfolio holder for planning Rob Southcott said Starium Development, a company owned by Shih-tao Lu, informed the city of the planned start with a surveyor's letter received on August 30.
Southcott said he thought the notice, though not required, was a way to let the broader community know what is happening.
“There’s nothing earthshaking at all about this, but of course the community is particularly wide-eyed as to what is going to happen,” said Southcott.
Wildwood Ratepayers Association sent the city a letter last December stating that the neighbourhood organization was very interested in the prospective development and that it follows the city’s official community plan.
According to ratepayers secretary Susan Hainstock, residents hope Wildwood’s rural ambience and agricultural focus is echoed in the new development. Ratepayers want Lu invited to one of the group’s meetings to talk about the plans and to see if it is possible to preserve some of the walking trails on the property, said Hainstock.
“The general consensus is we’re happy if there's going to be agriculture included in the project,” said Hainstock. “The trails question still has yet to be determined.”
According to the letter, work on the agricultural land reserve portion of the 600 acres Lu bought in 2015 will involve land clearing to prepare planting for development of a vineyard, orchard, flower beds and a farm estate next spring.
A soil and environmental assessment determined the soils are suitable for agriculture and that no environmentally sensitive sites exist within that portion of the land, stated the surveyor's letter.
Southcott said the land has many invasive plants and disposal of them will likely involve burning, which will be done in compliance with city and provincial requirements once the weather is wetter.
Southcott said he thinks Lu is wise for taking his time with the development and recognizing the community’s worries about the land being developed.
“The way to make it successful for both sides is for there to be a connection,” said Southcott. “Mutual success is the only thing I’m interested in.”
