CBPOA
December 7th, 2016 – Quarterly General Final Meeting Minutes
Beecher
Place
Directors
present: Andrew, Ed, Erik, Liz, Bruce, Rona, Robert, Derrick
1) Call to order: 7:30PM
2) Presentations: 2:1)
Matt Osler, City of Surrey Engineering
Matt presented the progress to date on the Surrey Coastal Flood Adaption
Strategy (CFAS), where Crescent Beach residents, as the first participants,
have been engaged in 3 community meeting/workshop discussions through 2016. The
next Residential Focus Group meetings will take place in February and will
include South Port, NicoWynd and Anderson Walk Strata Corporations. The
meetings will be advertised to the Crescent Beach meetings series participants.
Details of the Project, the history, participation and progress can be
found at www.surrey.ca/coastal and Matt can be contacted at coastal@surrey.ca
The meeting thanked Matt and Carrie with a round of applause.
2:2) Scott McDermid, Village Montessori School
Scott explained he is experiencing difficulties with the re-zoning
application to the City to expand the school, while retaining the Church
building, and asked for support from those present. (See the September 2015
Quarterly General Meeting Minutes for Scott’s original presentation to the
CBPOA). The City is asking him to appear in January which he hopes to move to
February.
The meeting requested, for clarification, that Scott outline in a note,
the specific issues for which he is seeking local support.
3) The new CBPOA Directors were
introduced, following the changes at the September AGM. President, Andrew Severson, Vice President,
Ed Searcy and Directors-at-Large Rona Tepper and Robert Doolan.
4) Approval of the September 7th,
2016 Quarterly General Meeting Minutes.
Proposed: Mark. Seconded: Scott. All in Favour.
5) Business arising from the
minutes: None.
6) Membership Report: Bruce reported that the membership today
stands at 404, with probably a few more to come this year. This represents the
strongest ever representation. Bruce expressed appreciation to all the
canvassers on behalf of the Association.
7) Treasurer’s Report: Liz reported on
the numbers. In the current financial year the CBPOA donated $1000 to Beach
House Theatre as a local volunteer organization, (in fiscal year 2015-2016 we
had donated $1000 to the Camp Alexandra Centennial celebrations). Liz invited members to suggest other potential
local organizations that we might consider in the future. The CBPOA has also paid out its portion of the
membership fees to the Blackie Spit Preservation Society, ($0.50 for every
CBPOA member as of June 30th).
Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report:
Proposed: Carolyn. Seconded:
Bruce. All in favour.
8) Thank you to our Directors who
retired in September.
Erik gave a big thank you to the Executive Committee members who had
retired at the September AGM and presented each of them with a small gift. In recognizing Mark, Malcolm, Carolyn and Art
for their years of commitment, Erik remarked that they had made his job as
President very enjoyable and so much easier.
The Membership thanked the recently retired Directors with a round of
applause.
Bruce then thanked Erik for his years of commitment as President, (Erik
having transitioned to the position of Past President at the September AGM). In
presenting Erik with a small gift, Bruce recognized all Erik’s hard work,
beyond what we see at the meetings, and for being a superb public face for the
Association in discussions with the City and rail safety stakeholders. “We now look forward to your years of wise
counsel as Past President”
The Membership thanked Erik with a round of applause.
9) Discussion of the November 16th,
2016 Church Property Potential Development workshop.
Andrew opened the discussion by expressing his view that he is looking to
get the temperature and pulse of the membership towards what was proposed at
the November 16th workshop and reminded everyone that any potential
development is still in its very early stages with nothing having gone forward
as an application to the City.
Andrew also reminded the meeting that the City is about to engage with
the Crescent Beach Community on the Review of the Crescent Beach Community Plan
and discussion about the future of the Church property fits right into this City led Land Use Review
Process.
(The City had been planning the first community meeting on this in
November and only postponed the meeting to January because of becoming aware of
the November 16th workshop).
Andrew suggested that perhaps we consider a survey of our own as a means
of helping to arrive at a consensus view among all our 400 members.
Members’ comments:
Several members expressed that
they felt deceived by what was shown at the workshop, as if it was a done
deal. “The church building at one end or
the other, four stories, condos or town homes, pitched or flat roofs, and those
are the only possible options.”
Most important preserving single family dwelling residential vs. preserving
the church building
How would more people get out of the village? How can the City
contemplate more development before the exit is dealt with.
Until the entrance/exit/rail crossing gets solved, particularly for
emergency vehicle access, can’t consider any further development.
Two main themes: 1) are we for preservation of the church or 2) are we
for/against higher density?
How could we handle the need for more parking?
Heard at the workshop; if we save the church we get some contingencies
with respect to density.
Preserving the church vs. higher density?
If higher density here, then it’s a precedent and what is the domino
effect?
Agree the workshop material gave the impression of high density in order
to preserve the church building, but lower density could also work.
The City is insisting the church building be recognized as a heritage
building and maintained. Need to address the City. Might suggest the City buy
the land and make it into a park. There is precedent for this.
In talking with the City Manager of Planning, following the article in
the Peace Arch News,(July 7th, 2016), gained the impression that
preserving the church building means higher density.
Stay with the zoning that is in the Crescent Beach Community Plan.
Having talked with the people in City Planning, the City is open to what
can be done along Beecher to make it more vibrant towards what the residents
want.
The City’s perception is that Crescent Beach wants the church building
preserved. This has not come from any CBPOA meeting. A comment came from one
person at the December 15th 2015 Quarterly General Meeting City
presentation of the Community Plan Review Process, (see Minutes).
It is time for the CBPOA to be on record that we want single family
dwelling residential.
Preserving the church building, what does it mean for the village?
There were no comments in favour of the November Workshop proposals.
Motion:
That the CBPOA conduct a survey using a questionnaire sent to all
Members
Proposed: Jim Mason. Seconded: Scott McDermid. All in favour.
-
To
gain members views towards working to a CBPOA consensus.
-
Must
include the name and address of the membership property.
-
Must
include space to allow people to give their opinion if it is not adequately covered
through the questions and answers.
10)
Correspondence: 10:1)
Note received from the Project Manager for Phase 2 of the Crescent Beach
drainage improvements, (storm sewer installation Sullivan St. to Wickson Rd.,
on Agar and Gardiner). Ground penetrating radar is being used to confirm the
presence of underground archaeological sites, to assist in planning the sewer
alignment. The radar investigation will be completed mid- January.
10:2) Whistle cessation. It had
been hoped that this would be in place by this fall. We are informed that the
City is waiting on a lease agreement with BNSF for the placement and
maintenance of additional fencing along part of the rail to prevent trespass.
11)
New
Business: 11:1) A question/concern was raised regarding the
renewal of the Paddle Board contract, (the previous 3 year contract having
expired October 31st, 2016), where it is felt by the member that the
City Parks Dept. should not go out for quotes for a new contract without an
opinion and guidance from the CBPOA.
The concern appears to be that while, as discussed, the Crescent Beach
Community Plan, (1999), speaks to “non-powered water related activities” within
the section on Commercial uses, what about the Blackie Spit Master Plan?
Members’ comments: Paddle boards are not offensive. If there is to be a
CBPOA opinion, it has to be from everyone, not just a few.
I’m concerned there is no consensus.
Those of us here are fortunate to live by the water and it’s hard to
represent that the other 500,000 people in Surrey should be prevented from
using the beach/water.
The paddle board operator hires local people in the summer months.
I like the coloured hut.
Following the discussion, the meeting agreed that a survey questionnaire on
this point should also be sent out to all members to gain input towards forming
a consensus opinion around the question of a paddle board commercial Enterprise
at the beach.
[Note: for more background information, members can Google “The Crescent
Beach Community Development Plan” and the “Blackie Spit Preservation Master
Plan”.
Considering the Blackie Spit Master Plan, (subsequent to the meeting): the
Vision statement for Blackie Spit Park is “To protect the long term
environmental integrity of Blackie Spit while providing opportunities for
community and nature-based uses”. Section 4:1 contains a statement of
objectives, one of which is to “provide opportunities for passive recreational
use, interpretation and education”. Section 4:2 then “outlines the activities
that have been identified as desirable program elements” which include
“non-motorized boating” and “organized activities and tours”. Stand up paddle
boarding, as we know it today, has only come-into-being since 1999, when the
two plans were first published].
11:2) There is a proposal now before City Council for a liquor store in
the small plaza at Crescent Road and 128th Street. (See the December
2015 Quarterly General Meeting Minutes for more information).
12)
Ideas
for beautification projects – for grant applications.
Beautification of the island at the McBride crossing was achieved through
a grant from the City and volunteer work. A second grant has just been approved
for beautification of the area outside the sports box on Sullivan.
Are there further ideas for beautification projects?
13)
Motion
to adjourn: Proposed: Sally Stewart, seconded: Carole, all in favour. Meeting adjourned at 8:50PM
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