The newest owners of a 230-acre waterfront property at the remote southwest end of Salt Spring Island hope to develop a private retreat centre there — and local Islands Trust officials say they’re breathing easier as the land becomes less likely to be carved up and fully developed.
The four parcels that comprise the Musgrave Farm and Retreat plan include acres of old-growth Douglas-fir forest environment, multiple existing residences and farm buildings and almost two kilometres of shoreline facing Sansum Narrows, according to an application for rezoning brought to the island’s Local Trust Committee Thursday, April 9. The historic agricultural property at 230 Smith Rd. was listed for sale at $14 million in 2022, and according to a rezoning application was sold by the Kellogg family to new owners David Menschel and his wife Nina Amstutz.
“I think we all were nervous when this property was for sale years ago, as to what it could have become due to this 1971 ‘vintage’ zoning that exists,” said local trustee Laura Patrick. “The potential that could have happened really could have changed that side of the island. So I’m so glad to see an owner that has taken the time and effort to really think about use of this land and bring forth an innovative proposal.”
According to application documents, in addition to a private residence and substantial conservation covenant on much of the property, the couple plan to found a retreat centre, itself independently owned and operated by a non-profit charitable organization. To that end, the project introduces a new definition into Salt Spring’s Land Use Bylaw: “retreat centre,” specifically requiring operations be guided by a non-profit society.
“This is a large piece of property that’s quite beautiful, quite special ecologically,” said Village Builders’ Elizabeth FitzZaland, representing the owners to the LTC Thursday. “It’s special to First Nations, special in the settler history of the island and Salt Spring’s farms. The owner is really looking to protect all those aspects of the property.”
The retreat centre concept was “born from the owners’ professional careers and philanthropic work in justice and the arts,” according to the application, “. . . envisioned as a place to support the healing, restoration and professional development of artists, social and environmental activists, understood broadly to include people from all sorts of occupations — writers, academics, filmmakers, journalists, ecologists, musicians, public interest lawyers, public health advocates, community organizers and Indigenous community leaders — people united by a common commitment to make life on earth more just, tolerant, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable.”
“It’s really a healing and arts retreat that would be done by scholarships,” said FitzZaland. “Small-scale cohorts in the high season.”
The centre will invite guests who will be provided accommodations and meals free of charge, funded through the nonprofit, according to the application, eventually accommodating as many as 20 guests — or “fellows” — from May through to September or October each year.
“Fellows” will be identified through a combination of invitation and application, according to the retreat’s vision description, based on their current projects and “contributions to the world of art and activism.”
“Some will come for a week, as a group, to meet, discuss common challenges and learn from one another,” according to the application. “Others will come for as long as a month and bring long-term projects with them; they might work on a book chapter, write an academic article, edit a documentary film, or complete a work of art.”
Guests and “fellows” will largely arrive via a small private boat operated by the Retreat Centre from Vancouver Island and Victoria Airport, according to a transportation plan; if included in the bylaw amendment, “retreat centre” programs and guest residencies will be constrained to more than two and fewer than 30 days in duration.
The proposal includes renovating some existing structures and building as many as 20 guest accommodation units without kitchens, according to a staff report, along with a main program building with communal dining and accessory uses.
Trustees directed staff to proceed with preparing a draft bylaw amendment to facilitate the change in use, refer the project to local advisory committees, First Nations and other applicable agencies for comment and schedule a community information meeting to be held at least two weeks prior to the LTC meeting where the draft bylaw is expected to receive first reading.
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