First-of-its-kind rezoning condition will give portion of parcel to Penelakut
After several years of discussions between the Galiano Island Local Trust Committee (LTC) and Penelakut Tribe, the Islands Trust’s Executive Committee has approved novel bylaws that will for the first time transfer land to that First Nation as a condition of rezoning a larger parcel.
Penelakut Tribe will be receiving approximately 36 hectares (89 acres) in total once the subdivision is complete, according to Lasqueti Island trustee Tim Peterson, who chairs Galiano’s LTC. The bylaws related to the rezoning were approved by the Executive Committee Wednesday, Feb. 25. Local staff and trustees agreed the process had “strengthened the working relationship and enhanced communication between Penelakut Tribe and the Galiano Island Local Trust Committee.”
“There’s a bit more work to go,” said Peterson on Wednesday. “But I think the final adoption of these bylaws, once they return to the Galiano Local Trust Committee, will be cause for celebration.”
The property at the centre of discussions lies south of Dionisio Point Provincial Park at the north end, where proponents are rezoning a large piece of forest-zoned land into several split zones that will include a site-specific Rural Residential zoning, Park (P), Forest 3 (F3) and Nature Protection (NP).
A condition of the rezoning requires the applicant to register on title both a sustainable forestry management covenant and a Section 219 covenant, the latter of which includes a prescription to shift ownership of much of the property to the Penelakut Tribe.
It has been nearly a full year since Chief Chakeenakwaut Pam Jack provided written confirmation to Islands Trust staff that Penelakut Tribe “gratefully” accepted the proposed land donation as presented in the application, according to Trust staff; Jack had attended numerous LTC meetings and spoken in support of both the application and the proposed land transfer to Penelakut Tribe.
The rezoning application would also legalize some existing residential uses in compliance with the Galiano Island Official Community Plan, according to a staff report. The bylaws received first reading this past summer, and second reading in December. A public hearing was held Feb. 10 and the bylaws received third reading at the same meeting.
Trustees said trust staff intend to post a news release shortly.
This article has been updated since publication to correct acreage figures.