Location

GIGARHS acknowledges the deep privilege of living upon the unceded and asserted lands of the Penelakut, Lamalcha and Hwlitsum First Nations, as well as other Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples, and the treatied territory of the Tsawwassen First Nation.

1663 Georgia View Road

TIMELINE

1995

Galiano’s Official Community Plan, completed in 1995, indicates strong community intention for creating affordable housing and makes specific provision for the consideration of higher density housing towards that end. The 2005 establishment of the Community Forest Covenant anticipated and permitted the creation of affordable housing. A small portion of the land was dedicated for Affordable Housing at such time that a viable organization was able to proceed with it.

1995

2008

In 2008, the Forest Management Plan, approved by the Galiano Club membership and the covenant holders of the Community Forest, identified a 17 acre area within the Heritage Forest as the Affordable Housing Zone in which a 5 acre parcel could be developed for future affordable housing.

2008

2018

In 2018, GIGARHS began working with the Galiano Club and the two parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to explore how to rezone and subdivide the Georgia View property for development into an affordable housing project. The existing 2 ha site was chosen after careful and repeated assessment of the area by a recognized local environmental expert using best practices.

The Affordable Housing Zone meets the following criteria:

Access: must have frontage on Public Road Dedication
Minimize forest fragmentation
Minimize impact on protected ecology
Adjacent to existing rural residential areas and related services, (hydro, phone, etc)

2018

APRIL, 2019

In April of 2019, GIGARHS made an offer to the Galiano Club to purchase two hectares of land located in the portion of the Community Forest designated as an Affordable Housing zone. A revised offer was signed on November 6, 2020.

APRIL, 2019

SEPTEMBER, 2019

In September of 2019, GIGARHS, acting as agent for the Galiano Club, submitted an application for rezoning of the site to allow for up to 12 affordable and secure homes. The housing development would be managed by GIGARHS under a formal housing agreement.

SEPTEMBER, 2019

AUGUST 2020

In August 2020 The Galiano Club presented the findings of their 10 year Forest Management Plan Review. They held two site visits, the first for neighbours and the second for all community members. Unable to host a public information session at the South End Hall, due to covid restrictions, they provided information and took questions at the Saturday Market on three different dates.

AUGUST 2020

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER, 2020

In September and October 2020

Due to covid restrictions, GIGARHS had a table at the Saturday Market for five consecutive weeks to increase public awareness, provide information, answer questions, hear concerns and register new members.

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER, 2020

NOVEMBER, 2020

In November 2020, at their AGM, The Galiano Club membership voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting the Revised Community Forest Management Plan. The Review addressed all zones including:

The Protected Stand Network
The Sustainable Forestry Zone
The Community Park and Shore Access Zone
The Hydro Transmission Line Zone
The Affordable Housing Zone

If our rezoning is approved by the Islands Trust, the Galiano Club has agreed to provide the land for a nominal $10.

NOVEMBER, 2020

GIGARHS has hired Galiano registered professional biologist Keith Erickson to undertake an ecological impact assessment of the proposed 2 hectare site within the Affordable Housing Zone.

NOVEMBER, 2020

road access & trails

The site would be developed to make use of existing features. The Georgia View Extension Road beyond the existing gate would be upgraded to the standards of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for a subdivision. This road upgrade would improve a portion of the emergency access road.

The old logging road off of the Georgia View Road extension would be upgraded to become the driveway into two vehicle parking lots for two six-plexes. It is anticipated that none of the existing forest would be significantly impacted by this road upgrade.

Existing walking trails would not be impacted although some portions may be temporarily re-routed for safety reasons during the construction phase.

Community Engagement

Right now, we are in the Local Trust Committee rezoning process. There are numerous opportunities for community members to have their say about the project.

Get Involved

We welcome hearing your questions, concerns and ideas anytime. Please reach out to us through our contact form.

Volunteer

We would love to have you join our efforts by helping with research, fundraising, writing letters of support, spreading the word and anything else you can offer.

Donate

Financial donations and gifts in kind are always welcome and gratefully appreciated. We expect to be able to issue charitable tax receipts in the very near future.