40 - Sunday, February 17, 1991 - North Shore News

Rogers development could change Bowen

THE ROGERS family continues to push ahead with plans to develop a giant tract of land on Bowen Island.

The 325-hectare, $120-million development on Cowan Point is slated to include a marina, an 18-hole golf course, a 125-bed lodge, a fast ferry service to Van- couver, commercial facilities and 350 residential lots.

According to Joe Rogers, who is heading up the project for the family, the current proposal will be good for Bowen Island.

The original plan was revised after the Rogers family listened to the concerns of local residents and made, what they call, major changes to the original proposal presented in 1989.

Some of those changes included reducing the number of single- family lots from 383 to 350, doubling the size of the smallest residential lots to one acre, reduc- ing the number of guest units in the ledge from 200 to 125 and restricting the number of building permits for single family homes to 60 per year on the site.

But many residents remain un- convinced that the development will not change the rural nature of Bowen Island.

Both Designs Priced At:

By Barry Forward Contributing Writer

Resident Jean) Jamieson said, “The present proposal would change the lifestyle on Bowen rad- ically and mean the centre of commercial activity would begin to shift away from Snug Cove."*

That, she said, is something many Bowen Islanders would have a hard time coming to terms with.

For the Cowan Point develop- ment to proceed the Rogers will have to convince members of the Islands Trust, which is the land- use authority on Bowen Island, to make several zoning changes that would enable them to increase densities on the site and build some of the amenities they are proposing, such as the golf course and guest lodge.

The changes are required because many aspects of the de- velopment run contrary to Bowen [sland’s Official Community Plan.

But, Joe Rogers remains deter- mined.

“Our family has been on

SNAASAABS ALY

Sir | ee v

er eA mG

jj

eye Aa tet

Bowen Island for 96 vears and we only intend to bring a good de- velopment to the island,”’ he said. “Our intent is not to change the island overnight, we've been here too long to see that happen.”*

The proposal is now in the hands of the Islands Trust, which hired a planning consultant to review the revised development and determine just how far it

deviated from the Official Com- munity Plan.

The next step is for the consul- amend-

tant to draft the bylaw

ments and present them to the trustees for first reading, which will take place in the next few weeks. At thar point) a public hearing will be scheduled to give members of the public an eppor- tunity to respond to the develop- ment.

“ALL that most Bowen residents know about this development is that at is) big.” said Jamieson. “And most are concerned about what the project will mean to their current lifestyles.”

“Equality is more than appearance”

Canadian Human Rights Commission

eae ae

i

Se very & Srorehquard not Included.

tg enc ay,

ii

iy nein

ull i

TORCHY Ss

IN THE VILLAGE

We will be closed fer holidays

Feb. 18 - Feb. 28 We'll be pleased to serve you March 1

1050 WQueens Rd. Edgemont Village 987-7444

RICHMOND 3251 SWEDEN WAY

(across from KER)

270-0045

GEoacA TEARS

VANCOUVER 1128 W. GEORGIA ST. (GEORGIA & THURLOW)

669-0045