Highlands could be finished its long search for a community hall after a family offered the District 20 acres of land.

Fred York is willing to give Highlands the land, and in return, he has requested a subdivision of nine additional residential lots, each between three and five acres.

With two grown children and two grandchildren, York wants to be able to pass land on to family members.

B次元官网网址淭he property has been in my family for over 60 years,B次元官网网址� said York, 51, a lifelong resident of Highlands. B次元官网网址淢y children canB次元官网网址檛 get a mortgage with the land in my name. TheyB次元官网网址檒l inherit it anyways, but it can be very problematic the way it is now.B次元官网网址�

There are two adjacent properties in the request for rezoning at the intersection of Millstream Road and Finlayson Arm Road. The larger lot is about 60 acres and the smaller lot is nearly 10 acres.

The idea to donate the land to the District came to York after he heard the community centre task force put out a request for the public to submit ideas of potential locations for a community centre.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of people donB次元官网网址檛 want development in the Highlands,B次元官网网址� York said. B次元官网网址淯nless the community is getting something you donB次元官网网址檛 get rezoning.B次元官网网址�

The pressure is on for the district to build a community centre B次元官网网址� the provincial grant for the project expires in March 2013.The grant will cover 80 per cent of the cost up to $400,000.

The community centre task force has looked at the area and thinks it will be a good fit, said Highlands Coun. Sigurd Johannesen, council liaison to the task force. B次元官网网址淭he committee has already endorsed it, but the rezoning is a council matter.B次元官网网址�

The close proximity of the site to Mary Lake is an added bonus, Johannesen pointed out.

B次元官网网址淚t connects to the Mary Lake property and forms a link to the trails in that area.B次元官网网址�

A few months ago the task force held a public open house for the Finlayson Arm Road location. B次元官网网址淭here was very strong public support for that site,B次元官网网址� Johannesen said.

Prior to this option the task force was looking into two other locations for a potential community centre, one connected to the municipal hall and another site next to the west fire hall.

While both of those locations are on the table, Johannesen explained parking would be limited at the municipal hall and building space could be limited at the fire hall location.

B次元官网网址淲e need a hall for the communityB次元官网网址檚 sake,B次元官网网址� York said. B次元官网网址淭here is nowhere to hold a meeting here, all of the buildings are too small. When there is an election we have to move all the fire trucks and use the fire hall.B次元官网网址�

With the 20 acre property, York said it could be possible to move the municipal hall and fire department onto the lot. B次元官网网址淭his land is big enough to grow in the future,B次元官网网址� York said.

B次元官网网址�(The rezoning) is going through the process and it will take some time,B次元官网网址� Johannesen said. B次元官网网址淚f the rezoning doesnB次元官网网址檛 work, then we will have to go back to (the other two locations).B次元官网网址�

YorkB次元官网网址檚 application has been submitted to council. B次元官网网址淚f you want to rezone a property it has to be in the greater good of the everybody,B次元官网网址� Johannesen said.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com