Tim Collins/B次元官网网址 staff

A plan for Island View Beach, seven years in the making, still has a significant error at itB次元官网网址檚 heart, according to the Friends of Island View Beach (FOIVB) and at least one Capital Regional District (CRD) Board member is having reservations about passing the plan in its current form.

The issue, according to the FOIVB, involves the proposed closure of a significant part of the north beach to the public. Carol Best, FOIVB spokesperson, explained that the area is one of the most popular areas of the beach, between the high tide line and the berm pathway in the northern section of the park, an area characterized by logs and soft sand.

Mick Hicks, a member of the CRD Board of Directors, told the Peninsula B次元官网网址 Review he is leaning toward the position of the FOIVB after spending considerable time researching the issue and making visits out to the disputed area.

B次元官网网址淚 was out there recently, watching as 20 families were in that area with their little tents and blankets. I watched the children playing in the logs and IB次元官网网址檓 really weighing what is best for this piece of ground. What are we really closing it for?B次元官网网址� said Hicks, adding that the issue has caused him to do some very real soul searching.

On the opposite side of the dispute, and in support of the CRDB次元官网网址檚 plan, Mike Simmons is a past member of the collaborative group consulting on the plan. HeB次元官网网址檚 also a member of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory and said he feels the closure is defensible on the basis of the harm human use may have on some of the plants in the area; plants listed as at risk.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 a contention challenged by Best, who said the plants in question, where they do exist in the area, are doing fine and are not impacted by beach users.

But, beyond the advisability of closing down the section of beach in question, there is a nagging issue of whether the CRD even has jurisdiction over the land they intend to close to the public.

In an email obtained by the B次元官网网址 Review, the Senior Deputy Surveyor General for B.C., Jeff Beddoes, confirmed that the boundary of the park is determined by a change in soil and vegetation, a position long maintained by FOIVB.

This means the disputed area slated for closure appears be crown land, beyond the jurisdiction of the CRD. Beddoes goes on to say that it is B次元官网网址渁ppropriate to have a BC land surveyor conduct a field survey and place wooden stakesB次元官网网址� to mark the boundary of demarking the CRDB次元官网网址檚 land and that B次元官网网址渋f an activity is taking place on Crown land without authorizationB次元官网网址� the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources could take action.

ItB次元官网网址檚 an issue well known to Hicks, who recounted how he had raised the question with staff at the CRD and had been assured that they would do a survey prior to in installing fencing and signage. The park plan, however makes no mention of the need for a survey and the map of the proposed restricted area presented as part of the plan runs counter to the information provided by Beddoes.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 see the plan going through in itB次元官网网址檚 current form, and I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be surprised to see some ammendments proposed at the July 12 meeting,B次元官网网址� said Hicks.