Petition Tag - burns bog

History of MK Delta Lands Group & How it happened:

• In 2004, when the Burns Bog area owned by the McLaughlins was under foreclosure, the McLaughlin family asked Jack Matthews to rescue the Bog from foreclosure. He did. (J.M. Pers. Comment, 2004.)

• Jack Matthews then sold Burns Bog minus the 525 acres to Delta, the GVRD (Metro Vancouver), the Province of British Columbia and the Federal Government.

• The original piece of bogland owned by the McLaughlin family included the three pieces currently owned by MK Delta Lands Group Inc.

• In 2005 the Kerbel family (Ontario) and Jack Matthews (originally from Ontario, now Dallas, Texas) created MK Delta Lands Group Inc.

10770 – 72nd Avenue, Delta – 89 acres (26 hectares)

• It is surrounded on two sides by Conservation Area. This isolates the land from the community.

• The peat ranges from 10-17 metres thick in this area. (AGRA Earth & Environmental Ltd., 1999a up to 21.8 metres or 70ft. Pers. comment, MK’s hydrologist, April 29,2012).

• A good part of this area is identified as moderate to high habitat (50-75% of the best in the province) suitable for three rare and endangered mammal species (Pacific Water Shrew, Southern Red-Backed Vole, Trowbridge’s Shrew).

• Partly covered with historic pine, spruce, and yew forest. (Map 5.5 Ecosystem Review 2000).

• Water flows back and forth underneath Highway 99 between this property and the property on the west side owned by MK Delta Lands Inc.

Other Concerns:

• Impacts on people’s health regarding diesel particles coming from roads. (South Fraser Perimeter Road Tech. Report No. 16, Page 39 states that there will be increased respiratory and cancer related illnesses due to the construction of the road)

• Potential impact on the Conservation Area. When/ where is the tipping point where the Conservation Area can no longer withstand buildings and roads on unprotected bogland?

• This area is in a floodplain area. Water flows downhill from the Panorama ridge.

2004 Survey by the Burns Bog Conservation Society

• 93% of the people responding to the survey stated that the Society should “keep working on ways to protect that extra 426 acres" (currently identified as 525 acres).

Is destruction of this land inevitable?

• Before this land can be rezoned for development, the Corporation of Delta must change its North Delta Area Plan, and Metro Vancouver must change its Regional Growth Strategy Plan.

• The MK Delta Lands Inc. qualifies for a tax benefit under the Canadian Ecological Gifts Program if it donates its land to the Burns Bog Conservation Society or another organization with a charitable tax number.

Voice your opinion: Mayor & Council at corp.delta.bc.ca

And please sign our petition!

Donations are always welcomed. https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true

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