Heritage area to grow in Steveston

A new designated heritage area in Steveston would stretch from Garry Point Park to London Farm and would better promote the fishing village to tourists, city planners say.

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A new designated heritage area in Steveston would stretch from Garry Point Park to London Farm and would better promote the fishing village to tourists, city planners say.

Proposed is the so-called Steveston Village and Cannery Row Heritage Area, which combines existing heritage plans and policies allowing the city and community groups to better market the area.

"It would, for the first time, clearly identify on one map the wide range of valued heritage resources along the waterfront including Shady Island," said Terry Crowe, manager of policy planning, in a staff report to be presented Wednesday to city council's planning committee.

The new area policy builds on a 2009 strategy that protects 17 heritage buildings and 77 other village elements from demolition. That strategy—the Steveston Village Conservation Strategy—requires such property owners to obtain a heritage alteration permit, along with other basic approvals, before making any exterior changes to their structures.

City councillors have suggested expanding the area the strategy protects, but staff say that isn't necessary, since government owns many excluded properties, such as Garry Point Park, Britannia Heritage Shipyard and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.

Even for privately held properties, staff say the city now has adequate regulations to protect heritage elements.

"By using existing heritage conservation plans, policies and regulations and not expanding the (strategy), the city can avoid duplicating heritage regulation," said Crowe in his report.

Staff are instead suggesting an integrated heritage promotional district they've dubbed the Steveston Village and Cannery Row Heritage Area.

If endorsed by city council, the area's accompanying policy would push the city to promote the area "to improve tourism, economic development and community livability by attracting visitors, tourism, partnerships, sponsorships and investment."