The Land Conservancy of B.C. is facing opposition to its plan to sell some of its properties as part of an effort to get rid of crippling debt.
At issue are the futures of Maltby Lake in Saanich, Joseph Lohbrunner Farm and Bird Sanctuary in Langford, and Wildwood eco-forest near Cedar.
The Land Conservancy, which has been in creditor protection since fall 2013, owes $8 million. Working with its court-appointed monitor, the non-profit group has drawn up a proposal that will go to creditors for a vote at 11 a.m. on March 30 at the Inn at Laurel Point, 680 Montreal St.
Certain properties are to be retained by The Land Conservancy, some are to go to conservation and heritage preservation organizations and some are to be sold to private buyers. The Land Conservancy aims to keep a few properties and focus on working with landowners who want protective covenants on their holdings.
The $500,000 sale of a portion of Lohbrunner Farm, donated by the late Norma Lohbrunner, was scrapped this week after a branch of the family objected, Land Conservancy director of operations John Shields said Friday.
And the Ecoforestry Institute Society is calling for public support to block a sale to a private buyer of 77-acre Wildwood, created by the late Merv Wilkinson.
“We are acting on behalf of the hundreds of donors who willingly gave time, effort and money to ensure that Wildwood will remain a sustainable, educational and publicly accessible working forest in perpetuity,” said Ecoforestry Institute chairman Roger Burgess.
An offer to buy Wildwood for $860,000, with a covenant to preserve the eco-forest, was retracted but is expected to be submitted again soon, The Land Conservancy said in its proposal document.
At Maltby Lake, the Holmes family is concerned about The Land Conservancy’s goal of selling its 35 per cent share of the site.
The late Catherine Holmes willed her share of the site to the organization, hoping to see a park established. Maltby Lake and its surrounding lands have been used for recreation by the Holmes family for decades. Four groups of family members are owners.
“The whole thing is upsetting because it is family property,” Michael Holmes said.
The family has not decided what position to take on the proposal, he said.
Under The Land Conservancy’s plan, Woody and Carmel Thomson would buy a 29 per cent share of the property for $750,000, with a protective covenant. Woody Thomson and Michael Holmes are cousins. The Friends of Maltby Lake Watershed Society would pay $250,000 for the remaining six per cent of the property, also requiring a covenant.
Local residents have been campaigning to preserve Maltby Lake, populated by freshwater jellyfish.
Despite all the battles, many aspects of The Land Conservancy’s plans are being applauded.
Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne is thrilled with a plan that would see the district own Monk’s Point, which, she says, is a key piece of history for Tofino and culturally important for the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations.
Town council has approved offering $250,000, already in reserve funds, to buy the land from The Land Conservancy. A covenant would protect the site from development.
To save the site, a donor has agreed to forgive a $1-million claim against The Land Conservancy on the condition that Monk’s Point goes to Tofino. Another donor, owed $75,000, will do the same.
A further plan to save Victoria’s Abkhazi Garden, filled with rhododendrons, has The Land Conservancy offering to sell its development density for $1.5 million. The idea is to put heritage designation on the garden and sell its density, which would permit a dozen townhouses, to a developer for another location.
