Sechelt council is asking for expression of interest for the development of the Field Road airport. The deadline for applications will be early April.
During that time council will also schedule a committee of current airport users and the general community.
Mayor Cam Reid said council would consider the community expectations and wishes and then make a decision. The earliest the decision could be made is April.
This comes after a proposal made to council Jan. 27 by Yrainucep Development Corp. (YDC). The proposal includes lengthening the runway to 7,200 feet to make jet usage viable and building a private recreational airport with destination vacation homes and facilities to train workers in various aviation fields.
Don Greer, president of YDC, said his group has been interested in developing the airport since 2003 but has only recently formally launched the idea to the community. Because of the booming construction business on the Coast and the costs for financing, Greer is anxious for the decision. "The delays are costing us a lot of inconvenience," Greer said. He said reaction in the community to his firm's proposal has been "incredibly, all positive."
"We will go to other communities that recognize the benefits of our model if Sechelt does not accept our proposal in a timely manner," Greer said.
At present Greer is in Ontario for meetings with both the federal government and other communities interested in his company's concept.
Greer is also meeting with representatives from the B.C. Institute of Technology on Feb. 26 to set up a joint venture. YDC would build a school at the proposed airport to train students in the carbon-fibre aircraft business.
