Builders of the Watermark project were at the Jan. 18 Sechelt council meeting, asking for a variance to the noise bylaw to install underground services at night between Jan. 30 and Feb. 3.
The project sits at the corner of Teredo Street and Inlet Avenue and the night time work is needed because the Ministry of Transportation and Highways will not allow one lane alternating traffic on a highway during the daytime. Teredo Street serves as the highway route through Sechelt.
That leaves only the evening for the work that involves ripping up the roadway at the intersection to install underground sewer and electrical infrastructure for the project.
Director of engineering Ken Tang said the work will be completed between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., ending at 7 a.m. on Feb. 3.
The operation calls for the use of two excavators, one dump truck and a compactor. A representative of Wakefield Construction Inc. said most of the concrete sawing will be done in the daytime to help lessen the sound impact.
Councillors wanted to make sure the neighbours would be notified about the upcoming work as soon as possible and the company committed to the request.
Council passed the noise bylaw variance, and Coun. Chris Moore had some parting words for Wakefield Construction Inc.
"I just wanted to commend the contractor for the work done to date in terms of how orderly it's been on the road," Moore said. "I'm quite impressed with the cleanliness, [keeping] the dust down, [clearing] the mud. I think there have been great efforts made in that regard."
SCARFS
Executive director of the Sunshine Coast Youth Soccer Association (SCYSA) Norm Blair came to council Wednesday night to introduce a new society and ask for support to build "a field for everyone" at Chatelech Secondary School.
Blair is the executive director of the newly formed Sunshine Coast Athletic and Recreation Facilities Society (SCARFS).
The group is meant to represent all recreational users and plans to prioritize and push worthwhile recreation projects on the Coast over the next 10 years.
The group's vision is to "function in a collaborative environment through a unified voice of community members to present significant projects to government, business and organizations with one voice."
SCARFS also plans to ensure that all projects increase economic activity, are easily accessible to residents and open up financial avenues to off-Coast funding.
The first project SCARFS is promoting is an all-weather, fully-lit playing field, with a 2,000-seat stadium, that could serve users 24/7 and offer opportunities for tournament play.
The idea came from Blair's work with the SCYSA.
"In 2007 on Dec. 11 the soccer association presented this dream, after looking at a number of fields on the Sunshine Coast, of where an artificial turf might be a suitable location. This happens to be at Chatelech," Blair said. "The land area's clear and there's really no environmental concerns there. The fields have been continually in a low state of maintenance."
In an on-line survey of 487 members of the SCYSA, Blair said 91 per cent were in favour of creating an artificial turf field at Chat.
"We have some requests for the District of Sechelt to consider, a little bit of a wish list so let's see how we can look at this," Blair said, asking for contributions of green space and $50,000 for a needed retaining wall. He also asked the District to look at increasing access routes between the Chat field and Kinnikinnick Park and to talk with the school district about ways to advance the project.
Council thanked Blair for the presentation, but made no specific move to support the plan.
