The McBarge proposal in Mission has cleared one more hurdle.
Last night Mission Council gave third reading to the zoning application that would allow the old Expo barge to be converted into a space for a restaurant, tap house, and float plane marina.
Developer Howard Meakin says it’s terrific to move forward after all the time he’s spent on it.
“It had taken 3 and a half years, but it’s taken this council that was put in place in December no longer than 2 months to get everything together and now the work begins. I’m looking forward to seeing this project actually happen.”
Mayor Ted Adlem says the district had spent a lot of time on this without anything actually happening.
“I personally think that Howard Meakin is a developer who wants to put his money where his mouth is, and I think we should give him the opportunity to do that.”
Now Meakin has to either acquire or get access to the Uplands to build parking in order for the zoning bylaw to get final adoption.
Close to a hundred people came out to the public hearing, with about a quarter getting up to speak.
Most were in favour of the development but many wanted some kind of assurance that if things didn’t pan out Mission wouldn’t be stuck with an empty barge.