When stonemason Jody Parry applied for mining permits on lands near Porteau Cove a few years ago, he had his eyes on mineral-rich boulders littering the barren landscape for his company, Bellaroc Masonry, to source its granite.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we do 鈥� we break rocks and put them on houses,鈥� Parry said.
A Squamish resident of nearly 40 years, Parry represents the third generation in the family business.
The local stonemason is up against one of the country鈥檚 largest real estate developers in a court fight over Howe Sound property.
Parry knew the site where he鈥檇 applied to mine was once a sand and gravel pit run by John Deeks, whose employees lived in a small community in Porteau Cove until the Great Depression. Deeks鈥� legacy in the area remains, with a lake, a peak and a creek bearing his name.
But what Parry didn鈥檛 know is that his permits, good for five years, were stepping on the toes of Concord Pacific, one of the country鈥檚 largest developers. Dating back to 2004, Concord鈥檚 plans for a 1,400-home community in Porteau Cove were sunk by the global financial crisis of 2008. Since then the lands have sat empty and were mired in controversy when the company bought out its former development partner, the Squamish Nation, for $1.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even honestly know who Concord was at that time,鈥� Parry said in a phone interview.
Concord is taking the province鈥檚 Chief Inspector of Mines to court over Parry鈥檚 mining permits, claiming they imperil the company鈥檚 plans for the site, which it hopes to start building on in 2019. Concord, through a numbered company and a limited partnership, filed a petition in 小蓝视频 Supreme Court on June 18, claiming it has spent $33 million acquiring and developing the lands so far. The petition states construction was originally set to begin 10 years ago but was 鈥渢emporarily put on hold鈥� because of the Great Recession.
鈥淪ince then, the real estate market in or around Vancouver has made a dramatic recovery.鈥�
Concord, which unsuccessfully appealed to the province鈥檚 Chief Inspector of Mines to have Parry鈥檚 mining permit revoked, claims it was unaware of that permit until it was notified of his plans in April 2018. It claims that five-year permit is 鈥渦nnecessary and unreasonable鈥� and that mining 鈥渨ill adversely impact Concord鈥檚 rights, privileges and interests, including Concord鈥檚 ability to obtain funding and/or investment for the lands.鈥�
The company鈥檚 website says the Porteau Cove development is 鈥渃oming soon鈥� and that it will be 鈥渢he ideal community for those that appreciate and play outdoors and want to be close to all downtown Vancouver has to offer.鈥�
Concord didn鈥檛 make anyone available for an interview when contacted by Business in Vancouver. The company鈥檚 lawyer, Hein Poulus with Stikeman Elliott, did not return calls for comment.
听鈥淭he project right now, we don鈥檛 have any current updates on it. We still do own the site, so it may be coming up in the future,鈥� an unidentified sales employee told BIV.
Meanwhile, Parry and Bellaroc have applied to the Surface Rights Board to compel Concord to allow access to the lands, and the board has deferred issuing a decision until the company鈥檚 petition is heard in court. Parry said he understands the company鈥檚 position and is leaving it up to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and the Surface Rights Board before he starts drilling. He insists the permit process was all above board, having met all the environmental standards and requirements to consult with First Nations.
听鈥淭he Ministry of Mines, they feel strongly that we gave all the information,鈥� he said. 鈥淧ermits are not just handed over.鈥�
Having worked in the region for so long, including on houses in the British Properties, Parry said he floated the idea of working with the company, including supplying granite extracted from the site to the project.
听鈥淭hey don鈥檛 even want to look at that kind of option,鈥� Parry said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e standing firm on their side, and we鈥檒l just have to see what happens.鈥�
