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Community groups and developer back Oliver de Silva quarry agreement as conservation package advances
Summary
After public comment from local groups and environmental advocates, the committee advanced an amendment to a quarry lease with Oliver de Silva Inc., highlighting conservation elements including dam removals, endangered‑species habitat purchases and a $20,000 grant for a CERT program in Sonole.
The committee heard robust public comment supporting a proposed amendment to the quarry lease with Oliver de Silva Inc., centered on a negotiated conservation package that project supporters say will produce habitat protection and river restoration projects.
Peter Galvin, program director for the Center for Biological Diversity, urged the committee to approve the measure, saying the conservation work is contingent on the city moving ahead with the lease amendment: "There are a whole host of conservation projects that are dependent on the city moving forward with its process," he said, listing planned dam removals on the Alameda Creek system and purchases of endangered‑species habitat.
Community representatives from Save Our Sonole (Jim O'Loughlin and Irv Thiessen) spoke of years of negotiation and welcomed developer commitments for a community improvement fund and a $20,000 grant to support the local CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program. Jim Summers, Vice President with Oliver de Silva, said the company had invested more than $30 million in the project and urged the committee not to delay.
Budget analyst staff recommended approval and the committee moved the item forward to the full Board with a recommendation.
Next steps: the full Board will consider the lease amendment; supporters said project approvals and financing awards are in place to allow construction and conservation actions to proceed if the city completes its portion of the agreement.
