Delta mayor Lois Jackson has issued a "summary document" from the mayor's summit on the future of the Southlands area, which suggests that residents, city staff, politicians, and the property owner have reached a compromise. The document states that participants in the March 24-26 event want a "community-based economically viable soil-based farming operation" there.

The Southlands is the area formerly known as the Spetifore lands in Tsawassen.

"The participants acknowledge the important environmental and wildlife values of the lands today, and agree to look at opportunities to enhance these values," the document stated. "There is a recognized financial value to the land, which is currently privately owned. There is a recognized need to secure public ownership of the majority of the lands for agricultural, environmental and wildlife values."

The Century Group owns the land. Delta's chief administrative officer, George Harvie, previously recommended that it be returned to the Agricultural Land Reserve.

"Century Group has asked for an opportunity to bring forward a proposal, prior to July 1, 2011, which would provide The Corporation of Delta with public ownership of a portion of the lands which is greater than what has been previously proposed," the statement added. "Century Group voluntarily commits to not pursue industrial agriculture on the lands in the interim."

As a result of the summit, Harvie will ask council on April 14 to terminate the public hearing on whether or not the land should go back into the ALR. This will give council time to consider Century Group's proposal.

The area was removed in the early 1980s by the then-Social Credit government.

"Should Council support the Chief Administrative Officer’s recommendation to terminate the Public Hearing, and following receipt of the proposal from Century Group, the Chief Administrative Officer will make recommendations on whether to proceed with Century Group’s proposal through a formal application process and public consultation, or proceed with an Agricultural Land Reserve inclusion application," the statement noted.

The summit participants were Jackson, Century Group owner Sean Hodgins, Coun. Ian Paton, consultant Bob Ransford, Harvie, Dana Maslovat, environmental consultant Ian Robertson, Robertson, Richard Kunz, Anne Murray, and Peter Guichon.