In 2009, the Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) took control of their land through a treaty negotiated with the federal and provincial governments. 

Since then, the TFN has been developing their 724-hectare (1,788 acre) property on the north side of Highway 17 between the Deltaport Terminal and 52nd Street.  

This land is jointly owned by the TFN and its members, according to TFN Legal Counsel Nicola Collins, TFN Acting Manager of Economic Development Ryan Daum, and TFN Senior Planner and Approving Officer Wenyan Yu, who made a presentation to attendees at the PacificWest conference in October.

Here's a summary of what they said. 

There were 198 market housing units on TFN lands in 2009. Today, this number has grown to 1,509 units, including detached homes, townhomes and condominiums on 99-year leased land. They plan to increase this number to 3,673 units at build out. That’s 2,164 new units coming in the next few years.  

TFN is home to about 250 band members (of a total of 517 members) and 2,000 leaseholder residents, a number expected to grow substantially.

At the same time, partnering with Ivanhoe Cambridge, the TFN has developed 1.2 million square feet in the Tsawwassen Mills shopping centre, featuring major retailers, smaller stores, restaurants and entertainment, as well as 600,000 square feet of outdoor retail and mixed-use space. 

The TFN is also developing a 330-acre industrial park by Roberts Bank with 49-year leases. Phase 1 included: 

• Chevron Card Lock; 
• Canadian Border Services Agency Container Inspection Facility; 
• Euroasia Transload Facility;
• Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan/Great West Life; and
• Amazon as major tenants. 

The TFN is currently seeking development partners to develop 160 acres of industrial lands.

The TFN has service agreements with Metro Vancouver to provide flood management, roads, parks and recreation and library services; and agreements with the Corporation of Delta for fire, police, animal control and other services. 

The TFN is a recognized government and part of Metro Vancouver. The TFN has a legislature elected every four years with lawmaking and taxation authority on TFN lands, enforced in the courts of BC. 

Tsawwassen's laws exist alongside provincial and federal laws. The TFN has passed 29 acts and regulations including a Land Use Planning and Development Act which governs land and zoning use, and a TFN Land Use Plan and Tsawwassen Community Area Plan similar to a municipal Official Community Plan, which includes acceptable uses, densities and lots in conformance with neighbourhood plans. 

There are significant opportunities to work with the TFN, provided their history and culture is respected.   

The TFN requires best practices in community development and sustainable design that creates jobs and opportunities for their members and for the community. 

Learn more by visiting the TFN website. 

If you have questions about the TFN, contact Harriet Permut, director of government relations at hpermut@rebgv.org.