The B.C. government has made a final decision on two permits issued under the Heritage Conservation Act for the Marpole Midden site in the 1300 block of Southwest Marine Drive.
The Musqueam First Nation and private developer Century Group (CG) have been involved in a dispute over CG's plans to develop a five-storey, 108-unit condominium project on an ancient burial site since May.
The Heritage Investigation Permit has been extended until November 1 to give CG time to meet the requirement to return the site to its original condition before the burial complex was discovered.
In addition, the site alteration permit was allowed to expire as of yesterday. In making the decision to not extend this permit, the government noted that the discovery of the burial complex changed the heritage value of the site, and that site alteration was no longer appropriate.
The government said the decision to allow the permits to expire after weeks of extensions was appropriate, given the lack of progress in the negotiations between the developer and the Musqueam Indian Band around the purchase of the property.
A heritage investigation permit allows the permit-holder to recover any information at an archaeological site that could be lost if development occurs.
An alteration permit authorizes the removal of archaeological material from the site and details the proper care and handling for any materials found.
