Tofino has swung and missed in its first crack at purchasing and preserving Monks Point.
Last week, the district announced its $250,000 offer to purchase Monks Point from The Land Conservancy was denied.
Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne acknowledged the district鈥檚 offer was a far cry from the land鈥檚 roughly $1-million market value, but suggested it was a fair price and questioned whether Tofino should have to pay anything at all.
鈥淚t鈥檚 simply appalling that TLC should seek close to market price for a property they received at no cost so they could then turn and use that money to pay off bad debt as well as administration fees that are only increasing as they continue to try to stay alive,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e felt it was utterly inappropriate to pay market value for a property that had been donated and in good faith. In this respect, there should be no cash purchase 鈥� the land should simply be transferred to another trust or appropriate body that can accomplish what Harold wanted in the first place.鈥�
Harold Monks bequeathed the property to TLC in 2008, but TLC has filed for creditor protection and is looking at selling some of its properties to pay off about $8聽million worth of debt.
With Monks Point potentially on the sales block, Tofino had hoped to jump in and snatch it up before it falls into the hands of a buyer who may not be keen on preserving it or be in tune with Monks鈥� wishes.
Osborne noted the district鈥檚 offer included an agreement to honour Monks鈥� wishes to conserve the property, and said Tofino was prepared to seek out partnerships with land trusts, heritage organizations and the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.
She said the district鈥檚 main intention with the land is to preserve it and make it a publicly accessible space for the community鈥檚 enjoyment, though details had not been cemented.
鈥淭hese kinds of details need to be carefully thought out and discussed, and council has not presumed to make any decisions on this yet,鈥� she said. 鈥淩ight now, we鈥檙e focused on ensuring the property remains in the public realm in some way, shape or form.鈥�
Council鈥檚 conversation preceding the $250,000 offer was done in camera 鈥� closed to the public 鈥� but Osborne said council was united in its desire toward the property鈥檚 long-term preservation. She suggested the results of a public survey distributed after an open house at Monks Point in February strengthened council鈥檚 resolve to pursue a purchase.
The survey鈥檚 results showed 92 per cent of responders supported the preservation of Monks Point and 74 per cent were in favour of Tofino acquiring the property.
With its $250,000 offer a no-go, the district has stepped back and is reassessing.
鈥淭ofino has not walked away from the bargaining table, but we have pressed 鈥榩ause鈥� while we consider all of our options,鈥� Osborne said.
She noted that since the TLC is under creditor protection, all land sales and transfers must be approved by the court, and if a buyer wishes to rezone Monks Point, they must receive council鈥檚 approval to do so.
The property鈥檚 current zoning means any buyer would need council鈥檚 approval before building a hotel or condominium, according to Osborne.
