history
Up to 1999
By 1917 George H. Cowan had bought over 1,000 acres in the southeastern part of Bowen Island, including Pointe Cowan. He built eight cottages to rent to friends, and farmed 12 acres of the land. Until a passable road to Snug Cove had been developed, a government dock at Seymour Bay allowed supplies and mail to be brought to Cowan Point. A small commissariat and post office also served the small community.
In 1923, a small piece of land at Union Cove was sold to William H. Malkin. In 1930 the Cowan's sold 234 aces to Mrs. B. T. Rogers, who build a "Bavarian-style lodge... and called it Fairweather" (Howard, p. 66).
The property accumulated by George H. Cowan was held by the Cowan-Rogers family for almost three-quarters of a century.
During that time, the Cowan Point lands were the subject of several comprehensive development proposals, all of which for a variety of reasons did not materialize. However, 38 residential acreage lots were developed at the northwest entrance to the Cowan Point lands in 1994. In 1998 the owner of the Cowan Point lands went into receivership. Instead of entering into a liquidation process, the primary lenders of the project (Operating Engineers' Pension Plan), offered to enter into a one year publicly-driven planning process because they were aware that a wholesale auction of the lands would have a significantly negative effect on the future of the south side of Bowen Island. A wholesale disposition of the lands would virtually destroy any chance for a comprehensive plan, including planning for roads, long-range provision of domestic water, sewage disposal, public open space, stormwater control, protection of environmentally sensitive areas, and so on.
1999 to the Present
In 1999 Bowen Island Properties Ltd acquired much of the Cowan Point lands, and was able to keep the comprehensive planning process alive for those properties. In the end, it took 4 years (and several modifications to the comprehensive plan) for the Cowan Point property to be rezoned. The result was Bylaw No. 52 and Bylaw No. 53.
It took a further 2 years before the initial subdivision was registered to create the golf course property, and to divide the remaining property into lots which mostly reflect the current zoning. As part of the initial subdivision:
- two park areas were transferred to Bowen Island Municipality (a 1-acre waterfront park at Seymour Landing, and a 20-acre park northwest of Josephine Lake),
- environmental covenants were registered against the properties to protect creeks, raptor trees, and wetlands, and
- Cowan Point Drive, the connector to Fairweather Road, and Arbutus Bay Lane were constructed and dedicated as public roads.
In 2005 the nine-hole public golf course was opened for play. Since the golf course was opened, many have commented about how beautiful, challenging, and rewarding the course is. For more information, see the website for Bowen Island Golf Club.
In 2006 the perimeter trail around much of the golf course was completed, and it is now being enjoyed by people from all parts of the island.
In 2007 construction of a new dam at Josephine Lake was completed. Construction of a new slow sand filtration water treatment plant was also completed in 2007.
On June 27, 2008 we published a public "thank you" to companies and individuals for their amazing services and dedication over the years of 2003 to 2008 to bring us to the point where the Phase 1B subdivisions could be registered at Land Title Office.
The Cowan Point development is currently at the point where the Phase 1 subdivisions are being sold. For more information, see Properties for Sale.
Note: Facts and quotations regarding the early history of Cowan Point are taken from "Bowen Island: 1872-1972" by Irene Howard (Bowen Island Historians, 1973).
What's New
House sold at 967 Cowan Point Drive. Remaining properties in Phase 1 available for sale. For details, see Properties for Sale.
Details about our Rezoning Application are available.
On July 9, 2010 we published an ad entitled "The Value of Real Estate on Bowen Island: Thoughts and Observations" noting that real estate values rise where people want to live. Vancouver is still considered a real estate bargain compared with other desirable places in the world to live. That simple fact will become the force that will ultimately shape real estate values on Bowen Island. The challenge remains to plan for housing forms for citizens with modest means. We are working on some models in an effort to break through the current barrier of non affordability. On April 30, 2010 we published an ad entitled "Living on an Island" in which we discussed some of the benefits and challenges specific to island living -- especially on Bowen Island which is so close to the City of Vancouver and its scenic neighbourhoods. On April 16, 2010 we published an ad entitled "A Call for Civic Pride", suggesting that civic pride would dictate that the first impression of Snug Cove, the gateway to Bowen Island, should reflect the soul and spirit of Bowen Island and its citizens. Unfortunately the Cove has lost much of its earlier charm -- something should to be done about that.
In 2009 and 2010 we published articles about Bowen's future, the current review of the Official Community Plan, land economics and affordability, the meaning of community, creating a sustainable community, local economy, the idea of density transfer and its relationship to sustainability - those articles can be found on the Media section of this website.
Photo Gallery (click to zoom)
The photos in this gallery are courtesy of Bowen Island Community Museum and Archives.