The McBarge could be back in business within a year as a floating restaurant named Sturgeons On the Fraser after Mission city council gave its support to the project last week.

The 15,000-square-foot barge earned its name after it was used as a McDonald's restaurant during Expo 86. It has lain derelict in Burrard Inlet since 1991.

The Sturgeons On the Fraser project, which has an estimated value of $10 million, would use the barge to create a floating restaurant, pub, and cafe at the foot of Horne Street adjacent to the former Meeker Cedar Mill site in Mission.

And it's a move being lauded by a Maple Ridge business owner who supports the creation of more waterfront food establishments.

In Maple Ridge, where the Kingfishers Waterfront Bar & Grill has been operating on the banks of the Fraser River in Albion since 2008, business has been picking up.

Owner Ted Hume said he was pleased to hear that Sturgeons On the Fraser could soon be opening.

"Anytime anyone gets access to the waterfront it's a good thing," said Hume.

"There's huge potential for Mission to open up access to the waterfront. I'd love to see that happen."

The McBarge project would also include a marina and offices for fishing and eco-tour operators, as well as a float-plane terminus.

Developer Howard Meakin said he was "shell-shocked" when council approved the third reading of a foreshore rezoning application related to the project.

The project must meet parking and access requirements before full approval is granted.

"It all looks achievable. The best-case scenario is we'll have [the restaurant] open within 12 months and in the worst-case scenario, within 18 months," said Meakin.

"We were shell-shocked when we got this thing approved. We have to get it off the back burner and back onto the front burner." Meakin blamed the former council for the project stalling for three years. "We had such a tough time with the former council. They weren't business-oriented and this one is," he said.

Mission deputy chief administrator Paul Jipps said it's now up to the developer to bring the project to completion.

"Council is very happy to give Mr. Meakin the opportunity to bring business and development to the waterfront. We have a large waterfront, and this is one of the key pieces [to its development]," Jipps said.

Meakin said that more than half a million people live within a 30-minute drive of the site so he expects the restaurant/ barge will become popular with local residents as well as being a draw for people further away because of its history.

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