On May 27th, three members of the Strathcona Regional District’s Electoral Areas Service Committee put all public hearings within the SRD on hold until sometime after September 7th. Three large projects on Quadra and Cortes Islands are being deferred. Though SRD staff told Regional Director Brenda Leigh the meeting could easily be held electronically, she was ‘not willing to put her life in jeopardy’ for the sake of a meeting on Cortes Island. Regional Director Jim Abram echoed the idea that in-person meetings were preferable and added that this would let directors and staff go on summer holidays. Now BC Ferries asks the SRD Board to reconsider delaying the public hearing for its new Quadra Island berth.
BC Ferries Letter
One of the letters submitted, as correspondence, to the June 24th SRD Board Meeting, comes from Jeffrey Li, P. Eng, Project Manager, Terminal Construction, BC Ferries Services:
“BC Ferries is making substantial capital investment to improve ferry service between Campbell River and Quathiaski Cove. This includes not only the two new ferries that are now being built, but also for the facilities to accommodate the new ferry on Quadra Island. In particular, BC Ferries needs approval for the OCP amendment and rezoning for its site on Pidcock Road in order to proceed with design, tendering and construction of the necessary infrastructure.”
“The overall project is complex, much work must be completed, and the schedule is relatively tight. As such, we were somewhat disappointed to learn of the further deferral to the public hearing process as the province starts to reopen. As you would expect, our preference is to hold the public hearing as soon as possible so we can maintain our schedule to have the infrastructure completed by the time the new vessels are delivered.”
“We certainly understand and respect the Board’s consideration based on the democratic process and public safety under current COVID-19 situation. We support the holding of the public hearing in a safe alternative format as allowed by the provincial government and would ask the Board to reconsider deferring the process.”
“SRD has provided BC Ferries tremendous support throughout the application process so far. Your continuing support will allow the new ferries to serve the community on time.”
Quadra Island Fire Hall
Last March the Quadra Island Fire Department applied to rezone the property at 1525 West Road, in Heriot Bay, so they could build a new firehall.
” … The present hall sits on a small, steeply sloping lot. The building itself is made of cinder block, and approximately 60 years old. It is seismically unsound, and far too small for our present and growing needs. Further, it has no water system and no septic system. The lot is too small to satisfy setback requirements to accommodate both. Parking is a problem during a call-out. But most importantly, we do not own the land that the building sits on. It is a leased lot, zoned residential, with 38 years left on the lease. We have no assurance we would be able to extend that lease.“
” … Now we have an opportunity to solve our problem. A couple of long-time residents have offered to sell us a lot, already zoned commercial. The lot is approximately 50 meters from the present fire hall, and kitty corner to it. It is 0.8 of an acre, a perfect size for our needs. As mentioned, it is already zoned commercial C-i, but has a restriction specifically excluding fire halls, for some unknown reason. All we are asking, is that the exclusion be removed. This lot, with the proper zoning, solves all our problems. The size, location and configuration are perfect. It is bordered on three sides by road allowance, has perfect sight lines for safe egress and ingress, is an easy building site, and has enough room for supporting activity during a callout.”
A staff report, recommending that “a further report regarding the scheduling of a public hearing for Bylaw No. 386 be prepared,” was in the on Agenda for the May 27th SRD Board meeting.
Postponing All Public Hearings
Then Quadra Island’s Regional Director, Jim Abram moved “that the holding of all public hearings in relation to matters covered by Part 14 [Planning and Land Use Management] of the Local Government Act be deferred until after September 7, 2020.”
As the discussion arose in connection to a proposed affordable housing development in a rural area (Cortes Island), only the four Regional Directors could vote. Directors Abram, Leigh and Whalley chose to postpone all public hearings. The only opposing vote came from Cortes Island Director Noba Anderson.
One of the immediate consequences of this decision pertained to the two Quadra projects mentioned above. They were the next items on the agenda, but Chair Michele Babchuk “advised that based on the previous resolution … [they] would not be considered at the current meeting.”
Rainbow Ridge
The public hearing for the Cortes Island Seniors Society‘s Rainbow Ridge affordable housing development was originally scheduled for last April, but delayed because of COVID.
“Now that the Province has issued guidelines for holding public hearings by electronic means it is proposed that the Regional District proceed with a hearing for Bylaws No. 379 and 390 as outlined below …”
” … That a public hearing on Bylaws No. 379 and 380 be authorized to be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2020 in compliance with the requirements of Ministerial Order M139, and that the Mansons Landing Community Hall located at 983 Beasley Road on Cones Island be designated as the physical location for those individuals wishing to attend the hearing in person.“
“I see no problem with doing this electronically,” said Campbell River Mayor Andy Adams.
“We can’t just put the democratic process on hold when there is a safe and absolutely useful way to conduct public hearings,” added Director Claire Moglove.
Chair Babchuk said, “I too am going to exercise my right to say how disappointed I am with this. I think we have done our constituents over on Cortes a disservice.”
Many fear that, at the very least, waiting until September will greatly diminish this Rainbow Ridge’s prospects of obtaining a +$2 million grant from BC Housing.
Elizabeth Anderson, Housing Committee Liaison for the Cortes Island Seniors Society, was more philosophical in her public response, “While we had hoped there would be a way to proceed with our public hearing safely, the Housing Committee is making a strong effort to remain flexible and focused on our ultimate goal. We will make use of the extra time afforded by the delay to refine our BC Housing grant application.”
Cortes Island Seniors Society AGM
Meanwhile there have been a number of public gatherings on Cortes since Mansons Friday Market reopened on May 29th.
The Cortes Island Seniors Society is holding its AGM at 1 PM, on Tuesday, July 7, in the main hall at Mansons.
Sue Ellingsen, President of the Society, explained that the chairs will set out 6 to 8 feet apart. This is sufficient for attendees to maintain a “safe interpersonal space.”
” The meeting will begin at 1:00 PM and will be followed by refreshments and social time. Look forward to seeing you there.”
Top photo credit: Campbell River ferry by DSLr Book via Flickr (CC By SA, 2.0 License)