Public rezoning hearings are proposed for four projects on Cortes and Quadra Islands. The final agreement with Cortes Island’s community halls is close to being signed. A parcel tax to help 32 Quathiaski Cove property owners pay their portion of the Quathiaski Cove Sewer Extension. Surge Narrows Community association is requesting a tax exemption for the proposed park on Read Island. These are among the Discovery Island Items to be discussed at the August 19th SRD Board Meeting.
Proposed Public Hearings
At the May 27th Board Meeting, the SRD put public hearings on hold until after September 7th, 2020.
On August 19th the SRD Board will decide whether to hold the following public hearings:
- proposed rezoning for BC Ferries berth on Quadra Island – Sept 9, 2020 at the Quadra Island Community Hall
- proposed rezoning for new Quadra Island Firehall – on Sept 9 at the community hall, following the meeting above,
- proposed rezoning for ‘Rainbow Ridge” affordable housing development on Cortes Island – Sept 10 at Mansons Hall
- proposed rezoning for Quadraponics/Hedefine– Sept 16 at the Quadra Island Community Hall
Funding For Cortes Island Community Halls
Though the five year funding agreement with Cortes Island’s Community Halls was originally scheduled to begin on April 1st, 2020, the SRD Board has still not passed the final terms.
Only core operating expenses are to be funded: electricity, heating, garbage collection, telephone and fax, internet service, property taxes, insurance, supplies and contract services related to operating and maintaining the community facility.
The Whaletown Community Club and Southern Cortes Community Association are to provide the SRD with final budgets for Gorge and Mansons Halls, respectively, by March 1st of each year.
The two Associations are to receive funding in quarterly instalments: in January, April, July and October of each year.
Funding For Quathiaski Cove Sewer Extension
While the vast bulk of funding for the recent Quathiaski Cove Sewer expansion was funded by the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, 43 property owners were required to pay $4,447 each. Eleven of these have done so. The SRD is considering debt financing, to enable the remaining 32 to pay their portions off as a parcel tax over the next twenty years.
Tax Exemption for a park on Read Island
Early last Spring, the Surge Narrows Community Association purchased a 20 acre plot of land on Read Island for a park. They request tax exemption.
Top photo credit: Screenshot from cover of the SRD’s Service Restoration Plan