Tag Archives: Area C Integrated Community Sustainability Plan

Community, Politics

Approved: Area C’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan

Quadra Island’s Community Plan was drawn up in 2007 and some of the Outer Discovery have land use plans dating back to the 1990s, but Area C needed an overall comprehensive vision. The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) started the consultation process leading to an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan in 2019. Then COVID arrived, and everything was put on hold. Last year the SRD recruited a community focus group, hired a facilitator and proceeded to finish the job. On Friday, June 16, The SRD Board announced the approval of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan for Electoral Area C (The Discovery Islands & Mainland Inlets).

“Anytime we do any sort of comprehensive planning process, one of the biggest challenges that we have is finding common ground amongst all  the disparate ideas, visions, goals and challenges of people living in different areas – and with being diverse people themselves.  In this case because it is a vision for the entire region, it was much more important that we were able to come together, find that common ground and that shared vision.  That required a lot of intense discussion and a lot of work together,” explained Meredith Starkey. SRD Manager of parks and planning.  

Continue reading Approved: Area C’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan →
Community, Politics

Area C matters at the March 29 SRD Board Meeting

A number of Area C Initiatives were passed at the Wednesday March 29, 2023, Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board Meeting. 

The only audio clip I am using in this broadcast comes from a segment dealing with Grants in Aid. Chair Mark Baker is speaking throughout most of it. He brings a levity to the board that I do not remember witnessing in four years of observing SRD meetings. You can hear an example in the podcast. There is usually some laughter, even if only for a few moments, in most meetings. As none of the directors had anything they wished to say, this segment is almost like a drum roll: “Discussion: All in favour? Opposed? Seeing none the motion is carried.” 

Continue reading Area C matters at the March 29 SRD Board Meeting →
Environment

The importance of ‘Rural Character’ to the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan for Area C

Three years ago, Area C received funding to develop an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP). COVID intervened and it wasn’t until last August that a 14 member advisory group was assembled. The resulting draft plan was presented at the Wednesday, January 11, meeting of the SRD Electoral Areas Services Committee.  

“It was a very quick process, and we really appreciate all the efforts that went into it. The task force was convened in August and  by November the task force, the consultant and the SRD planner had come up with a draft proposal, which was then circulated to the community, and that draft was commented on by the community. But subsequently, because there was a very short timeline, some amendments were made to the document that was published and what you’re receiving today,” explained Lannie Keller, a Read Island resident and team member. 

Continue reading The importance of ‘Rural Character’ to the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan for Area C →
Politics

Marc Doll explains what ‘empowering community’ would mean in Area C

Marc Doll was a high school social studies teacher, a community specialist realtor and the president of a community association back in Calgary. Doll, his wife Jen and two daughters left that life behind in 2016. Now he is a regenerative farmer and volunteer firefighter on Quadra Island. He hopes to be elected Regional Director for Area C on Saturday, October 15, 2022.  The tagline on his websites is ‘empower community’ and in the first of a series of articles exploring his positions, Cortes Currents asked what this means.  

Continue reading Marc Doll explains what ‘empowering community’ would mean in Area C →
Politics

Creating an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan for Area C

The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is developing an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) for Area C. the Discovery Islands and Mainland Inlets.

Meredith Starkey, the Manager for Parks and Planning, described this as a broad level vision plan which can lead to more specific policies and regulations.  

Continue reading Creating an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan for Area C →