Tag Archives: Brenda Leigh

Housing

Rural Housing Survey 2: Directors first responses

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The Strathcona Regional District’s rural directors responded to the Housing Needs Report at the Electoral Areas Services Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 15. 

Sandy Mackay, of M’akola Development Services, gave the Directors a presentation.

“We began earlier this year and continued throughout winter and spring of 2022. The study was extensive. It included a selection of key informant interviews, which I believe almost all of you participated in, as well as a community survey that garnered responses from 437 households. Which is, to be frank, quite remarkable given the size and geographic spread of your regional district,” he began.  

See: Rural Housing Survey: unaffordable rents, vacant houses, Airbnbs

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Development

Gowland Harbour Views project ‘dead’ – for now anyway

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The fate of a proposal to develop 51 residential lots, a campground, marina and two waterfront parks on Quadra Island may finally have been decided. 

The public meeting for Rick Schellinck ’s proposed Gowland Harbour Views development was originally scheduled for July 28, 2011 and, after eleven years of delays, finally occured on April 20, 2022. 

The controversial project may have finally been voted down at the SRD Board’s June 15 meeting. 

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Development

Turkstra rezoning application reconsidered and approved

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The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) reversed its previous decision and approved the rezoning of a property in Quathiaski Cove, on Quadra Island. Jonathan and Eliah Turkstra wish to subdivide their 5 acre property into two parcels.  

In an Electoral Area directors only vote, the Turkstra’s application was turned down on May 11, 2022.

This decision was changed at the May 25 SRD Board meeting, when Regional Directors Jim Abram, Noba Anderson and Gerald Whalley voted first to reconsider the application and then to approve the bylaw that will allow the Turkstra’s to subdivide.

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Politics

Significant variation in Director expenses, SRD calls for independent audit

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The Strathcona Regional District will be conducting an independent audit of director remuneration and expenses. 

“I received more money than other directors,” admitted Regional Director Jim Abram of Area C (Discovery Islands-Mainland Inlets), who then proceeded to explain how this came about.

Chair Brad Unger said,  “There’s no defending anything here. The motion is for an audit of director renumeration. There’s no name of a director in that. It’s directors, it is all of us.”

Regional Director Brenda Leigh of Area D (Oyster Bay-Buttle Lake) protested, “I see this motion and this whole initiative as nothing but political – right before an election!” 

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Development

 Abram moves Quadra Links public meeting to May 18

How our local government works

Regional Director Jim Abram pushed through an early hearing date for the Quadra Island Golf Club (Quadra Links) rezoning proposal against the applicants wishes, as well as the recommendation of Strathcona Regional District (SRD) staff and the advice of six of his fellow directors.

Quadra Links wishes to rezone a portion of their property so they can develop a 30 spot RV park, but requested that the meeting be delayed until the Fall. Strathcona Regional District (SRD) staff recommended the hearing be scheduled for Wednesday, November 23, 2022. The SRD Chair and a number of Campbell River directors voiced their support, but cannot vote in rural matters.

Only rural directors can vote and most of them supported Abram. So the public hearing will be at 7 PM on May 18, 2022 at the Quadra Community Centre. 

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