Tag Archives: Electoral Areas Services Committee

Area C Director’s Report: municipalities joining rural land use planning?!

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

Hello
We have much to be grateful for here in this part of the world, it’s nice to pause, reflect, and give thanks. I’m thankful for a bounty of garden tomatoes and squash and for the diversity of community building efforts underway throughout the islands.

Two weeks ago I did something unusual, I published two Director’s Reports rather than one. The first was about UBCM and local issue advocacy — it was printed in the Discovery Islander. The other was a time sensitive ‘Special Edition’ report which I shared with email subscribers and via Facebook, an update on municipal interest in electoral area land use planning. This report is a recap and a few further thoughts on that topic as rural SRD constituents wait to see what Campbell River and other SRD municipal councils decide.

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SRD Municipalities wanting control of the Electoral Areas Planning Service

In the past, Rural Directors have not always appreciated Campbell River ‘interference’ in their affairs. An initiative coming out of the Strathcona Regional District’s (SRD) Municipal Services Committee could result in a lot more interference from Campbell River and other municipalities. A planning service typically manages zoning and land use rules, reviews development and building applications, prepares community and regional growth plans, protects environmentally sensitive areas, and coordinates public input on land use decisions. They would like to take control of the Electoral Area Planning Service.

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Area C Director’s Report: Official Community Plan update + more

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

Hello, Signs of spring are popping up… my favourites this week are the growing birdsongs, the swelling salmonberry buds, and the peach blossoms outside my kitchen window. In this Report there’s an Official Community Plan process update and highlights from some recent learning.

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SRD Staff Looking Into Funding Possibilities For Two Cortes Building Projects

At their Tuesday, March 11, meeting the Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC) discussed further funding possibilities for the Rainbow Ridge affordable Housing Project and the new multi-use sports court.

Staff was instructed to prepare a report about the possibility of using utilizing $200,000 from Cortes Island’s Community Works (Gas Tax) funds to support the installation of the septic system and waterworks facility. This is approximately a third of the project’s estimated cost.  

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Potential Land Use Issue at Evans Bay, Read Island

The text of Lannie Keller’s Tuesday, March 11 presentation made to the Electoral Areas Services Committee

I’m here to present local concerns and request SRD’s help to avert a land use conflict and a Bylaw zoning violation at Read Island.  

To begin, I’m grateful to live in unceded traditional territory of the Homalco and Klahoose First Nations. And for the wild beauty of this place.

We moved to Read Island in 1980, and have made our living creating and running (what is now) Canada’s longest operating kayak touring company from our home in Evans Bay. Coast Mountain Expeditions has become Read Island’s largest employer. We offer activities based on wilderness ambience – all in this local area. Our business is threatened by Island Sea Farm’s Aquaculture License #1401594, conditionally approved by the province in June 2023. 

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