Tag Archives: Mark Vonesch article

Politics

Area B Director’s Report: Campbell River Controlling Land use Decisions on Cortes?

By Regional Director Mark Vonesch

I am writing with an important call to action on an issue which could have a huge impact on the autonomy of our community.

Campbell River City Council is considering joining the SRD’s Electoral Area planning service. This is a service which controls all of the land use decisions on Cortes: this includes zoning, bylaws, and our Official Community Plan. If they join, Campbell River could approve developments or bylaws on Cortes that override the wishes of our community.

Continue reading Area B Director’s Report: Campbell River Controlling Land use Decisions on Cortes? →
Housing

Important Zoning Bylaw Review Meeting

By Regional Director Mark Vonesch

Over the past six months Strathcona Regional District staff have been collecting our feedback to update the Cortes Zoning Bylaw.

Our zoning bylaw assigns zones to land and water within Cortes Island and specifies what kind of development and activities are permitted within each zone.

This update is important to the future of housing on Cortes and I hope you can join me in attending this event to review the draft and provide feedback to SRD staff.

Continue reading Important Zoning Bylaw Review Meeting →
Fire

How the Cortes Fire Department responded to the fire

(Editor’s note: The article about the Nov 23, 2022 fire that follows is an edited transcript of an audio file. Also, a GoFundMe page has been started to support Sandy Emmonds, who lost her home and all her belongings in the fire: https://gofund.me/86053866)

By Regional Director Mark Vonesch

Mark Vonesch: I’m here with Eli McKenney, the Interim Fire Chief from Cortes Island. Eli, wow, what a night last night …

Eli McKenty: Yeah. It was a short night as far as sleep goes, and a long night in every other way.

Mark: Can you tell us what happened? Tell us the details.

Continue reading How the Cortes Fire Department responded to the fire →