The possibility of a number of the electoral areas in the south end of the Cowichan Valley Regional District forming their own municipality, and of the City of Duncan expanding its boundaries, could be among the considerations as the CVRD works toward developing a regional growth strategy, according to Duncan Mayor Michelle Staples.
The city, as well as the CVRDB次元官网网址檚 other municipal members, had been asked by the district to each appoint a representative to the districtB次元官网网址檚 new growth-strategy steering committee and, at DuncanB次元官网网址檚 council meeting on Dec. 16, Staples said the development of a growth strategy for the Cowichan Valley has been under discussion for decades and sheB次元官网网址檚 excited that itB次元官网网址檚 finally happening.
A growth strategy is a regional-level strategic planning document administered by a regional district to B次元官网网址減romote human settlement that is socially, economically and environmentally healthy and that makes efficient use of public facilities and services, land and other resources.B次元官网网址�
The Capital Regional District, Regional District of Nanaimo, and the Comox Valley Regional District all have growth strategies, but the CVRD does not.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the changes in this process is South Cowichan wanting to form its own municipality and thatB次元官网网址檚 part of the discussion thatB次元官网网址檚 happening at the CVRDB次元官网网址檚 board table, and some money has been contributed to that by [electoral area directors] from South Cowichan,B次元官网网址� Staples said.
B次元官网网址淭hings are at a point in South Cowichan where it does make sense to look at it differently. Having large numbers [of people] in some areas and having just one electoral area director is not functional.B次元官网网址�
The Shawnigan Lake electoral area, in particular, has a similar population as some of the CVRDB次元官网网址檚 municipalities, which have full councils to represent them, while the electoral area has just one director.
Staples said there has also been discussions over the years of Duncan, which is Canada's smallest city at just two-square kilometres in size, expanding its boundaries either south into the CVRDB次元官网网址檚 electoral areas, or north into North Cowichan and, as the region continues to grow, she would like to see the CVRDB次元官网网址檚 new growth-strategy steering committee deal with that issue as well.
B次元官网网址淲e need to look at the boundaries of our communities and what makes sense as we grow because all of the lines were drawn at a different time when they made sense because thatB次元官网网址檚 where the businesses were,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淎s the city and region grow, I think this is a good time to look at whatB次元官网网址檚 happening now, and it will also be easier for us to project what things will look like in the future [with the newly developed growth strategy]. It will benefit the city and other communities within our region to go through this process.B次元官网网址�
Kyle Young, DuncanB次元官网网址檚 director of planning and sustainability, was unanimously appointed by council to be the cityB次元官网网址檚 representative on the CVRDB次元官网网址檚 growth-strategy steering committee at the meeting.
In October, the CVRDB次元官网网址檚 committee of the whole referred a staff report on the topic of a growth strategy to the City of Duncan, Municipality of North Cowichan, Town of Ladysmith, Town of Lake Cowichan and the directors of the CVRD's electoral areas, and that the municipalities be asked to appoint a representative to the steering committee; consider potential additional matters in the development of a growth strategy, including, but not limited to, potential municipal incorporation and boundary changes to accommodate future growth and servicing objectives.
The CVRDB次元官网网址檚 updated corporate strategic plan calls for the district to work collaboratively with member municipalities and First Nations towards the development of a growth strategy.
Once a regional district decides to initiate an regional growth strategy, it must ultimately be accepted by all local governments within the area and will be binding on those local governments.
