Faith has been restored in the B.C. governmentB次元官网网址檚 fairness says Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Regional Director Mike Hicks.
On April 21, Hicks received word that MLA Ida Chong B次元官网网址� Minister of Community, Sports and Cultural Development B次元官网网址� denied the Capital Regional District boardB次元官网网址檚 request to change the voting structure for land use decisions in the Juan de Fuca electoral area.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 delighted,B次元官网网址� said Hicks. B次元官网网址淢y faith in Ida Chong and the B.C. governmentB次元官网网址檚 fairness is confirmed.B次元官网网址�
The board had requested an order in council from the province to create an additional voting Block C that would allow all 22 CRD directors to vote on land use matters related to rural resource lands. The change would have only affected specific lands
The request came in the wake of Ender IlkayB次元官网网址檚 Marine Trail Holdings resort project, which envisions building 257 cabins, six caretakersB次元官网网址� residences, a lodge and two recreation centres on his private land, which skirts the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.
In her letter to CRD chair Geoff Young, Chong wrote that she didnB次元官网网址檛 believe an amendment was required.
B次元官网网址淭he special voting rule was designed as a change to the system of governance for the Juan de Fuca electoral area.
B次元官网网址淭he CRD is equipped with tools that provide the board with alternative approaches to address concerns that the board may have about its interest in regional land use matters.B次元官网网址�
Gordon OB次元官网网址機onnor, campaigner with The Dogwood Initiative, organized Sprawlapalooza, a concert and rally against urban sprawl in Centennial Square, aimed at celebrating the CRDB次元官网网址檚 efforts to change the structure and encouraging the board to B次元官网网址渒eep the pressure upB次元官网网址� until lands are protected.
B次元官网网址淭he Juan de Fuca trail gets the headlines, but this is happening all over our farms on the Saanich Peninsula,B次元官网网址� he said.
Meanwhile on April 18, the Juan de Fuca land use committee recommended IlkayB次元官网网址檚 rezoning request proceed to first and second readings.
It also recommended a restrictive covenant be prepared for the transfer of land to B.C. Parks, and for a series of restrictions on land use.
Of the approximately 236 hectares involved, 203 hectares will remain undeveloped with 98 hectares of land being dedicated to B.C. Parks and 105 hectares protected. About 33 hectares would be developed under IlkayB次元官网网址檚 Marine Trail resort plan.
B次元官网网址淧eople are passionate about the park, thereB次元官网网址檚 no question, and I completely understand that,B次元官网网址� Ilkay said at a meeting in Sooke that drew a strong contingent of people opposing the development.
B次元官网网址攚ith files from Pirjo Raits and Jim Sinclair.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
