The Capital Regional District is looking at changing how it votes on zoning rural resource lands in the wake of a proposed cabin development near the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.
At a closed meeting on March 23, the CRDB次元官网网址檚 planning, transportation and protection services committee passed a motion asking for a report on how to give the entire CRD board the right to vote on rural rezoning.
This would effectively strip the responsibility from the existing committee, made up of the mayors from Sooke, Metchosin, Langford and Colwood and the JDF electoral area director.
Metchosin Mayor John Ranns presented the motion at the meeting as a B次元官网网址減reemptive approachB次元官网网址� to bring what he says is a critical regional issue before the CRD board.
B次元官网网址淚f the (CRD) board rules (the rezoning) isnB次元官网网址檛 consistent with the regional growth strategy then that overrules the community,B次元官网网址� Ranns said. B次元官网网址淭he land is clearly regionally significant.B次元官网网址�
The motion blind-sided and infuriated JDF electoral area director Mike Hicks, who said he felt betrayed by his fellow CRD directors.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really hurt B次元官网网址� no question,B次元官网网址� said Hicks the day after the meeting. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a total slam on the governance of the JDF.B次元官网网址�
The issue centres on Ender IlkayB次元官网网址檚 Marine Trail Holdings resort development, which envisions building 257 cabins on his private land, which skirts the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.
The proposal includes giving 245 acres to B.C. Parks and to develop about three per cent of the property. The land is currently zoned for resource extraction, such as forestry or gravel mines, which has no setback requirement from adjacent public lands.
Hicks said the development proposal fits within the CRDB次元官网网址檚 regional growth strategy, a document which guides the build out of urban density in the region. If the issue of rezoning IlkayB次元官网网址檚 development was against the RGS, Hicks said, then the whole board would get to vote.
B次元官网网址淚 take this as a total body slam, almost like a vote of non-confidence,B次元官网网址� said Hicks. B次元官网网址淚 see them as political bullies, and IB次元官网网址檓 not going to take it. ItB次元官网网址檚 total skullduggery, thereB次元官网网址檚 so much at stake.B次元官网网址�
Ranns said the JDF electoral doesnB次元官网网址檛 have a regional context statement within the RGS, and so doesnB次元官网网址檛 clearly define land planning and land use policies in that area.
Ranns said he wants to ensure the JDF electoral area is accountable to the CRD, as are other municipalities.
B次元官网网址淚 am presuming Mike sees this as I am taking away his authority,B次元官网网址� Ranns said. B次元官网网址淎s municipalities we take care of our own local land usage, but it has to be consistent with the regional growth strategy.
B次元官网网址淣o one wants to intervene with MikeB次元官网网址檚 issues of local significance. But these are issues of regional significance.B次元官网网址�
To change the land-use voting structure, the CRD would see assent from the Minister of Community, Sports and Cultural Development.
In 2008, a B次元官网网址�$100-buy-a-voteB次元官网网址� three-person voting structure for JDF lands was taken to court, deemed illegal and struck down. The current system where four neighbouring communities near the JDF electoral area get to vote on land use issues was readopted.
To make any changes now would require a provincial order in council.
Hicks suspects some CRD board members are worried the current committeeB次元官网网址檚 vote might go differently than what they want.
The proposed development has galvanized opposition from environmentalists across the region, particularly students at the University of Victoria.
B次元官网网址淚 trust Minister Ida Chong and the province will ultimately support the voting structure we have,B次元官网网址� Hicks said. B次元官网网址淭he sad part of the process is that only one team has been on the field and the JDF team hasnB次元官网网址檛 taken to the field yet.B次元官网网址�
The bottom line, Hicks said, is that itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渁 shock and a real shame to the people of Juan de Fuca, not just me.B次元官网网址�
Hicks hopes it will not ruin his relationship with the other CRD directors.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to compromise my job as director of Juan de Fuca, the process and any applicant who comes before me.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
B次元官网网址揃次元官网网址搘ith files from Pirjo Raits
