The Capital Regional District board has turned down a proposal to split a 10-hectare parcel of East Sooke into two because directors found no agricultural advantage.
The board voted 3-1 to reject the zoning on Wednesday. Sooke Mayor Maja Tait was the lone dissenter.
Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR) applied to the CRD to divide 6040 East Sooke Rd. into two parcels of 6.2 and four hectares. RCM-SAR intends to sell the four-hectare parcel.
Rezoning was unanimously rejected earlier by the Juan de Fuca land use committee.
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B次元官网网址淲e could see no benefit to the agricultural through the subdivision of the subject property and allow for the increase in the number of non-farm buildings, impact on land security and water usage,B次元官网网址� Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director Al Wickheim said.
B次元官网网址淭his is about the people in East Sooke talking about the land and whether they wish to see their agricultural land fragmented.B次元官网网址�
The board heard from four delegates who opposed the plan during WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 meeting. They raised concerns about food security and agricultural land preservation.
B次元官网网址淔ood security is essential for the well-being of our community,B次元官网网址� Nancy Jane Hewitt, an East Sooke resident, said.
Sooke Mayor Maja Tait was concerned the decision was made without consultation from TB次元官网网址橲ou-ke Nation.
B次元官网网址淚t goes against the spirit of the boardB次元官网网址檚 reconciliation statement where we are looking to evolve together on matters occurring on traditional territories,B次元官网网址� said Tait, chair of the CRDB次元官网网址檚 First Nations Relations committee.
B次元官网网址淚t contravenes everything weB次元官网网址檙e trying to achieve.B次元官网网址�
RCM-SAR purchased the East Sooke acreage from the Sisters of St. Ann to use as a training centre for members across the province in 2012. The property cost $1.5 million.
B次元官网网址淎s a (search and rescue) organization, farming is not our raison dB次元官网网址檈tre. We looked at how we could best achieve some agricultural use for the land, and subdivision seemed to be a way to push that property on for agricultural purposes,B次元官网网址� Bill Riggs, executive director of RCM-SAR, told Black Press Media last month.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e always looking for financial stability as a not-for-profit (organization). Selling the property would help us achieve some of that.B次元官网网址�
Riggs said unless the property is subdivided, the property wonB次元官网网址檛 be sold.
The property has been linked to a controversial land-based seaweed aquaculture facility proposed by Synergraze Sustainable Agriculture and TB次元官网网址橲ou-ke Nation. RCM-SAR and TB次元官网网址橲ou-ke Nation say they have not talked about buying or selling the land.
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