This page contains annotated news stories and press releases with commentary about land reform and the democratic process in British Columbia. Our comments are shown in red.
It's not over yet, But thankfully the CRD passed these progressive By-laws yesterday.
We still need to squash Western Forest Products subdivision application which slid in under the old zoning.
Visit bc4sale.org for more information
We still need to squash Western Forest Products subdivision application which slid in under the old zoning.
Visit bc4sale.org for more information
CRD JORDAN RIVER LANDS BYLAWS PASS FINAL READING
Apr 23, 2008
By Ireland
THE C.R.D. BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS MADE OFFICIAL A BYLAW CHANGE THAT SLAPS A TIGHT RESTRICTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANDS WEST OF JORDAN RIVER.
THOSE LANDS CAN NOW CONTAIN ONLY ONE HOME ON EACH 120-HECTARE PARCEL -- WHICH IS MUSIC TO THE EARS OF MAURITA PRATO OF THE DOGWOOD FOUNDATION.
"I DO KNOW THERE ARE SOME LARGER LANDOWNERS WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT THIS RECENT DECISION, AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY [THEY AREN'T]," SAYS PRATO. "BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THESE ZONINGS. IT'S VERY MUCH IN KEEPING WITH THE CHARACTER OF THOSE RURAL LANDS."
JUAN-DE-FUCA M.L.A. JOHN HORGAN SAYS THE REZONING SHOWS THAT WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS CANNOT MAKE AN END-RUN AROUND PUBLIC PROCESS.
HORGAN SAYS A LIBERAL GOVERNMENT DECISION TO MAKE THE WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS-OWNED LANDS AVAILABLE FOR SALE HAS CAUSED UNNECESSARY STRESS FOR HIS CONSTITUENTS.
"[THE REZONING] CERTAINLY SENDS A MESSAGE TO WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS THAT THEY CAN'T RUN ROUGHSHOD OVER PUBLIC PROCESS, AND THAT'S A POSITIVE THING," HORGAN SAYS. "BUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE IS OTHER LANDOWNERS WHO'VE BEEN CAPTURED IN THIS ARE PROFOUNDLY UNHAPPY, AND I THINK THEY HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE SO.
"THIS WAS ALL BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE B.C. LIBERAL GOVERNMENT. IT'S CREATED STRIFE AND CONFLICT IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE NONE EXISTED PREVIOUSLY."
WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS DOES STILL HAVE AN ACTIVE SUBDIVISION APPLICATION BEFORE THE PROVINCE, WHICH IS THE SOURCE OF SOME CONTROVERSY.
THE C.R.D. BYLAWS WHICH RECEIVED FINAL ADOPTION WEDNESDAY (Apr 23) HAD PASSED SECOND READING FEBRUARY 14th, AND REQUIRED PROVINCIAL ASSENT TO PROCEED.
WORD OF THAT APPROVAL FROM THE PROVINCE CAME THE FOLLOWING MONDAY -- AND BETWEEN THOSE TWO EVENTS, WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS WAS ABLE TO GET A LAND SALE APPLICATION ON THE BOOKS UNDER THE OLD RULES.
JOHN DOYLE, THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF B.C., IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO REMOVE THE LANDS IN QUESTION FROM A TREE FARM LICENCE DESIGNATION -- THE MOVE THAT ORIGINALLY LEAD TO THIS ABRASIVE SITUATION
THOSE LANDS CAN NOW CONTAIN ONLY ONE HOME ON EACH 120-HECTARE PARCEL -- WHICH IS MUSIC TO THE EARS OF MAURITA PRATO OF THE DOGWOOD FOUNDATION.
"I DO KNOW THERE ARE SOME LARGER LANDOWNERS WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT THIS RECENT DECISION, AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY [THEY AREN'T]," SAYS PRATO. "BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THESE ZONINGS. IT'S VERY MUCH IN KEEPING WITH THE CHARACTER OF THOSE RURAL LANDS."
JUAN-DE-FUCA M.L.A. JOHN HORGAN SAYS THE REZONING SHOWS THAT WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS CANNOT MAKE AN END-RUN AROUND PUBLIC PROCESS.
HORGAN SAYS A LIBERAL GOVERNMENT DECISION TO MAKE THE WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS-OWNED LANDS AVAILABLE FOR SALE HAS CAUSED UNNECESSARY STRESS FOR HIS CONSTITUENTS.
"[THE REZONING] CERTAINLY SENDS A MESSAGE TO WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS THAT THEY CAN'T RUN ROUGHSHOD OVER PUBLIC PROCESS, AND THAT'S A POSITIVE THING," HORGAN SAYS. "BUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE IS OTHER LANDOWNERS WHO'VE BEEN CAPTURED IN THIS ARE PROFOUNDLY UNHAPPY, AND I THINK THEY HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE SO.
"THIS WAS ALL BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE B.C. LIBERAL GOVERNMENT. IT'S CREATED STRIFE AND CONFLICT IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE NONE EXISTED PREVIOUSLY."
WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS DOES STILL HAVE AN ACTIVE SUBDIVISION APPLICATION BEFORE THE PROVINCE, WHICH IS THE SOURCE OF SOME CONTROVERSY.
THE C.R.D. BYLAWS WHICH RECEIVED FINAL ADOPTION WEDNESDAY (Apr 23) HAD PASSED SECOND READING FEBRUARY 14th, AND REQUIRED PROVINCIAL ASSENT TO PROCEED.
WORD OF THAT APPROVAL FROM THE PROVINCE CAME THE FOLLOWING MONDAY -- AND BETWEEN THOSE TWO EVENTS, WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS WAS ABLE TO GET A LAND SALE APPLICATION ON THE BOOKS UNDER THE OLD RULES.
JOHN DOYLE, THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF B.C., IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO REMOVE THE LANDS IN QUESTION FROM A TREE FARM LICENCE DESIGNATION -- THE MOVE THAT ORIGINALLY LEAD TO THIS ABRASIVE SITUATION
