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Success!
CRD bylaws 3474, 3495 and 3500 were passed yesterday (April 23, 2008) through fourth and final reading!
These by-laws will help maintain the rural and forest character of the Juan de Fuca electoral area and minimize urban sprawl between Sooke and Port Renfrew on previous Tree Farm Licence lands.
This is great news, much thanks
to all the energy, commitment, and support of concerned citizens.
CRD approves bylaws blocking subdivision of forest land
Apr 23, 2008
By Judith Lavoie
<jlavoie@tc.canwest.com>
The Capital Regional District stuck to its guns and enacted six controversial bylaws Wednesday afternoon, dramatically increasing lot sizes on the southwest corner of Vancouver Island.
The audience, made up of residents of Otter Point, Shirley and Jordan River and environmental groups, broke out in applause after the bylaws whipped through the vote with no debate.
The changes mean almost all the forest and resource land from Sooke Potholes to Port Renfrew are zoned to a 120-hectare minimum.
Missing from the audience were developer Ender Ilkay, whose plans for the area sparked the zoning change, and representatives of Western Forest Products which is selling the 2,500 hectares of land.
The land was previously included in tree farm licences.
The CRD special meeting was called to deal with the zoning changes after the bylaws, passed Feb. 14, were signed off by Community Services Minister Ida Chong last week.
During that delay, Western Forest Products submitted subdivision plans under the old rules, which are now under consideration by the provincial approving officer.
The WFP plans do not include any parks or waterfront access, but Ilkay's plans involve almost 1,190 hectares of parkland including the 135-hectare parcel beside Sooke Potholes and the entire Jordan River waterfront.
Ilkay has said he would pull out of the tentative deal to buy the land if the bylaws passed, but, after the meeting, Juan de Fuca electoral area director Erik Lund said Ilkay will now be able to apply for rezoning.
Earlier in the day, the bylaws survived a challenge in B.C. Supreme Court.
The Association of B.C. Landowners and developer Lester Monnington asked for an injunction because of a change which will prevent owners of four-hectare lots from selling four strata lots.
However, Metchosin Mayor John Ranns said CRD staff are already "discussing the inequities" of the changes to the Rural A lands.
Ideally, all the four-hectare lots should be changed to one hectare, he said.
The audience, made up of residents of Otter Point, Shirley and Jordan River and environmental groups, broke out in applause after the bylaws whipped through the vote with no debate.
The changes mean almost all the forest and resource land from Sooke Potholes to Port Renfrew are zoned to a 120-hectare minimum.
Missing from the audience were developer Ender Ilkay, whose plans for the area sparked the zoning change, and representatives of Western Forest Products which is selling the 2,500 hectares of land.
The land was previously included in tree farm licences.
The CRD special meeting was called to deal with the zoning changes after the bylaws, passed Feb. 14, were signed off by Community Services Minister Ida Chong last week.
During that delay, Western Forest Products submitted subdivision plans under the old rules, which are now under consideration by the provincial approving officer.
The WFP plans do not include any parks or waterfront access, but Ilkay's plans involve almost 1,190 hectares of parkland including the 135-hectare parcel beside Sooke Potholes and the entire Jordan River waterfront.
Ilkay has said he would pull out of the tentative deal to buy the land if the bylaws passed, but, after the meeting, Juan de Fuca electoral area director Erik Lund said Ilkay will now be able to apply for rezoning.
Earlier in the day, the bylaws survived a challenge in B.C. Supreme Court.
The Association of B.C. Landowners and developer Lester Monnington asked for an injunction because of a change which will prevent owners of four-hectare lots from selling four strata lots.
However, Metchosin Mayor John Ranns said CRD staff are already "discussing the inequities" of the changes to the Rural A lands.
Ideally, all the four-hectare lots should be changed to one hectare, he said.
