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.
Land-use decisions assault democracy, says UVic law clinic
Apr 16, 2008
By Judith Lavoie
<jlavoie@tc.canwest.com>
Provincial decisions are undermining democracy and land use decisions on southern Vancouver Island, says a letter sent yesterday by the University of Victoria Environmental Law Clinic to auditor general John Doyle.
“A series of events has been set in play that, in effect, disenfranchises Capital Regional District residents and CRD directors from control over local land use,” says the letter.
The Law Clinic, acting on behalf of the Sea-to-Sea Greenbelt Society, has already asked Doyle to look at Forests Minister Rich Coleman’s decision to allow Western Forest Products to remove 28,000 hectares of private land from tree farm licences on Vancouver Island without paying compensation.
WFP then made a provisional deal to sell 2,500 hectares of high-profile land, stretching from Sooke Potholes to Port Renfrew, to developer Ender Ilkay.
After an outcry from environmentalists, who feared recreational areas and parkland would be lost, and others who objected to the future of a vast area being decided by a developer and potential gutting of the regional growth strategy, the CRD brought in bylaws that would limit lot size over much of the area to 120 hectares.
However, the bylaws, passed by the CRD Feb. 14 did not receive provincial approval until Monday and, during that time WFP applied, under the old rules, for provincial approval of 319 acreages “with zero parks,” including the Jordan River townsite and waterfront.
Infuriated opponents have accused WFP of trying to do an end run, with the province’s assistance.
Malahat-Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan questioned the timing.
“It looks like a coincidence to the ministry and it looks like a conspiracy to the rest of us,” he said.
Ray Zimmerman of the Greenbelt Society said it is a matter of democracy.
“It gave an opportunity for WFP to circumvent the local bylaws. It’s really outrageous,” he said.
Meanwhile, a special CRD board meeting, planned for today to adopt the bylaws, was cancelled after it was found that, barring a dire emergency, there has to be five days notice. It is now tentatively scheduled for one week hence.
The WFP subdivision plan has gone to the Highways Ministry approving officer, who will ask for CRD input.
But, there could be problems with the plans for Jordan River as there are dams behind, which could break during an earthquake, and the townsite is in a tsunami area, said Erik Lund, Juan de Fuca electoral area director.
“We would certainly have to look at it,” he said.
“A series of events has been set in play that, in effect, disenfranchises Capital Regional District residents and CRD directors from control over local land use,” says the letter.
The Law Clinic, acting on behalf of the Sea-to-Sea Greenbelt Society, has already asked Doyle to look at Forests Minister Rich Coleman’s decision to allow Western Forest Products to remove 28,000 hectares of private land from tree farm licences on Vancouver Island without paying compensation.
WFP then made a provisional deal to sell 2,500 hectares of high-profile land, stretching from Sooke Potholes to Port Renfrew, to developer Ender Ilkay.
After an outcry from environmentalists, who feared recreational areas and parkland would be lost, and others who objected to the future of a vast area being decided by a developer and potential gutting of the regional growth strategy, the CRD brought in bylaws that would limit lot size over much of the area to 120 hectares.
However, the bylaws, passed by the CRD Feb. 14 did not receive provincial approval until Monday and, during that time WFP applied, under the old rules, for provincial approval of 319 acreages “with zero parks,” including the Jordan River townsite and waterfront.
Infuriated opponents have accused WFP of trying to do an end run, with the province’s assistance.
Malahat-Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan questioned the timing.
“It looks like a coincidence to the ministry and it looks like a conspiracy to the rest of us,” he said.
Ray Zimmerman of the Greenbelt Society said it is a matter of democracy.
“It gave an opportunity for WFP to circumvent the local bylaws. It’s really outrageous,” he said.
Meanwhile, a special CRD board meeting, planned for today to adopt the bylaws, was cancelled after it was found that, barring a dire emergency, there has to be five days notice. It is now tentatively scheduled for one week hence.
The WFP subdivision plan has gone to the Highways Ministry approving officer, who will ask for CRD input.
But, there could be problems with the plans for Jordan River as there are dams behind, which could break during an earthquake, and the townsite is in a tsunami area, said Erik Lund, Juan de Fuca electoral area director.
“We would certainly have to look at it,” he said.
