Scott Stanfield
Record staff
Status quo for RD reps
Mayor Larry Jangula, and Couns. Erik Eriksson, Bob Wells and Manno Theos will continue to represent Courtenay on the regional district board. In a 4-3 vote at Monday’s meeting, they were re-appointed for a three-year period to the end of term in 2018. Couns. Rebecca Lennox, Doug Hillian and David Frisch voted against the re-appointments.
Hillian feels the appointments should reflect the choice of voters in the last municipal election when Frisch topped the polls. But Jangula noted that council determines who represents the City on the CVRD board.
He regrets not being part of the board when he was first elected mayor.
Lennox, who feels a disconnect by not being on the board, has heard rumblings that Eriksson has not been following protocol. Though he has not heard such accusations, Eriksson nevertheless apologized.
The inaugural CVRD board meeting for the next term is Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Referendum poll numbers
Hillian is pleased with the outcome but disappointed with the turnout at last month’s referendum for a homelessness supports service. A total of 1,617 Valley residents voted in favour while 1,433 were against a service to provide funds to a non-government organization(s) based on a five-year action plan to address homelessness.
Polling stations at Courtenay and Queneesh elementary schools were significant to Hillian, who suggests the results might reflect income levels in those areas. At Courtenay Elementary, 454 people voted in favour and 327 against. Queneesh was 305 in favour and 373 against.
The largest discrepancy was at Moncrief Hall in Cumberland, with 257 in favour and 76 against.
Total voter turnout was eight per cent — 3,050 out of an estimated 36,803 residents eligible to vote.
Third reading on development
Council unanimously approved third reading on two rezoning bylaws for a residential development on Crown Isle land near Costco. The project includes a 10-metre wide park dedication between the lands and Elderberry Crescent properties. The idea is to build a paved walkway to connect Waters Place to Anderton Road.
Some residents are concerned about noise and vegetation removal, should the walkway proceed.
Theos was the lone member of council to oppose a subsidiary motion from Hillian to include a covenant for the walkway along Elderberry properties to ensure the wooded area is preserved as much as possible.
“I think the project addresses the issues,” Theos said. “I see this as an eventual win-win.”
Mayor happy with new association
Jangula feels the newly-formed Comox Valley Development and Construction Association will help streamline processes at City Hall.
The association — formed in August — represents builders, surveyors and architects, among others. At this point it has 20-plus members.
“Our members represent a significant portion of the Comox Valley economy,” said chairman Murray Presley, a former Courtenay councillor. He feels better communication is needed between the association and staff/politicians to deal with things like DCCs (development cost charges), which affect housing affordability.
Hillian hopes the group will look at creative solutions that will help densify the downtown core.
Sustainability Network presentation
Will Cole-Hamilton believes the Comox Valley Sustainability Strategy can galvanize the community, and set a foundation for regional, provincial and federal partnership opportunities.
In a presentation on behalf of the Comox Valley Sustainability Network, Cole-Hamilton asked council to use the CVSS as a guiding document. One suggestion is to develop infill before greenfield, or undeveloped land. The group suggests incentives for infill projects, which would grow the residential tax base with fewer infrastructure costs, support downtown revitalization efforts, and make active transportation options more attractive.
Hillian challenged the infill-before-greenfield idea because he would, for instance, have to vote against development in the Arden Corridor.
“I’m not convinced it will work,” Hillian said.
The CVSS cost $360,000 to develop — “an enormous sum of money,” Cole-Hamilton said. He notes the document has mostly been shelved since 2010 when the regional district board received it for consideration as a guide to sustainability in future actions.
The network’s call for renewed action is supported by numerous businesses, non-profits and the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association.
