{"id":48293,"date":"2021-03-23T14:58:41","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T18:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/?p=48293"},"modified":"2021-03-23T14:58:41","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T18:58:41","slug":"zoning-meeting-for-gowland-harbour-views-development-deferred-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/zoning-meeting-for-gowland-harbour-views-development-deferred-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoning meeting for Gowland Harbour Views development deferred, again"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Roy L Hales<\/p>\n

The public zoning meeting for the Gowland Harbour Views development, on\u00a0Quadra Island<\/a>, could be on hold until next August or September \u2013 assuming the\u00a0pandemic<\/a>\u00a0is under control by then.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Map<\/a>

Map of the project taken from SRD staff report<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Gowland Harbour Views<\/h2>\n

This project was originally brought to the Strathcona Regional District\u00a0in the summer of 2010<\/a>\u00a0and, to quote the\u00a0most recent Strathcona Regional Development staff report<\/a>,\u00a0\u201chas undergone a number of changes to address issues raised by the local electoral area director.\u201d<\/p>\n

That is, of course, Regional Director\u00a0Jim Abram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Land owner and applicant, Rick Schellinck, wants to developing 51 residential lots, a campground, marina and two waterfront parks in Gowland Harbour.<\/p>\n

His latest application was considered at this year\u2019s\u00a0January 13th, February 10th\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0March 10th meetings<\/a>\u00a0of the\u00a0Electoral Areas Services Committee<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Problems with the Gowland project<\/h2>\n

At the March 10th meeting, Director Abram mentioned a number of problems. Over the years, the amount of green space being given to the community has decreased from 15 to 10 acres. There is no archaeological study. The project would most likely bring another 50 cars to Quadra Island and, at times ,there are already two or three ferry waits on the ferry.<\/p>\n

He added that \u201cThe big issue, that is being thrown at me probably at least a dozen times a day, is the fact that people want an in-person public hearing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The internet is very poor on Quadra and no residents logged into two of the island\u2019s three virtual zoning meetings<\/p>\n

Regional Director Brenda Leigh<\/a>, whose internet connection failed and was attending by phone, agreed, \u201c\u2026. these virtual meetings, they are a disaster, I can\u2019t hear half of what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not comfortable with the delays<\/h2>\n

As this application has been under consideration for more than a decade,\u00a0Cortes Island Regional Director Noba Anderson<\/a>\u00a0said, \u201cI\u2019m not comfortable delaying everything indefinitely.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also did not feel comfortable with the amount of\u00a0 \u201creaching into the detail of this that the committee feels it has the license to do. Ultimately, it is up to the applicant to put an application forward for consideration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anderson suggested that when it was possible to for public to attend in person, there be a zoning meeting for Gowland Harbour Views.<\/p>\n

Decision deferred, again<\/h2>\n

Abram insisted that the application was incomplete and sent back to\u00a0Schellinck again.<\/p>\n

He made a motion to that effect, but the vote was deferred for technical reasons. Director Leigh said she could only hear half of what was being said and, as she was connected by phone, she could not see the motion.<\/p>\n

Further discussion of the Gowland Harbour Views development\u00a0 was deferred to the next EASC meeting, on April 14th.<\/p>\n

Links of interest:<\/h2>\n