Erin Haluschak
Record Staff
Citing direct conflict with the Regional Growth Strategy amongst other reasons, Comox council voted unanimously against the proposed Rural Comox Valley Official Community Plan Bylaw put forth by the Comox Valley Regional District.
In a report to council presented at Wednesday’s committee of the whole meeting by Town Planner Marvin Kamenz, he explained staff feel some of policies dealing with bylaw No. 337 (which deals with settlement expansion areas identified as future growth areas for adjacent urban municipalities) are in direct conflict with the RGS and lead to confusion.
“In addition to being redundant the proposed CVRD OCP policy does not provide any qualitative or quantitative goals in regards to what is required to meet the policy,” Kamenz said in the report.
“Consequently, differing expectations are likely among affected parties making this policy incompatible with the RGS policy 1E-1 statement that local governments will work co-operatively with regard to such boundary extensions and ensure that the policies of the RGS are maintained.”
He added two proposed CVRD OCP policies deal with roles and responsibilities which have already been addressed by provincial statute/policy.
Kamenz noted one OCP policy is inconsistent with the RGS which states municipal boundary extensions intended to incorporate lands for green field development are discouraged.
With the RD considering the bylaw at the beginning of November, council expressed concerns with the limited timeline for discussion of the bylaw, and with no scheduled regular council meeting this week, they approved the creation of a special council meeting Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to vote on the motion.
“Hopefully sanity will prevail,” noted Coun. Tom Grant in reference to the RD considering the town’s position.
photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com