A development proceeding (including necessary tree removal) at 1000 Pritchard Rd. in Comox is being carried out in accordance with a wildlife development permit obtained by the developers before subdivision or land alternations.
The North Pritchard neighbourhood was initially identified for development in the 1980s. The area’s residential, institutional, and industrial land are situated outside the protected environmental areas (of the Lazo Marsh - Northeast Comox Wildlife Management Area) and the town is legally obligated to process subdivision applications that adhere to existing zoning laws.
In response to concerns about tree retention, town council adopted its first Tree Retention Policy in Feb. 2022, aiming for 30 per cent mature tree retention or replanting across all development areas.
However, because the application at 1000 Pritchard is for subdivision rather than rezoning, the town cannot enforce these policies even though the developer has committed to meeting this policy. The Town of Comox acknowledges the delicate balance between respecting the rights of landowners, providing housing options, preserving mature trees, and managing community infrastructure costs.
The town will be embarking on the process of renewing its Official Community Plan (OCP) shortly. With the recent changes to municipal zoning announced by the Province and the elimination of public hearings for most future re-zoning applications, public participation in the OCP public engagement process will be important.
For more information on this development and other housing applications, visit comox.ca/housingapplications.
