The Comox Valley Regional District says it followed proper procedure as it considered a company’s application to amend the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) in order to create a riverfront community near Stotan Falls.
In October, 3L Developments filed a petition with the Supreme Court of B.C. seeking court orders to set aside the CVRD’s denial of the company’s application to amend the RGS, which would create a new settlement node.
The district’s lawyer has advised to limit comments on the matter while it is before the court.
“But we do want to make it clear that the CVRD considered 3L’s application to amend the RGS in a fair, open and transparent process,” CAO Russell Dyson said in a statement. “We followed all requirements set out in provincial legislation, CVRD bylaws and policies, and met the court’s expectations from previous decisions regarding 3L’s proposal.”
The RGS is a regional planning framework that guides growth and development, and protects the environment, health and livability for all citizens in the CVRD.
“Amending the RGS is a serious undertaking,” Dyson said. “We fully consulted with the public and 3L during this process. We kept 3L informed and respected their interest, processing their application in a timely manner.”
The Nanaimo-based 3L had hoped to build about 1,100 homes and create a 250-acre park near Stotan Falls, a popular swimming hole in Area C of the CVRD. The company has twice won court decisions after challenging the CVRD about due process.