Submitted
The Comox Valley Regional District has purchased a piece of property adjacent to the Fanny Bay Community Hall for park and recreational purposes.
The announcement came after a signing and celebration event with representatives from the CVRD, School District No. 71 (SD71) and the Fanny Bay Community Association (FBCA).
The property, deemed as surplus by SD71, was sold to the CVRD for the sum of $50,000. The CVRD is in the process of finalizing the licence of occupation with FBCA, which has agreed in principle to manage the lands.
“This property was evaluated using the criteria for parkland acquisition identified in the rural Comox Valley parks and greenways strategic plan,” said Edwin Grieve, CVRD board chair. “It’s an exciting day when collaborative efforts allow us to take another step forward in ensuring that we can provide additional recreational assets to our community.”
The property, which is one acre and comprises primarily second growth forest, has been used by the FBCA through a lease agreement with SD71 for the past 15 years. The lease will end December 2014. The property has largely been left in its natural state and will help secure the forested area and recreational opportunities for the future, and maintain a buffer between recreation amenities on adjacent FBCA lands and private lands to the south and west.
“The school district is pleased to be able to support the CVRD and Fanny Bay Community Association in their efforts to preserve the community hall lands,” said School District 71 board chair Peter Coleman. “The land sale to the CVRD will provide valuable space to support recreation and physical activity for all residents.”
“When we learned last year of the school district’s wish to dispose of the land as one of its surplus properties, we became concerned that this area, which is much used by walkers, other recreationalists and for occasional informal camping, might no longer be available,” said Neville Hope, Fanny Bay Community Association president.
“Due to tremendous co-operation between the school district and Comox Valley Regional District, we are delighted that access to, and use by our community and other residents of the valley, will be maintained for many years to come.”
The joint signing celebration was held at the Fanny Bay Community Hall with local residents, representatives from the Fanny Bay Community Association, the CVRD and SD71.