Dear editor,It is another great day in Union Bay but not without a few rumours and a little controversy.Historically, we have stayed out of the fray but with so many ill-founded rumours out there, it was time for some facts.First, Kensington Island Properties (KIP) has not sold to a Korean offshore group. Kensington still owns 100 per cent of the land covered under the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Bylaws 56 and 57 and the Master Development Agreement (MDA).True, we are talking to other developers and builders who will help us develop the communities within Union Bay. We are al| anxious to get going.Secondly, we have not abandoned the development nor have we run out of money or just gone away.The MDA states that before we can apply for any building permits we must first consolidate all 12 parcels of our land into the five Comprehensive Development Zones. To meet this obligation, we have had to survey the parcels and register them with the Land Title office in Victoria.his meant completing more than 23,000 metres of land survey including the perimeter of all of our land, Highway 19A, the E&N Railroad tracks, Washer Creek and the foreshore of Baynes Sound as they relate to our land.This has meant more than a year of survey and consultant time. The first of these CD Zones has now been registered with the balance to follow shortly.Third, we have not forgotten our obligation to the people of Union Bay.Before we develop any land, we will first upgrade the Union Bay Improvement District (UBID) water system. We signed an agreement with UBID in April of this year. These upgrades will meet and exceed the requirements as set out by the Province of B.C. and the Vancouver Island Health Authority.The equipment and components required to complete this upgrade have been sourced and are sitting in Langley. Work will commence once a permit is issued by the CVRD.Fourth, we will not construct any housing or commercial development within the five CD zones without connecting to a Waste Water Treatment (WWT) system.The MDA negotiated between KIP and the CVRD clearly states that all development within our land will be connected to our WWT system. There will not be any septic systems on our land.The golf course and our many parks will be irrigated with reclaimed water from the WWT system. Water from Langley Lake will not be utilized for this purpose.More recently, we have been the subject of a letter writing and phone campaign to all levels of government from a few concerned citizens. The subject has been some debris piles from land clearing, which we completed in early summer.Since 2007, KIP has been clearing land within the development. Every step of the way this debris has been burned under permit and a watchful eye. To date, not one complaint has ever been lodged with any level of government.The Province issues the permits during the burn season when the burn index is safe — in other words when the wind is right and there is not a chance of an inversion. We typically burn in the winter when it is raining.When the permit is issued, the weather/burn index is checked a number of times a day. The contractor also has a water tanker standing by — just in case.During the July UBID board meeting, I stated that we had looked into having the debris piles chipped but the contractors could not get at it until later into the fall. We continue to look for other ways to dispose of these branches and stumps.For those people who are concerned about the proximity to the highway and the power lines — we would never burn there.The debris was placed there to separate and to dry. Those piles will all be moved further upland to either be burned or chipped.Incidentally, the piles continue to grow as some in the community feel the need to dispose of all of their yard waste, all kinds of wood debris, pallets, doors, trees from other properties and just plain garbage.If you must continue to dispose of your trash on our land, please keep the roads clear of your debris — some are now just dumping their trash anywhere blocking our roads and your trails. The CVRD land fill site is the place where you need to take your trash.The disposing of this debris will not happen for a number of weeks yet. We cannot get the wood waste people on site for a while yet nor can we burn until at least November. Before we do anything you have my commitment that we will let you know how and when we will dispose of the debris before we do it.Finally, to sum things up, KIP is alive and well, we are completing our first subdivision of our land and getting it registered. We will soon start the water upgrades to the UBID system, followed by the wastewater treatment plant and getting roads built and pipe in the ground.Argyle will be our first single-family residential community in Union Bay along with our corporate offices and some small commercial development. Watch for our signage coming soon.Thank you for your continued interest and support in our development.Brian A. McMahon,Editor's note: Brian McMahon is vice-president of Kensington Island properties.