Building North Cowichan (current development applications)
Staff and Council want to ensure that residents have adequate notice and access to information on bylaw amendments. For example, if there is a rezoning proposal that you are interested in, there are a number of ways to find out more about the proposal and when the Public Hearing will be held:
The purpose of the notification is to provide notice only. If you would like to know more about the proposal(s), please contact the Planning Department directly or view the information available on the website. Should you wish to participate in the Public Hearing you are strongly encouraged to talk to Planning staff to be sure to have all your questions answered prior to the Public Hearing. As previously noted, the Public Hearing is not a question and answer period – it is an opportunity for your views to be heard by Council.
On March 18, 2020 a moratorium was placed on Public Hearings because of the physical distancing requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 3, 2020 Council removed the moratorium on Public Hearings, allowing them to be held electronically with public participating via written submissions and teleconference means.
All written submissions should include your name and address and state whether you are ‘in favour’ or ‘opposed’ to the application. Submissions received in this manner will be scanned and emailed to Council prior to the Public Hearing.
The purpose of a Public Hearing is for the public to provide input and for Council to listen. Council will not respond to questions from the public. Council may, in its discretion, ask staff or the applicant to provide clarity where Council is of the view that the response will assist Council in its consideration of the application.
Once a Public Hearing is closed, no new information on the matter can be received by Council, including letters, emails or phone calls. This is to allow a fair process as established by provincial case law.Following the close of the Public Hearing, the Regular Council Meeting will commence (that same evening) and bylaws may be considered for Third Reading.
Please note that Public Hearings are webcast live and a recording is available on North Cowichan's website. Correspondence you submit, including name and address, will form part of the public record for the public hearing and will be published on North Cowichan's website. North Cowichan considers your name and address relevant to this matter and will disclose this personal information as it informs Council’s consideration of your opinion in relation to the subject property. However, your phone number and email address will not be disclosed.
Personal information is collected by North Cowichan under the authority of s. 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of administering the Public Hearing. Please direct any questions about personal information to North Cowichan's Privacy Officer, 250-746-3116, privacy@northcowichan.ca, 7030 Trans-Canada Highway, Duncan, BC, V9L 6A1.
Please note that the information on this page is provided as a service to the public. While updated as new material comes in, there may be some timing delays. For the most current information, please visit the Development Services Department at the Municipal Hall to review the Public Hearing Binder.