Council met for almost five-and-a-half hours during our Regular Council meeting and Public Hearing on August 20, 2025.
During my Mayor’s Report I shared the following:
- I recently joined representatives from the Clements Centre, Children and Families Minister Jodi Wickens, and staff from MLA Debra Toporowski’s office to discuss provincial support for a new child development centre in Cowichan. The Clements Centre is planning a 15,000–18,000 sq ft multi-storey facility in North Cowichan to meet the growing demand for services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
- Campbell River Mayor Kermit Dahl and I met to discuss concerns in the forestry sector and opportunities for joint advocacy to senior levels of government. We urged the province to address timber permit delays that are impacting sawmills in Chemainus and Cowichan Bay - both are currently facing curtailments. Mayor Dahl also shared Campbell River’s success in replicating Duncan’s “The Village” model to address homelessness and the drug crisis.
- Council toured the Hand of Man Museum in Maple Bay, which opened in 2018 and now welcomes over 28,000 visitors annually - funded entirely by donations. Special thanks to founder Jim Shockey for the personalized tour and to Councillor Bruce Findlay for organizing the visit.
- Together with Councillor Becky Hogg, I toured the Sq'umul' Shelh Lelum supportive housing complex on Paddle Road. Recent management changes have had a positive impact on this BC Housing facility that serves people who have recently experienced homelessness.
- Earlier this month, I attended the Crofton Day celebration, organized by the Crofton Community Centre Society, Warmland Church, Crofton Fire Hall, and many dedicated volunteers. The event featured family-friendly activities including bouncy castles, face painting, food trucks, live music, and movies in the park.
- Councillor Chris Istace and I attended the official opening of the Chemainus Community Garden on Willow Street. This project was made possible through the hard work of volunteers, non-profit organizations, and generous support from local businesses. Council supported the initiative by approving the use of municipal land on Willow Street.
A presentation on North Cowichan’s Youth Services Review was heard. The review aimed to understand the recreation and service needs of youth aged 12 to 18 and identify gaps and barriers as well as actionable recommendations to improve services. North Cowichan currently provides limited services for youth with support from School District 79.
Council also received a presentation on the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) Economic Development Service Review. The review was commissioned to study the regional district’s current economic development function, assess existing services, and identify potential changes to the service. A report will be provided at an upcoming Council meeting outlining North Cowichan’s recommendations to the CVRD on the service.
Council denied an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment request to establish a new land use designation that would facilitate a rezoning and subsequent bare land strata subdivision at 3499 Henry Road (Morgan Maples). The property is currently designated for use as a manufactured home park, is outside of the Urban Containment Boundary. Establishing a new land use designation in this area would set a precedent with broad implications for the municipality’s growth management policies, and infrastructure servicing in rural areas.
Council directed staff to amend the Council Strategic Plan to incorporate outcomes from their recent workshop and include the following new priorities:
- Servicing industrial lands
- Procurement policy review
- Funded asset management plan
- Servicing upgrades
- Forestry harvesting
Staff will provide a report on budget implications for initiating these new priorities as part of the 2026 financial plan.
Council ordered two nuisance properties to demolish and remove the structures:
- The property owner of a derelict house at 2961 Sherman Road was ordered to demolish the house and clean up the property on January 15, 2025. The homeowner was not able to meet the dates set by Council and had asked for an extension at the July 16, 2025 meeting. Council considered the request and has extended the deadline for the clean up to December 15, 2025.
- The owner of 5861 and 5865 York Road was ordered to remediate the properties by clearing the interior of the structures and to apply for a demolition permit application within 60 days, and to demolish the properties within 90 days of the permit’s issuance.
Council adopted the Affordable Housing Policy and implementation plan. The policy aims to create more affordable homes and support people experiencing homelessness. It outlines the steps the municipality will take, such as using public land, offering financial incentives, and working with other governments, to help make housing more accessible and protect existing rental units. This policy has been in development since 2020 and has included public input and feedback from developers and social service organizations.
Council gave three readings to the Delegation of Authority Bylaw, which designates certain staff as Servicing Officers. These officers would be able to require land dedication for road upgrades, new roads, and transportation, as a condition of a building permit being issued. A draft policy was also introduced to set out what kinds of building permit these land dedication requirements would apply to, and under what conditions. This accompanying policy is not a mandatory requirement but helps to ensure transparency and consistency.
Two zoning amendments were introduced:
- Three readings to permit a detached secondary dwelling at 7999 Stoney Hill Road.
- First two readings to facilitate a maximum of 25 shipping containers for accessory storage use at 3900 Drinkwater Road (CVRD Bings Creek Recycling & Waste Management Centre). A public hearing for this item will be scheduled.
The Vian Street Housing Agreement Bylaw was adopted. This bylaw will secure non-market housing units within a 28-unit multi-family development at 2731 Vian Street proposed by the Clements Centre.
Council issued a Statement of Concurrence in support of the construction of a 35-metre monopole telecommunications antenna structure on 1750 Mann Street.
Councillor Christopher Justice’s motion – which confirmed Council’s commitment that existing taxpayers are not unfairly burdened by the cost of infrastructure in support of growth – was carried. Development Cost Charges (DCCs) and other community amenity contributions should be set at levels that reflect actual costs associated with upgraded infrastructure needed for new development.
Staff will report back on policy implications regarding legacy benches and trees, following an enquiry from a member of the public.
Members of Council introduced four notices of motion. These will be considered at the September 3 regular Council meeting.
- Councillor Becky Hogg introduced a notice of motion to further restrict RV parking and limit overnight parking and to increase bylaw enforcement.
- Councillors Christopher Justice and Chris Istace introduced a notice of motion to identify land suitable for the development of a Foundry Centre in support of integrated youth services.
- Councillor Bruce Findlay introduced a notice of motion to have a summary of the Mayor’s scheduled external engagements be shared with Council, and to indicate which engagements would be open to additional participation by other members of Council.
- Mayor Rob Douglas introduced a notice of motion to consider adoption of polices for Council members for campaign donation disclosures, recusal requirements, disclosure of meetings with developers, and annual transparency reporting.
The next regular council meeting will be on Wednesday, September 3 at 5pm.
Thank you for reading and staying informed!
Rob Douglas, Mayor
Municipality of North Cowichan
T 250-746-3117
E rob.douglas@northcowichan.ca