Council met for just under five hours during our Regular Council meeting and Public Hearing on January 15, 2025.
My Mayor’s Report included the following:
- North Cowichan Council was given a tour of Western Forest Products’ Value-Add Remanufacturing facility in Chemainus, along with Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor. Built in 1994, this site has 10 kilns and a planer for manufacturing high-quality specialty products from Western Red Cedar, hemlock, and Douglas fir, while also employing more than 50 local workers. We were pleased to hear that Western Forest Products is moving ahead with a $17 million investment in a new continuous kiln at the facility that will create new jobs and continue the company’s focus on value-added products.
- I had the honour of attending the unveiling of the new works of art at the North Cowichan-Duncan RCMP Detachment, along with members of Cowichan Tribes, Lyackson First Nation, RCMP, North Cowichan, City of Duncan, our Cowichan Valley MLA, and the broader community. These include window etching in the lobby of the detachment done by Cowichan Tribes artist Stuart Pagaduan, and the totem pole “The Potential of Powers” that stands just outside the building entrance that was carved by Lyackson First Nation artist Dylan Thomas.
KPMG presented the scope and timing for their annual audit of North Cowichan’s consolidated financial statements. An audit takes place every year and the audited statements are included in the annual report, which is published by the municipality each year in June.
Council authorized a road closure and land exchange agreement with the owners of several Paddle Road properties. The agreement will realign the roadways in order to accommodate the more than 376-unit apartment, townhouse and duplex development that will be taking place.
A Fees and Charges Bylaw amendment was given first three readings in order to establish new fees related to processing applications for Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) exclusions. This also authorizes North Cowichan to provide the service of evaluating ALR exclusion applications and that if Council considers an application has sufficient merit to make the application to the Agricultural Land Commission.
Council discussed the 2025 Budget including the “What We Heard” report related to public engagement that took place last November and December. Council also recommended that the draft budget include additional staffing resources in fire protection, building and engineering; critical infrastructure upgrades for the Crofton pool, a major culvert replacement, and parks accessibility; and additional operating funding to relocate the Chemainus dog park. The draft capital and operating budgets will be presented for further discussion at the February 11 Committee of the Whole meeting, and it is anticipated first three readings of the financial plan will take place on February 19. Learn more about the budget at connectnorthcowichan.ca/budget-2025
Council issued a statement of concurrence to support a telecommunication antenna structure on an industrial-zoned property at 3910 Drinkwater Road. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has authority over the placement and approval of federally licensed wireless telecommunications facilities, however, a local government may issue a statement of concurrence or non-concurrence for structures within their boundaries that considers land use compatibility and siting and design, as well as comments from residents.
Remedial action for a partially collapsed structure at 2961 Sherman Road was discussed and a plan to demolish and make the site safe was determined. The site will be fenced within 30 days and a demolition permit applied for within 90 days with the demolition completed within 180 days. The property owners have an application to redevelop the site into multi-unit housing.
The Mountain View Cemetery Services Plan was adopted. The plan includes:
- The start of infill construction for 2025 as part of the approved capital plan.
- Build future phases into the 5-year capital planning process.
- Refer the long-term cemetery site expansion to the Development Cost Charges (DCC) bylaw update process.
- To include environmentally friendly interment options to the future expansion plans as it nears the detailed design stage.
- Create a cemetery capital reserve fund at a rate of $20,242 per year as part of the 2026 business planning process.
Council approved the supply of bear resistant garbage and organics carts as part of the move to automated collection later this spring. Residents who want a bear resistant cart will be able to request either a 120 or 240 litre cart at the additional annual cost of $30 or $40 per cart. The bear resistant carts will have a gravity activated lock that will not need to be released prior to pick up.
The next council meeting is on Wednesday, February 5 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