Council met for about four hours during our Regular Council meeting on March 6, 2024.
My Mayor’s Report included the following:
- Councillor Debra Toporowski and I were invited by Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan, to attend the budget speech at the BC Legislature in Victoria. Among the highlights was $14 million in provincial funding to help replace the 50-year-old Cowichan Lake Weir. Our visit to the BC Legislature also included meetings with several cabinet ministers to discuss current challenges in North Cowichan, including with the Crofton mill and Quamichan Lake.
- On February 26, I joined Councillor Christopher Justice, Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor, and many other Cowichan Valley residents for the Coldest Night of the Year walk, which started at the Cowichan Community Centre. Thanks to the team at Cowichan Valley Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Cowichan Valley Search & Rescue, and all the local volunteers for their work in organizing this important event, which is part of a national initiative involving thousands of Canadians across the country who are raising funds to support people experiencing homelessness.
- Last week Council toured the Chemainus sawmill owned by Western Forest Products, one of their three sites in the municipality. Employing more than 160 workers, the Chemainus mill has capacity for up to 130 million board feet, and focuses on medium to large diameter logs. Roughly 96% of the production mix is Western Red Cedar, with Douglas Fir accounting for the balance. This site continues to be one of our top taxpayers in North Cowichan and a major employer in our regional economy.
- I recently met with the Chair of the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Duncan and Lake Cowichan Mayors to discuss finding an alternative site for the emergency warming centre currently open at the Cowichan Community Centre and serving people who are experiencing homelessness. We agreed to jointly write to the Province requesting assistance in securing a permanent site in a more appropriate location.
- Last weekend I met with the team from Wounded Warrior BC, an organization that provides mental health supports to professionals who have faced trauma in their day-to-day work. As part of their 11th annual Wounded Warrior Run BC, a dedicated team ran the length of Vancouver Island from Port Hardy to Victoria. It was great to meet the runners for their stop at the Chemainus Legion Branch 191, and to offer a donation on behalf of the Municipality of North Cowichan.
Brenda Isaak Takao and Janet Magdanz of the Cowichan Valley Arts Council presented an overview of their recent activities, including the exhibit “Celebrating Cedar” funded by North Cowichan’s 150th anniversary celebration in 2023. Other highlights included the 54th Annual Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show, Youth Showcase, a number of art exhibit openings, demonstrations, studio tours, an outdoor art market, kids camps, workshops, and tours.
The Sewer and Parcel Tax Amendment Bylaw was adopted. This bylaw increases sewer parcel taxes for Chemainus, Crofton, and South End sewer services and increases water parcel taxes for Chemainus and South End water services. The Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw was also adopted and sets out new excess metered water rates, interment fees, and administrative fees, and updates some of the wording in the development application fees section.
A Zoning Amendment Bylaw to permit a detached accessory dwelling unit at 2524 Ashcroft Road was authorized.
A Zoning Amendment Bylaw to permit a six storey multi-family residential building with approximately 52 units and a public park at 2999 Drinkwater Road received first three readings. Council also directed staff to secure a parcel of land for the public park as part of the development.
A Zoning Amendment Bylaw that proposes to update the on-site regulations for garbage containers and enclosures at multi-family residential, commercial, or institutional locations received first three readings. This follows a February 21, 2024 Development Variance Permit application for on-site garbage container regulations for a townhouse development on Seablush Crescent.
An application to amend the Official Community Plan to expand the Urban Containment Boundary to facilitate a 12.5 hectare residential and mixed-use development in an area north of Herd Road was denied. Council agreed to refund the developer their total application fee.
Council requested that staff send a letter to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and copy School District 79, Cowichan Valley Regional District, City of Duncan, and Cowichan Tribes regarding alternative options for a proposed pedestrian overpass. The overpass is planned to cross the Trans-Canada Highway near the new Quw’utsun Secondary School and is intended to serve pedestrians and other active transportation users. Council wants to ensure a more welcoming, pedestrian-friendly and business enhancing environment that establishes a greater sense of connectivity between the east and west sides of the Trans-Canada Highway, and are recommending an urban design firm be retained to explore options that would provide better connectivity at a vibrant and human scale.
The next Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 5:00pm.
Thank you for reading and staying informed!
Rob Douglas, Mayor
Municipality of North Cowichan
T 250.746.3117
E rob.douglas@northcowichan.ca