CRD bylaws 3474, 3495 and 3500 were passed on April 23rd through fourth and final reading!

These by-laws will help maintain the rural and forest character of the Juan de Fuca electoral area and minimize urban sprawl between Sooke and Port Renfrew on previous Tree Farm Licence lands.
This is great news, much thanks to all the energy, commitment, and support you have shown.

It is great that the CRD by-laws have passed but we still need to make sure Western Forest Products (WFP) application for immediate subdivision under the old zoning is not approved.

It is one non-elected staff member, the provincial subdivision approval officer- Bob Wylie –under the Ministry of transportation who has the power to allow Western Forest Products the ability to subdivide 319 parcels of land in Jordan River and surrounding areas. Bob Wylie has a year from April to approve the subdivisions, before the current zoning comes into play.

Please write a letter to Bob Wylie approving officer, and let him know that approving Western Forest Products Application is not in the interest of the public. Bob's e-mail address is Bob.Wylie@gov.bc.ca. His office address is 3rd Floor, 2100 Labieux Rd, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6E9. Tel. (250) 751-3278.

-For more information visit the Events section of this site.

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Good News!

The CRD board members chose to adopted bylaws 3495, 3500 and 3494 much to Ender Ilkay's chagrin (developer 'hopeful' of TFL deletion lands). We are very happy about this decision. Procedurally there will be a number of 'hoops' to jump through before the bylaws can be implemented, but the support is very strong.

Thanks to everyone who wrote in submissions around the public hearings! Your support had made a big difference!
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There will be a CRD Board Meeting held at 625 Fisgard St, on Wednesday Feburary 13th at 1:30pm. A Final decision regarding CRD bylaws 3495, 3500, and 3494 will be made. These are the bylaws relating to the Western Forest Products Tree Farm License deletion lands in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area.

The meeting is open to the public, you are welcome to attend, but is not a forum for public input. The entire CRD board will be present to discuss the bylaws, and the public response to them. The bylaws with then be voted on. We have high hopes that the CRD will continue to show progressive leadership with regard to the lands in question and pass all three of the Bylaws.

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Thanks to everyone who came out to speak or sent written submissions in support of CRD bylaws: 3495, 3500, and 3474!

There was a significant level of support for the bylaws, specifically for bylaws 3495 and 3500 (Monday's hearings).

In speaking with Erik Lund, he suggested that most of the opposition to the bylaws was voiced by miss-informed citizens who wrongly believe that the bylaws would adversely affect there small land holdings. In all but a very few areas, these bylaws only affect large tracks of previous forest lands, and protect these lands from urban sprawl.

The next step is a regional board meeting held on February 13, 2008 at 625 Fisgard. The board will make their final decision regarding these bylaws. The meeting is open to the public, and will be held earlier in the day at about 1:30pm. (More details to follow).

Thanks again for your support. Please continue to put out your positive intentions towards these lands!

Background Information on Public Hearings:

What: CRD Public Hearings, on Bylaw #'s: 3495, 3500 and 3474 regarding the down-zoning of the conditionally sold former tree farm license lands. Please arrive a half hour early to ensure the hall is full of supporters.

Monday January 28th @ 7:00pm (Bylaws 3495 and 3500).
at Otter Point Fire hall 3727 Otter Point Rd. AND,

Tuesday January 29th @7:00pm (Bylaw 3473).
at Sooke Council Chambers, 2225 Otter Point Rd.

The CRD has stepped up to protect the public interest where the province has failed on this issue of tree farm license deletions and potential development between Sooke and Jordan River. As such, their efforts deserve public recognition and support. If you can make it, your voice and attendance will make a difference in stalling sprawl on our beloved Wild West coast.

**If you have extra space or need a ride please call 250-370-9930 ex 26. We will meet at 5:00pm on January 28th at the Vic High parking lot off Grant St. to coordinate as many rides as possible.

If you cannot attend the meeting:
•If you can’t attend think about sending an e-mail or mail submission (message) to Marianne Brown at mbrown@crd.bc.ca OR P.O. Box 283, Sooke BC, V9Z 0S9. Remember to have your submissions into Marianne before 4:30 on Monday the 28th in order for them to be considered. It is very important that you include the numbers of the bylaws you support in you submission. You should mention your support of bylaws # 3495, 3500 and 3494 which all impact the downzoining of these lands.

More on the bylaws:

Two progressive bylaws will be open to public input on Monday the 28th. Bylaw 3495 would increase the minimum land parcel size for subdivision purposes in the Forestry Zone to 120 hectares (296.5 acres); Bylaw 3500 would add a land use
component to regulate the density of housing to one one-family dwelling unit per parcel for these lands. Bylaw 3494 down zone previous forest areas around Jordan River and Otter Point from lot sized as small as 10acres to 120ha.

These Bylaws have already gone through two readings, and they have to pass a third to come into effect.
For more information, come to the hearing or visit the CRD website:
http://www.crd.bc.ca/jdf/documents/3495and3500_3rdversion_revisedforwebs...
http://www.crd.bc.ca/jdf/documents/3474_4thversion_revisedforwebpage.pdf
We need to fill the hall with supporters who will voice there concerns in order to stop suburban sprawl west of Victoria.
Remember to bring a brief oral or written submission.