For me I will trust Mr Slegtenhorst’ s wisdom and integrity to indeed do the right and legal thing and approve the proposal if it meets all the requirements contained out in the OCP and not succumb to the pressures of special interest groups such as the one that you were a member of and Council Poole was a director of.

Bowen Island’s Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw both point to the unique attributes found on the Cape Roger Curtis lands and marine environments. In February 2006, Council endorsed further clarification of the ‘public interest’ by way of its municipal framework resolution. The public clearly expressed its perspectives on the Cape lands during the recent so-called ‘Neighbourhood Plan’ deliberation. Importantly, under the Islands Trust authority, the Bowen Island Municipality’s duty with regard to land use planning is broadly considered. The Trust’s policy statement reads:

““The object of the Trust is to preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the Trust Area and of British Columbia generally, in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, other persons and organizations and the government of British Columbia.”

Given the nationally recognized ecological and archaeological significance of the Cape Roger Curtis lands, as well as the property’s unique regional recreational amenities, consideration of any development proposal on the Cape lands ought to, by statute, be comprehensive in its scope and integrity. I believe this provides a clear framework for the Approving Officer to exercise their duty and authority with regard to a subdivision application on the Cape lands.