The committee that’s working on updating our Official Community Plan (OCP) asked all of the various groups on the island to submit ideas for a forum that they held a couple of weeks ago. More than twenty submissions have been posted on the bowenocpupdate website. Taken as a whole, they provide an excellent insight into the collective psyche of the island.
The first one is from the Abbeyfield people. They basically envision a future where higher density and more affordable housing will be allowed in Snug Cove. Of course they also point out that what they really need right now is community water and sewer. Next up was the Belterra pitch for a cohousing designation in the new OCP. The idea is to offer more affordable housing units within a multifamily residential setting. The Community Housing Association submission was next and, by the time I’d finished reading it I was pretty certain that the drive for higher density, lower cost accommodation in Snug Cove was all that I was going to read about.
Then I read the submission from our local horse owners, BIHORA. They reminded us that just twenty years ago Bowen was a horseback rider’s paradise but encroaching suburbanization and a lack of consideration for the horse riders of the island have had a serious negative impact on the equestrian community. They note that horseback riding is one of the activities that contributes to Bowen’s unique character and outline some equestrian friendly ideas that could be incorporated into the OCP.
The Eco Alliance proposed a number of revisions to the plan. I must admit that I glossed over some of the more technical proposed amendments but two things did stand out. They note that the OCP approved in 1982 envisioned the total number of building lots that could some day be created on the island. However nobody is keeping a proper inventory to see if that number is still being honoured. They propose that the OCP include a requirement that a tally be kept of how many lots remain to be created before we reach our total “build-out”. Their theory seems to be that we should look at where we want to be forty years from now and somehow use that information to restrict development today. The other point they made was that Bowen is an “earthly green oasis” with a rural character. They caution against multifamily housing outside of very specific areas and against destination style resorts.
Neither the Community Hall and Arts Centre Committee nor the Bowen Island Arts Council added very much to the discussion except to remind everybody that they’ve had a detailed business plan for a new community centre since 2004. The Nature Conservancy expressed their desire to participate in the OCP update process, reaffirmed their aim to help with the stewardship of Bowen’s ecosystems and promoted the “greenway” concept of connected protected lands.
Next was the Bowen Island Gymnastics Club. I had no idea that we have 200 gymnasts on the island. They are woefully short of gym time and asked for time at the Ideas Forum to present an idea for a community facility near Salal Road in the Josephine Lake area. Apparently the municipality owns 20 acres that is zoned for recreational use. The Gymnastics Club is hoping to connect with other groups who see potential uses for the property. Most of us have been so focused on developing Snug Cove that we haven’t even considered facilities elsewhere. This may be an opportunity for practical people who don’t mind thinking small to quietly get something going.
The Bowen Island Heritage Preservation Association raised a very interesting point in their submission. They point out that the Snug Cove Village Plan that was incorporated into the OCP a few years ago largely overlooks heritage preservation. In very eloquent prose the submission asks that the OCP require the future developers of the lower Snug Cove area to not just respect but, to take pride in the heritage of the area and ensure that the wonderfully snug feeling found in the cove is not sacrificed. I don’t know how you incorporate such a concept in an OCP but I hope that the committee figures out a way to do it.
Next up was the Bowen Island Improvement Association. Like the Eco Alliance they never fail to remain true to their message. The first half of their submission was an enthusiastic lambasting of council for failing to protect property rights. However the second half made the case that a more self-sufficient local economy is a more sustainable economy. Their ideas centred on those economic endeavours that might be the best fit for Bowen, enhancing the economy without sacrificing the character of the island.
There are ten more submissions from various groups on the island. Some of them perfectly predictable but also some that have ideas that you wouldn’t intuitively associate with the authors. Take the time to look it look it up on-line. You’ll gain a new respect for the depth of thought that your neighbours have brought to this discussion. Go to www.bowenocpupdate.ca and click on resources.
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