I went to the All Candidates meeting at the school last weekend. Most of it was as dull as dishwater but Nerys Poole was a star. I kid you not. When it came to the mayors debate Nerys squared off one on one against Jack. While Jack demonstrated an astounding lack of knowledge of local [...]
Also tagged Municipal Politics, Surplus LandsAs we approach another Municipal election season it may be timely to look back at the last three-year term and make some predictions about what the electorate will be looking for in our next mayor and council.
The last term started in December of 2008 with a bang.
“Soon after I moved to the island I received brochures in the mail from the Improvement Association and the Eco Alliance. I thought that both groups had some good ideas and decided to join both of them. Before long it became apparent that it was like joining both the American Republican Party and the Communist [...]
Also tagged Island Life, Municipal PoliticsOur Municipal Council is about to pass three new environmental bylaws. Two of them seem to me to make sense but the third is a disaster.
The first proposed bylaw seeks to control disturbance of steep slopes. Remember when that yard in North Vancouver slipped down the hill and killed a woman in her home below? [...]
“Waiting to exhale.” That’s how we’re ending this year. I know that many of you would argue that pretty much describes how we feel at the end of every year but this is different. There are so many things so close to actually happening that we would really have to outdo ourselves for nothing to [...]
Also tagged Municipal Hall, Municipal Politics, National Park, Snug CoveOur OCP Update Committee has released a draft of our new Official Community Plan and in most respects I think that it captures our collective aspirations quite well. The committee working on the Plan spent a lot of time consulting with community groups about what should be included in the update and they included a [...]
Also tagged Municipal Politics, Snug CoveThis week’s column is a summary of a submission I made to the OCP Update Steering Committee
This letter hopes to challenge some of the basic assumptions surrounding OCP density, density trading and future zoning.
The first assumption is that our OCP is our vision, as a community, of where we wish to go.
Separating issues from distractions is sometimes necessary, particularly when dealing with Bowen politics. This week I’m trying to sort out a few of them.
Also tagged Island Life, Snug Cove, Surplus Lands, waterThe committee steering the Official community Plan (OCP) update has put out a number of background papers.
Paper #1 asks why we’re doing an update instead of a full review. It’s kind of funny.
A Brief History of Bowen Island – In the spirit of brevity I will start in the 1970’s. At that time the local Highways Department foreman approved subdivisions and you could purchase your Gulf Island summer get-away lot at a booth at the PNE. Then the provincial NDP party replaced the Social Credit party and [...]
Also tagged Eco Alliance, Improvement Association, Island Life, Islands Trust