Regional Growth (Part 2) – What Affects One Affects The Whole
Editor’s Note: If you missed it this morning, jump on over HERE and catch Sarah’s Winter comfort foods. They all sound delicious.
Comox Valley journalist Colleen Dane is back this afternoon with Part 2 of the SHIFT News series on the Comox Valley Regional Growth Strategy (RGS). Read Part 1 HERE. Today, she takes a look at the politics that lead to the need for an RGS, how local businesses and private organizations are getting involved and the need for participation from local residents.
Get talking. Ask questions. Tell us what you think. This is your newsroom:
My regular evening walk takes me along Arden Road — that long, straight roadway connecting Cumberland Road to Lake Trail. It’s often a dark swath of pavement, minus the lights of a few houses and the occasional streetlamp.
The strip of larger-scale residential lots so near the small ones at the bottom of the hill marks the striking difference from old-school rural to new suburban neighborhood.
It’s an in-between community, with houses 60 years old and brand spanking new. Arden is becoming a connector route that seems to be getting closer to the city core as the definition of core resets outward — yet dogs still saunter down driveways to greet you as you pass by.
As more and more people relocate to the Comox Valley, areas like this could see pressure for higher density and more housing. Keeping development compact is a guiding principle of sustainable growth.
A tight circle around housing, putting homes closer together, preserves the land around it and creates a “neighborhood” atmosphere.
But, people often come to the Valley for its open spaces – larger lots with privacy, character and practical uses for work like gardening.
It’s a tricky balance – providing enough growth restriction to not be faced with unregulated sprawl alongside enough leeway to accommodate people who come here to get away from the City.
Local residents, governing bodies and municipalities have been debating what exactly that balance is for more than a decade.
The Regional Growth Strategy is the solution being offered.
•••
The political background for the growth strategy begins years ago when disagreements between local municipalities and rural areas were increasing as each looked at ways to accommodate the amount of people rapidly moving to the Valley.
One of the more notable disagreements was when Courtenay announced plans to take in part of Royston.
People in the area wanted sewer service and the city wouldn’t provide it outside of their boundaries, so they planned to extend them.
The provincial government doesn’t require unincorporated areas like Royston to agree to proposals like these — giving municipalities the ability to dictate these kinds of plans without requiring the area’s approval.
Residents felt threatened by the city that they saw as stomping on them rather than working with together toward a solution.
The uprising was so solid and loud that Courtenay changed their plans.
It had already shown how the negative effects of individual municipalities making sweeping planning decisions in a region where communities are closely interlinked.
With that in play, arguments arose over cross-boundary issues like water and roads. For example, if Cumberland gave the large Trilogy development approval, what would the impact be on the watersheds in Courtenay?
How much more would Courtenay have to pay for its roads if it’s neighbour grew that dramatically?
The challenge was that, using this case as an example, the approval authority rests with Cumberland — so no matter the impact around them, it would ultimately be their decision, and their decision alone.
All of this was compounded by tension on the Comox Strathcona Regional District board which represented the geographical area spanning from Fanny Bay to places like Zeballos and Kyoquot.
The range was too big, said some involved, making the business of the board inefficient.
Some directors resented that decisions affecting the Comox Valley could be voted on by representatives from places such as Gold River.
So, in July 2007, the provincial government dropped a bomb — splitting the CSRD into the Comox Valley Regional District and the Strathcona Regional District.
The news shocked nearly everyone involved, but the language of the letter from then-Community Services Minister Ida Chong was clear: sort out your issues with region-wide planning policies.
The new Comox Valley Regional District was directed to produce a Regional Growth Strategy and a Regional Water Plan. It wasn’t a request – it was a requirement.
•••
Over the past year, RGS consultants Urban Strategies Inc., Ecoplan International Inc. and Ear to the Ground Planning have collected information about the Comox Valley to paint a picture of what is here now and what is to come.
That information helped to form a Background Paper titled Understanding Our Choices. Feedback on that paper has helped to shape the preliminary strategy that will be released next week for further public review.
Many people are actively taking part in the discussion — from individual residents through public open houses, to non-profit, business and environmental communities through consultations with the planners.
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce has long championed strategic planning and formed their own working groups to address issues of the business community.
Their response to the early steps is very clear, with their first point being that environmental protection should be the top priority.
Start by marking areas that need protection, and then talk about the spaces that are left, they say. They suggest it be led by Nature Without Borders, a conservation strategy produced last year by the Comox Valley Land Trust – a guiding document to the RGS.
In those spaces that don’t need strict protection, the Chamber emphasizes the importance of the RGS allowing for flexibility and innovation. For example, they don’t want to see an area excluded from development potential, when there could one day be a proposal that meets high social and environmental standards.
Their priorities are the kind of feedback that the consultants are using as they draft the actual strategy. And with the draft ready for review soon, you can be sure that the Chamber and other organizations will be ready to dig in.
•••
Looking at how the Comox Valley grows is something that many residents automatically think about as a regional priority.
Commuters don’t dismiss proposed developments in Comox even if they live in Courtenay because they know they’ll feel its effects. People in Little River understand how a development in Union Bay could affect the valley as a whole.
Policies until now though, have left each government to themselves — considering the other’s input, but ultimately making the decisions themselves. This RGS plan, is one they’ll all come up with together, approve together, and adopt under the watchful eye of the provincial government that ordered it.
Those policies will preserve farm land to protect the valley’s future food sources, it will highlight key transportation routes to make life easier and reduce greenhouse gases. It will look at where taller apartments could be allowed. It will not only protect parks, it’ll have to protect greenways and watersheds.
The plan they’re discussing could help establish what’s allowed along that road. It could also help establish the future of the road you live on, or near, or travel each day.
The community needs to be involved, so the strategy reflects what they want to see over the next 20 years.
Is it important that new growth be focused in downtowns? Are there places outside of already-developed areas that would be perfect for new building? Is it important that Arden remain a large lot haven, or is that a good place for extra doors?
It’s all those things that will be addressed through this plan.
The deadline for the RGS’s adoption is at the end of 2010 — but the consultants plan to finish their part of their work in the next few months, leaving it then on local politicians to incorporate it into their own plans as required.
Four public meetings are scheduled for next week:
- On Nov. 23, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., they be at the Cumberland Cultural Centre
- On Nov. 24, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., they’ll present at the Merville Hall
- On Nov. 25, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., they’ll host an open house at the Comox Valley Regional District boardroom in Courtenay, and from 5 to 7 p.m. that night, at the d’Esterre House in Comox
It’s 20 years of this place’s future, and it needs an hour of residents’ time to ensure it reflects what they want in the long run.
To find out more check out the Regional Growth Strategy’s website, under Regional Strategies at www.comoxvalleyrd.ca.
Colleen Dane is a journalist in the Comox Valley and a self-diagnosed News Nerd. She’s lived here for only four years — but with deep family connections in the Valley, she’s awfully attached to the area and what happens to it.
Category: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
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I am afraid I am somewhat cynical to all of this. I was excited to be part of the Valley Visioning process many years ago in the valley, because I felt the community truly did have a say into what they envisioned the valley would become over the decades. Unfortunately, it fell on some deaf ears. There were some great ideas which did include the population growth and land use in the valley, amongst other ideas. This newest venture reeks of very much the same thing.
We have seen three major ventures put forth the valley which I believe could be a good thing. The economy is hurting, and we often see decisions made that make no sense whatsover to the benefit of our citizens.
I will attend with an open attitude, but I truly think this maybe a rehash of the same thing, just with a different flavour.
Hi Colleen and OBE,
Thanks for the overview here. I can’t help but think that whatever happens here, it has to pay attention to what was learned/not-learned in probably the greatest community engagement/regional growth exercise in this neck of the woods, perhaps most of BC (with the possible exception of the GVRD’s extensive work with their various Livable Region work). I’m talking about the Valley Vision process of the mid-90s.
I was glad that “Kathy” mentioned it here. There is considerable unfinished business around VV, even though it’s been close to a dozen years since it got run out of town, by a collection of attitudes that I would describe as ranging from deep-blue-conservative to deep-green-rural-conservative, with lots of old-boys and old-girls thrown into the mix.
Our community is a lot less divisive than it was just 12 years ago – or 17 years ago. That was when some of us, as members of the old Social Planning Council (it’s now the Social Planning Society, because some local governments didn’t like us using the word “Council” in our name – now, that’s parochial small town, one of the reasons we’re still arguing about regional growth when we should have had it nailed 15 years ago) first started to put together the pieces of what became the Valley’s first and only grassroots initiative to look at regional growth problems (which would morph into the Valley Vision process).
Yup. Some considerable history there folks. A story that hasn’t been told. Of parochialism. Rural backwardness. Small town shenanigans. Lost opportunities. And a legacy of mistrust about public process that makes the Comox Valley an incredible “learning opportunity” for anyone doing “community engagement” around public policy.
I’m not sure that the professionals who got hired to run either the RGS or the CVSS are told this story. A pity. We keep importing people to run aground on the same set of hidden reefs. Expensive lessons – in terms of $ spent, and in terms of ecosystems lost or damaged, neighbourhoods and rural areas wasted, social capital squandered.
hpm
btw: How about some hyperlinks to things like the Nature Without Borders document, or Jack Minard’s video describing it. This process – NWB, and the subsequent Regional Conservation Strategy, is probably the most “therapeutic” exercise this community/region has seen since VV was hung out to twist in the wind. This is an important story to tell, perhaps much more important than the RGS story. Why? Because it is a story that is actually building political and administrative willingness to work together, building our capacity to make better decisions AND to work together. As a fairly conservative (politically) local pol once told me – and I think she was and remains dead right: it doesn’t matter what structure the local governments have (ie. amalgamated, same-old-same-old), eventually it comes down to the willingness of people to work together towards a common good. The Comox Valley Land Trust team appears to be one of the few able and willing to work with whomever it takes to get a common vision and common plan on how growth and development might take place in the Comox Valley.
pps. Thanks for writing/posting this. Obviously I have some things to get off my chest!
i agree with kathy, we’ve been trying to slow development in the valley for many years, starting with kensington wanting to drop a town of 10000 people complete with golf courses next to union bay just after courtenay annexed a huge tract of regional district land for crown isle – and that wasn’t enough, block 71 right across ryan road was waiting to be slaughtered and paved.
many of us spent a lot of time over 5 years trying to stop an official community plan that would have opened the doors wide to rampant development – they came back at us with 3 plans over those 5 years, eventually creating a system of local area plans that meant dividing and conquering – thus kensington, trilogy, sage hills, etc etc etc.
none of it is sustainable, it wasn’t then, it isn’t now – the traffic in and through the valley continues to increase almost exponentially with attendant poisoning of air, water, food – wildland, farmland, marsh, estuary paved over with roads, subdivisions, parking lots.
and none of the discussion factors in climate change and peak oil.
Thanks Kathy, Hans and Ernie for your insight here.
I am often suspect of public process as the public part of the process seems more of a requirement than a genuine sense of community building.
But, I am also unwilling to sit back and not be a part of that process – going forward with the hope that a difference can be made.
It seems that all of you are in that same space.
The question I put out to you is how does a public that may perceive the process as futile feel empowered to dig in? What are your recommendations for creating a passionate community around how our region evolves – a community that reaches beyond those who are already involved?
I see it as a backyard sort of issue. What are your plans for MY backyard? Once a person’s day-to-day paradigm is forced to change, a whole new perspective opens up.
Hmmm… my backyard plans:
To add some secondary housing for young / aging family members.
To speak out against what I consider to be wasteful investments in infrastructure (ie. more bridges, more roads).
To write about and engage people in any way I can around what I consider to be healthy, sustainable choices for how we use the land, our community, the human and natural resources of this place – to encourage “thrivability” wherever possible.
Yes, the “official” part of public process has problems. I think this is a leadership issue: until we have some elected people who are willing to stand up and step forward on some of this stuff, to say, “I endorse the RGS /CVSS/ etc, and even if it isn’t perfect it’s going in the right direction, and I will do EVERYTHING I can to make it real,” until we get that kind of civic leadership people will be cynical. Especially because we’ve had some great leadership in the past at a staff level, and then watched it get wasted by pols who won’t back up their staff. And, who stood aside and watched staff get tomatoes (figuratively) thrown at them by a public that is still only seeing things in terms of stopping change/growth/the developers/ the enviros/ whoever or whatever the “enemy” happens to be.
Too often we think that “public process” is going to solve things. It doesn’t. At best it creates a place to have conversations, maybe do some venting/ranting/etc. Maybe – if the process is led exceptionally well – it has a therapeutic effect. Public process is just the beginning of the conversations we need to have. Let’s not make them more important than that. By doing what you’re doing – creating an interactive space online for discussion – you’re probably doing as much or more than any public process can do. Keep at it!
And thanks
h.
I have enjoyed the informative columns in this new forum..Shift News. I live in Fanny Bay and have laid pretty low on all local issues for some years but recently had ‘the rayon’ pulled away from my eyes when Compliance Coal dba Comox Joint Venture, Raven Underground Coal Mine held an Open House on Oct 27th and I learned about the impending changes to our Comox Valley being planned by Japanese, Korean and eastern Canadian investors. As Wade Davis just said in the 4th installment of his Massey Lectures..[paraphrasing].. “some guy in eastern Canada can go on the internet and secure mineral rights to your land and he has no more history in your neighbourhood than your dog.”
As I’ve learned about the threat to our waterways, air, shellfish industry, highway safety and population growth with all the strains that will bring (just to name a few of the many upheavals on our doorstep) I’ve talked about it to anyone who will listen. It is out of the hands of our Regional District gov’t level as it is a provincial concern. I am surprised the most by two things. Firstly, by how few people know anything about this development, as it is going to change our valley and other areas on the island in irreversable ways. Secondly, by how many of those people feel that ‘the die is cast’.. you can’t fight city hall.. if we’re hearing about it – it’s a done deal and more frighteningly, the number of people who think this finite, polluting and low overall number of jobs is the answer to their financial worries.
The reason I use that word ‘frighteningly’ is because an issue like this is poised to divide our community. In his comment dated Nov 19th Hans spoke of deep-blue conservatisim, deep-green-rural conservatisim, parochialism, rural backwardness, small town shenanigans, lost opportunities, a legacy of mistrust and then a final point… eventually it comes down to the willingness of the people to work together towards a common good.
This all resonated with me this evening because I watched a movie (checked out of our local library) called THE FIRE NEXT TIME from the producers of NOT IN OUR TOWN. It is about a town, Kalispell in The Flathead Valley in Montana, deeply divided over differing opinions on rapid inevitable growth, the jobs it will bring, the threat to the environment and the changes to the community.
I believe the final point made by the filmaker, Patrice O’Neill after she spent three years making the film is that it (The Flathead Valley) is a very beautiful area that people on both sides of the many issues deeply love. Everyone felt ‘right’ from their own point of veiw but they had lost the ability to communicate and hear each other.
There is a community meeting re:Coal Mining scheduled for Tues. Nov 24th a – 7:15p.m at the Fanny Bay Hall at Ship’s Pt Rd where we hope to share information, veiwpoints and strategies on this big change coming to our big valley. I hope the readers of Our Big Earth will find the time to participate as it may be something for them to think about along with this Regional Growth Strategy.
There are many concerned and experienced people in our area who can help us find our way through what feels, to me at least, like an invasion on our lifestyle.
I’ve really enjoyed reading these posts, especially as an “imported” person navigating the hidden reefs, of which there are many in the Comox Valley. As a consultant, I have the pleasure and sometimes the pain
of hearing a diversity of opinions and perspectives on the local issues. I would encourage residents in the Comox Valley not to give up hope, to keep engaging, to keep the conversation going as Hans says. The Valley has a lot going for it – an incredible grass roots network of community organizations and committed educated folks, local government staff who really are trying to work together and find solutions to some incredibly complex issues on tight municipal budgets. When we become frustrated with processes and planning, it’s wise to keep in mind that the systems and organizations that we, as human beings create are often bulky, awkward and slow to change…..but change is happening. And celebrate the incremental changes. They all add up.
“We must be willing to make an intelligent compromise with perfection lest we wait forever before taking action.” – David J. Schwartz, The Magic of Thinking Big
“Before I can walk in another person’s shoes, I must first remove my own.” – Brian Tracy