Trust Policy Statement
The Trust Policy Statement (TPS) is a critical document that sets requirements for Official Community Plans and bylaws for all the trust islands. It is currently being revised by the current Trust Council. After over two years of work, a final draft was approved on July 29th. This begins a six-month public comment period. The draft represents substantial weakening of the previous document.
The draft TS has green goals but lacks sufficient mandatory policies to control growth in order to protect the amenities and natural environment of the trust islands. There are no policies requiring islands to determine: the current health of island ecosystems, what growth their current zoning allows, or what population is appropriate for each island. Instead of requirements to limit population, density is redefined to allow zoning by floor area covered (FAR) that allows many residents on single family lots. Instead of policies for affordable housing, there policies for “attainable” housing.
Please consider filling out the survey and asking for stronger protections for the natural environment. Read the background and our recommendations on filling out the survey. The Trust has the Policy Statement and other information is on the Islands 2050 web page.
Salt Spring Public Meeting on the Trust Policy Statement
Saturday, October 18, 3:00–5:00pm at the All Saints by the Sea
Wednesday, October 22, 6:30–8:30pm at the Fulford Hall
Please consider joining us at this meeting and voicing your concerns.
Salt Spring Island Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review
We know this may be confusing to people, but at the same time a new Trust Policy Statement (TPS) is being considered for the entire Trust area, our Local Trust Committee is reviewing our local Salt Spring Island Official Community Plan (OCP) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB). The OCP sets policies which are supposed to be implemented through the LUB. The LUB is the zoning bylaw that sets legal requirements for what and how much can be developed where on Salt Spring.
Our major concern here is that the one paragraph in our existing OCP limiting increases in development beyond affordable housing. This concern is heightened as we hear advocacy for “mixed housing” to be built in Ganges by giving a developer multi-family zoning on the basis of a “promise” that some units will be “affordable.” The justification for this is that this can be done quickly without a housing agreement, or government subsidies. If increases in zoning are not limited to affordable house, it will allow some (or all) of the 300 new water connections now available for Ganges to be used for market priced housing that will turn out to be non affordable to island workers who need it.
We will be sending another newsletter with more information about this local OCP-LUB process and how you can express your opinion over the next few months.