Consultants will be located around the island to hear from the “public” asking for your vision for the future of our island. Opinions provided may be the basis for a revised Official Community plan. But most people will not be aware of what is at stake, and they are unlikely to be told.
Please drop by to make the consultants hear about what really matters:
A vocal group wants to remove or weaken the one paragraph in our existing OCP that limits increases in zoning only to affordable housing. This could open the door to development beyond affordable housing such as for suites and cottages across the island.
We are now even hearing advocacy for “mixed housing” to be built in Ganges by giving developers multi-family zoning on the basis of a “promise” that some units will be “affordable.” The justification for this is that it can be done quickly without housing agreements or waiting for government subsidies.
If increases in zoning are not limited to affordable housing, it will allow many of the 300 new water connections now available for Ganges to be used for market-priced housing that could turn out to be non-affordable to those island workers who need it the most.
Please speak specifically for the need to maintain the policy now in our OCP that limits upzoning (growth) only to affordable and worker housing. We mean housing that is price-restricted through a Housing Agreement.
These are the locations and times where questioners may be found. We are not being told for sure. Be on the lookout for other locations.
Tuesday, September 16th
Tuesday Market at Centennial Park
Wednesday September 17th
Country Grocery, pool or library, “high traffic areas” such as Windsor Plywood,
Bumper to Bumper on Jackson Ave, parks, and other stores
Thursday September 18th
“high traffic areas” listed above
So far, no meetings are being scheduled where we can meet as a community, hear the pros and cons of various policies and give our opinions. There will be some sort of public meeting months from now, likely after amendments have been drafted. Is this on purpose, so we cannot be heard? Perhaps.
Also, if you could possibly make it, please join us in attend one of the Salt Spring Public Meetings on the Trust Policy Statement (TPS). (The TPS sets standards for the content of Trust area bylaws and official community plans. If strong, it can assure protection of these precious islands.)
See the weaknesses in the current draft document as shown in our Guidelines for filling out the survey.
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.