 | PUBLIC HEARING: BYLAW 656 "RURAL COMOX VALLEY ZONING BYLAW NO. 520, 2019, AMENDMENT NO. 6" | |
| Wednesday, June 22, 2022 | ||
| Minutes of the Public Hearing held on June 22, 2022 in the Civic Room of the Comox Valley Regional District offices located at 770 Harmston Avenue, Courtenay, BC commencing at 6:00 pm. | ||
| MINUTES | ||
| Present: | ||
| Chair: | A. Hamir | Lazo North (Area B) |
| Director: | D. Arbour | Baynes Sound-Denman/Hornby Islands (Area A) |
| E. Grieve | Puntledge/Black Creek (Area C) | |
| Staff: | A. Mullaly | General Manager of Planning and Development Services |
| L. Dennis | Manager of Legislative Services | |
| A. Baldwin | Legislative Services Assistant | |
| T. Trieu | Manager of Planning Services | |
| B. Chow | Planner II | |
| RECOGNITION OF TRADITIONAL TERRITORIES | ||||||
| The Chair acknowledged that the meeting was being held on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. | ||||||
| OPENING REMARKS BY THE CHAIR | ||||||
| Chair Hamir read a prepared statement regarding the public hearing procedures to approximately 16 members of the public in attendance. | ||||||
| INTRODUCTION OF THE APPLICATION | ||||||
| B. Chow, Planner II, provided a brief description of the zoning bylaw amendment application RZ 1B 20 – 5254 Langlois Road (Whyte) and provided a summary of the comments received.
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| The following material was provided for information regarding Bylaw No. 656 being "Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 520, 2019, Amendment No. 6": | ||||||
| a) Zoning Bylaw Amendment application [Item] | ||||||
| b) Bylaw 656 being "Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 520, 2019, Amendment No. 6"; [Item] | ||||||
| c) Staff reports and Memoranda: | ||||||
| - Staff report to Electoral Areas Services Committee dated January 21, 2021; [Item] | ||||||
| - Memorandum to Area B Advisory Planning Commission dated February 24, 2021; [Item] | ||||||
| - Memorandum to Agricultural Planning Commission dated February 24, 2021; and [Item] | ||||||
| - Staff report to Electoral Areas Services Committee dated May 5, 2022. [Item] | ||||||
| d) Agency referrals and responses; [Item] | ||||||
| e) Excerpts from the minutes of the Electoral Areas Services Committee, the Comox Valley Regional District Board and the Advisory Planning Commission meetings; and [Item] | ||||||
| f) The public hearing notice for publication in the local newspaper on June 8 and 15, 2022. [Item] | ||||||
| WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED | ||||||
| The following items pertaining to zoning bylaw amendment RZ 1B 20 – 5254 Langlois Road (Whyte), are attached and form part of these minutes: | ||||||
| - Written submissions received prior to public notification of the public hearing. [Item] | ||||||
| - Written submissions received after public notification of public hearing. [Item] | ||||||
| - Written submissions received at the public hearing. [Item] | ||||||
| PRESENTATION BY APPLICANT | ||||||
| Zac Whyte, the applicants' son and agent, presented information regarding the Rezoning Application RZ 1B 20 - 5254 Langlois Road (Whyte).
Mr. Whyte outlined his desire to keep his parents in their home for as long as possible. Mr. Whyte’s parents developed the property 50 years ago and have been living in the neighbourhood ever since. Mr. Whyte spoke about the importance of elders aging in place, the rising costs of housing and property, the rising cost of senior care across Canada, as well as the shortage of senior housing on Vancouver Island and would like to see governments looking at solutions instead of restrictions in how we take care of seniors. Mr. Whyte noted that some of his family members have had to move out of the area because of the high cost of living in the community, and so the responsibility falls to the family to find solutions. Mr. Whyte mentioned that he would like to keep the property in the family if the subdivision goes through, including constructing a larger dwelling for his family, including three children, rather than be limited to a 900 sq. ft. carriage house. | ||||||
| REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC | ||||||
| Sy Pederson, 5277 and 5283 Anderson Road: Mr. Pederson spoke in favour of rezoning application RZ 1B 20 - 5254 Langlois Road. Mr. Pederson remarked that there will be the same number of dwellings on the property regardless if the property is rezoned or not, which they have on their own property. Mr. Pederson supported the concept of aging in place, and of the property being developed to have the family all together. | ||||||
| Carl Seldon, 5385 Langlois Road: Mr. Seldon spoke in favour of the rezoning application RZ 1B 20 - 5254 Langlois Road. Mr. Seldon remarked that the proposed size of the subdivision is reasonable and that there are a lot of properties in the area that are smaller than the proposed subdivision. Mr. Seldon stated that much of his own 2.1 acre property is not usable due to a slope, whereas the proposed subdivision has more usable land. | ||||||
| Sy Pederson, 5277 and 5283 Anderson Road: Mr Pederson spoke for a second time to provide clarification that although he had mentioned that he and his wife live in a 966 sq. ft. house, which is big enough for them, he did not want to suggest that a house that size would be appropriate for Mr. Whyte's family. | ||||||
| The Chair reminded those present to submit their written comments before the close of the hearing and called a second time for further speakers. No speakers came forward. | ||||||
| QUESTIONS FROM DIRECTORS | ||||||
| There were no questions from the directors. | ||||||
| CLOSING REMARKS | ||||||
| Chair Hamir provided closing remarks and called for further public input, including verbal submissions. | ||||||
| Tom Spratt, 5397 Langlois Road: Mr. Spratt stated that he moved into the neighbourhood a year after the Whyte family and their families grew up together. Mr. Spratt remarked that if Mr. Whyte's family lived next to his parents, they would be able to look after them and help in any way, which is an important aspect of this whole proposal. | ||||||
| Simon Stubbs, 5365 Langlois Road: Mr Stubbs remarked that he subdivided his own 4.2 acre property before the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) was put in place. Mr. Stubbs stated that Mr. Whyte had asked him about subdivision at which point he told them that he had already subdivided. Mr. Stubbs remarked that the Whytes had asked the regional district about subdivision prior to the RGS and were told it couldn’t be done. Mr. Stubbs noted that the regional district deals with rezoning and the Ministry of Transportation (MOTI) deals with subdivision. Mr. Stubbs remarked that the Whytes should have been referred to MOTI at the time of their previous inquiry. Mr. Stubbs agreed with the 10-acre parcels in certain areas, but not in this area as there are wide open spaces and water has never been a problem. | ||||||
| TERMINATION | ||||||
| Chair Hamir called and third and final time for any further speakers. Hearing no speakers, the Chair declared the public hearing for Bylaw 656 terminated. | ||||||
| Time: 6:26 pm. | ||||||
| Confirmed this ______ day of _______________20__ A. Hamir ____________________________________ Chair Hamir D. Arbour ______________________________ Director Arbour E. Grieve ____________________________________ Director Grieve | |
| Certified Correct: ____________________________________ Lisa Dennis Manager of Legislative Services | |
| Recorded By: ____________________________________ Antoinette Baldwin Legislative Services Assistant These minutes were received by the Comox Valley Regional District Board on the ____ day of ____________20. |