2293days since
The infamous planning 'charrette' on Echo Heights Forest by North Cowichan which brought the community together into the CRA

Community Bulletin Board

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Hot Tips
From E.J. - Those old creasote ties along the E&N should be disposed of properly. There is a big pile just above Askew Creek.
From Mary - People are already starting to dump their yard waste in ditches and along the railway line. This just spreads invasive species. We have free yard waste dumping at Peerless Road. Use it!
From Rodney - The old MacMillan haul road is getting to be a pig sty. Why do people throw their garbage there? It pollutes Mill Creek and looks ugly.
From T.R.J. - Askew Park is called a "wilderness park". Why doesn't someone (the muni, CRA, Communities in Bloom) take care of the invasive plants like the daphne, blackberry, holly, ivy and other stuff?
From F.R. - I see the Victoria Police are cracking down on loud motorcycles and cars. Can North Cowichan RCMP start doing the same thing? Chemainus and Victoria Roads need policing for noise and speed.
From Don - Communities in Bloom do hard work at the roundabout, but why plant all those annuals and exotics that need watering. We have some great native plants in our yard that are beautiful, perennial and NEVER need watering.

Hearing Postponed ! ! !

Due to a wording error in the official notice for the July 21 public hearing, the Mayor had canceled the public hearing last night. Given the opportunity to put off the decision entirely, Council seized the opportunity to do just that. (There is no requirement in law that would prohibit postponing the public hearing and eventual vote).

Councillor Hartman was alone in arguing for moving ahead now, saying that this Council had "worked hard" on the Echo Heights Comprehensive Development Plan, had "listened to the community," and Council needs the money from the sale of the land for the various Chemainus projects. She acknowledged that Council would be criticized were it to re-schedule the hearing during August, but noted that's just part of their job.

Arguing against her were Mayor Walker and Councillors Harding, Seymour, and Siebring. (Councillors Elliot and Koury were absent from this Committee of the Whole meeting).

The four noted that with an August public hearing, they probably wouldn't be having a final vote until October, at which time they would be accused of being a lame duck Council making a key decision. The housing market might also be better at some future time than it is now.

Another point made by the majority was that putting off a decision would mean that all Council and Mayoral candidates would need to state their position on Echo Heights.