 This must be some sort of omen. Echo Heights at the end of a rainbow. Photo taken 1-13-2011 from River Road with Plester's farm in the foreground. An open letter to The Chemainus Courier Thank you very much for the highly optimistic December column proclaiming that the Chemainus Residents Association (CRA) had won the battle to saved Echo Heights Forest. Unfortunately, any celebrating would be premature. In early January, North Cowichan's technical planning committee heard the details of an Echo Heights comprehensive development plan which will be soon presented to council as an amendment to the Official Community Plan. The plan differs little from the original concept brought forward by planners in 2006 and includes more than 200 residences as well as a park (!) meeting areas and space for retail stores. Five years ago this February, the community first heard about the plans to develop the 52-acre municipal forest. Within days, the Friends of Echo Echo Heights group was formed and within weeks the CRA was formed. Since then more than 1,400 signatures have been signed to a petition demanding the preservation of all 52 acres. More than 1,000 of those signatures were from North Cowichan residents. Over the past five years, the community has learned about the true value of this unique place. We have heard from experts such as ethnobotanists Dr. Nancy Turner and Dr. Kelly Bannister that the Garry oak ecosystems there are true treasures. We have learned from biologist Dave Polster that Echo Heights is a prime example of 80-100-year-old recovering Coastal Douglas Fir Forest, a rare habitat that is rapidly disappearing. We have made friends with Penelakut elders Florence James and August Sylvester. Florence captivated us with stories about Echo Heights and other areas of Chemainus from the times when these lands were the home of her people. And Augie, who has a vast knowledge of medicinal plants, said simply: "Why do they want to cut down our pharmacy?" Echo Heights has gained many friends over the past five years. Noted artist Robert Bateman was one of the earliest when he donated a beautiful etching of a barred owl, one of the forest's many residents. It was sold at a highly successful silent auction which featured donations from the artistic community of North Cowichan and our neighbours. Over the years, as many as 300 residents have attended the many Town Hall meetings that the CRA has sponsored to learn about the value of our special forest. The well-worn footpaths of Echo Heights is the best evidence that those teachings have been embraced by the community. Soon we will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the CRA. And soon Chemainus will be told that Echo Heights must be developed in order for us to have a new community centre and a new bridge over the river south of town. There will be many reasons that our politicians, our 'planners' and their developer friends give us for destroying Echo Heights. In fact, they will probably try to convince us that much of the 52 acres will be enhanced through development. Don't believe a word of it. Read the brochures and attend the public meetings with a high degree of skepticism. And remember that these are the same people who brought us things such as the Cliffs Over Maple Bay and the aquatic centre. The latter still rankles with many in the Chemainus Valley and we are annually reminded with our tax bills. Over the past ten years, there has been a dramatic increase in our property taxes as residents are asked to finance the infrastructure needed for the continued sprawl and poorly planned growth in our communities. Five years ago this month, the infamous Echo Heights charette was held and launched what was essentially a taxpayers' protest known as the CRA. That revolt will certainly continue if the municipality sells off our treasured 52 acres. |
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