By Don Maroc
Cowichan News-Leader, May 10 2006
(Used with permission)
For reasons known only to North Cowichan officials, council voted strongly in favour of housing development on the 52-acre Echo Heights in Chemainus, owned by the municipality.
    The final decision was made in a closed meeting April 19. Apparently Mayor Jon Lefebure wanted councillors to freely express their opinions.
When asked 'why in camera?', Councillor Ruth Hartmann answered, "Don't know." Councillor George Seymour scratched his head, "I'm not sure what the rationale was." Councillor Dave Haywood claims he, "didn't agree with the in-camera meeting," adding that, "we do too much in camera."
    Mayor Lefebure's justification is that they could decide to sell the land. That's a stretch. It might be legal, however it is morally indefensible, especially since they vow the entire process will be open and public. The politicians promise public meetings where residents can help decide details of the development. But they cannot decide there will be no development at Echo Heights.
    The mayor insisted that we must "face the fact that the democratic system was in place when the decision was finally made."
Well we can't argue with His Worship since the public was not allowed in the closed-door meeting to see democracy in action. You sense a strange unease from most of the councillors. Mayor Lefebure insists defensively, "I'm representing council's majority opinion."
    A very strong majority in fact. Seymour was the only holdout - a sensitive man who has taken the time to become familiar with the 52-acre site. "It's very important to preserve it like Cathedral Grove and Stanley Park, to ensure there is a site which projects what an old growth forest would look like," Seymour explained.
    Seymour believes that, "even if we protect half of it, the integrity would be removed.''
    For the rapidly growing Chemainus Residents Association there's something missing that could explain why the politicians are pushing this development so hard. Could be the missing piece is money? Councillor Anne Murray said they need money for the other five projects in the Chemainus Concept plan. Hartmann agrees, "We need the money ... to deliver things in North Cowichan."
    The mayor himself has said proceeds from the development - sale of the lands and taxes collected - can be used to pay for a number of projects planned by North Cowichan. Are we going to bulldoze Echo Heights to help pay for a world-class swimming pool?
    Councillors agree with Lefebure that Echo Heights, "will be a showroom for an ecologically sensitive housing development."
    Part of making this a "showroom" is leaving 40 per cent of the 52 acres as parkland. You should go to www.northcowichan.bc.ca and look at the maps of the proposed subdivision. The buildings dominate the site. The parkland is what's left over.
    When the politicians and their planners are finished there will be nothing left that resembles the current Echo Heights parkland.
    Got a tip or a comment? E-mail me at maroc@islandnet.com.