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CVRD committee defers rezoning decision on tourist business

Area director wants more information
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A successful motion by Mike Wilson, the CVRD’s director for Cobble Hill, at the electoral services committee meeting on April 20 to have a decision on a controversial rezoning of a tourist business in Cobble Hill deferred will give him time to speak to staff and gather more information. (File photo)

The controversial rezoning of Cobble Hill’s Xanadu Estate has been deferred for at least two weeks.

The Cowichan Valley Regional District’s electoral services committee decided at its meeting on April 20 to delay the rezoning after Mike Wilson, the CVRD director for Cobble Hill, asked for the time to consult with staff and the property owner Jane Barton-Greig on the contentious issues around the rezoning.

Barton-Greig had raised concerns that she would have to close her tourism business because she can’t afford the work that would be required to make the property compliant with the CVRD’s zoning bylaws, and will have to evict long-term tenants.

RELATED STORY: COWICHAN TOURISM BUSINESS MAY FACE CLOSURE OVER REZONING

“This issue has been complicated and very complex right from the start,” Wilson told the committee.

“Even though I’ve been involved with this since day one, it’s pretty difficult to get your head around what’s going on here. One of the things that concerns me the most is that one of the long-term renters has mentioned the possibility of ‘renovictons’ if this moves forward as is right now. That’s something I can’t allow to happen.”

Wilson made a motion that the rezoning of the property be deferred for a couple of weeks so he could have more time to gather more information to try to find another way forward for the rezoning application.

“Staff has done everything they can do and I applaud their efforts,” he said.

“But [Barton-Greig] is in a situation that’s very difficult and I feel for her renter as well.”

The committee voted unanimously to defer the issue.



robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com

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Robert Barron

About the Author: Robert Barron

Since 2016, I've had had the pleasure of working with our dedicated staff and community in the Cowichan Valley.
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