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Kingsview project goes to public — again

Kingsview Developments will go to another public hearing

Another public hearing on the large Kingsview Developments proposal will be scheduled within the next 90 days.

North Cowichan council decided at its meeting on March 1 that the municipality would schedule a second public hearing into the proposal that could see more than 1,300 housing units constructed on the side of Mount Tzouhalem after more consultations with Cowichan Tribes have been held.

Transtide Kingsview Development Ltd. is proposing to build the development where the defunct Cliffs Over Maple Bay project was supposed to be constructed.

The move comes after council decided to rescind third reading on the Kingsview Developments proposal at its meeting on Jan. 18, largely due to concerns raised by Cowichan Tribes.

Cowichan Tribes had indicated by letter, after a mandatory public hearing on the project was held, that the First Nation has issues related to increased traffic, cultural impacts on the band from the project and trespassing on native lands.

Council decided at the time that, as a result of the these concerns, it would rescind third reading on the zoning bylaw to allow the project.

That decision moved the bylaw back to second reading, which means another public hearing is now mandatory.

According to a staff report, the municipality took significant steps toward resolving issues related to trespass and impact on culturally sensitive lands, including discussions with the Cowichan Trails Stewardship Society.

As well, staff met with officials from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to discuss the need for a comprehensive traffic study on Tzouhalem/Trunk Road, between Highway 1 and Khenipsen Road.

But Scott Mack, North Cowichan's director of development services, said Cowichan Tribes are still expressing concerns with the project.

"We're happy to continue the process and continue these conversations, but this application has been in the process now for almost three years," he said.

Mayor Jon Lefebure said he thinks giving up to three months to allow more time to deal with the concerns of Cowichan Tribes is not unreasonable.

"It's a fact that the proponents have more than 60 lots at the site that they can begin developing under current zoning, so they are able to move forward," he said.

Mack said that, for the developer, it's more about certainty and knowledge that their plan will move forward for the entire parcel of land.

The date of the public hearing on the project will be announced at a later date.

The first well-attended public hearing on the proposal was held on Nov. 23 and went on for more than four hours.

The majority of delegations at the meeting spoke against it, raising concerns about the environmental impacts of more runoff from the development entering nearby Quamichan Lake, and increased traffic and density issues, among others.



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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