Development moratorium motion puts new CDH on thin ice
Hello Doug and Sonia:
I wish to make you aware of a deeply concerning motion currently working its way through the North Cowichan council approval process. Councillor Justice has introduced a development moratorium which is effectively a stop work order on all development in North Cowichan including the Bell McKinnon corridor and the site of the new hospital.
Don’t be misled by suggestions that the moratorium only applies to the Quamichan Lake area. The manner in which the motion is drafted is quite clever and when interpreted by NC council may result in the hospital development permit being turned down. This motion may also send the wrong signal to Minister Dix and the provincial cabinet that our community is divided on the development of the new hospital which would cause delays in the final CDH approval.
Also, beyond the obvious concern for the CDH, if implemented this moratorium will have much broader consequences for the Cowichan Valley including the potential for more lawsuits against North Cowichan, loss of jobs in the housing construction industry, reduced housing inventory and increased housing costs.
This motion will return to North Cowichan council on Jan. 15, 2020. I respectfully urge you to support the hospital and the sustainability and livability of the Cowichan Valley by publicly requesting North Cowichan to scrap this moratorium.
Dave Jackson
Duncan