Donnay Drive the wrong area for dense development
The rezoning application for densification of the Donnay Drive project is wrong. There are many reasons why this rezoning application should be rejected and the development done under the existing R-1 zoning.
Current zoning (R-1, Low Density Residential)
The rezoning application should be rejected because:
Presently the zoning of the subject land is R-1 consistent with all of the other residential homes in the area. Recent construction, in that area, has all been done and approved under the R-1 zoning.
Changing the zoning to allow more dense housing would:
1. Be like pulling the carpet out from under all those folks, who in good faith, built according to existing zoning rules.
2. Destroy the ambience and character of the neighbourhood.
3. Undermine the zoning decisions of previous councils to have that area kept as an area with the look and feel of a rural low density development.
4. The present council should be very cognizant of the fact that rezoning is a very serious matter that was already made by previous councils. This council should not behave in a high-handed manner.
Environmental Impact
The proposed rezoning should also be rejected based on the following environmental concerns:
1. The area is rural in character. The area does not have the commercial and service centers to support dense residential zoning.
2. In order to get to the services and businesses in North Cowichan, more driving will be necessary thus spewing more carbon into the atmosphere.
3. More density will cause more pollution in Quamichan Lake. There will be more runoff of water and phosphates into the lake.
Traffic
1. The road systems in the Maple Bay area are not sufficient to handle large volumes of traffic growth and appear to be limited in their potential for expansion.
The Right Solution
For all of the reasons above, the Maple Bay area is not the future location for dense living. It should be maintained as low density residential living.
The proper area to increase density is in the Cowichan Commons, Drinkwater, Bell McKinnon area. This area has several advantages for densificaction:
1. It is close to the shopping, service and commercial heart of North Cowichan, so it can support densification.
2. It is north of the vulnerable flood plain.
3. It will have a new hospital in the future.
4. It will have a new police station in the future.
5. It is the hub of our town.
6. It has a superior road system in place already.
7. It is the most environmentally sensible place to locate dense living zones.
8. During the OCP development in 2011, a delegation from the Bell McKinnon area appeared before then Mayor Walker and demanded that their area be included in the urban containment boundary. It has the public support.
Political Issues
Some members of council say that they like public input but those same members of council have consistently ignored the public’s input in this matter. Some councillors think any development is good development. Councillors Behnsen, Siebring, Walker and Mayor Lefebure have ignored volumes of public opposition to this development and continue to press ahead with this unpopular application. There are a lot of voters in the Donnay Drive, Maple Bay and Quamichan areas who will remember these members of council who ignored their input in the civic elections in 2018.
Don Swiatlowski
Duncan