Change is Coming
It’s surprising that after how many months of this conversation we are STILL framing this decision as the park means change and no park means no change. Let’s make something perfectly clear, there is NO scenario in which our island and community doesn’t change as a result of this process. The decisions we are making at this point are (1) what type of change we want and (2) when and how that change will occur.
A good starting point when considering trade-offs is to remove outcomes that are consistent across the different options. In both our scenarios we will see (1) more people come to the island (either to visit or to live), (2) more traffic on the ferry and along Whitesails, and (3) additional strain on our infrastructure.
I can understand folks wanting to know more about the scale of these impacts, but the truth is that we can’t compare the two options at this point in time. We know with some certainty the end state of the park, up to 100 campsites phased in over time, about a third of those allocated to drive-in camping. Given our community’s feedback to date, hard to imagine Metro Vancouver would ever consider additional sites in the future. It’s more likely that they walk back the number of sites now as a compromise.
Private development, on the other hand, is a “known unknown” in that we know the status quo context (24 undeveloped lots) but have no idea of knowing what the end state will be. If it’s like everywhere else on the island (which it is) it’s almost certain that we will see further subdivision over time. Maybe that doesn’t happen with this council or the next, but sooner or later a single lot subdivision will be approved and start the inevitable march towards further subdivision.
Some folks may say that we don’t know that for certain and while that’s sort of true, pretty hard to look at the development of this island over time and come to any other conclusion. Further subdivision will happen, it’s just a question of timing and the final extent to which those lots are subdivided.
So what’s unique between the two options? For the park it’s clearly the preservation of 97 hectares of environmentally sensitive land, protecting our community’s ability to enjoy that area, and also ensuring that others can as well. That sounds pretty good. And with private development, ummmm, growing the size of our tax base? More mansions for the house and garden tour in the summer?
Hard to imagine (and frankly, pretty sad) that with the number of “Save Howe Sound” bumper stickers you see in the Cove that our priority as a community is not preserving a special part of our beautiful island, but instead a misguided attempt at slowing or stopping change. Forcing Metro to give up on the park will not stop change on Bowen, all it will do is open the door for a different type of change which we will have even less control over, one that has minimal public benefit, and that when fully realized will almost certainly have worse outcomes.
With all due respect, this really isn’t that difficult of a decision.
- Adam Lougheed
Purple Stars
Sara Milstein and her son Ezra were on the hunt again this year for Bowen’s brightly coloured Starfish. They found this large crop at September Morn Beach. There are many other shorelines around the island where you can go and find the Sea Stars too.
Exploring all of our options
To the Editor,
Thank you, good people of Bowen Island, who have promised to contribute towards the creation of a supportive residence for our elders. In just eight weeks, islanders have pledged $305,425 towards the construction of Snug Cove House.
Once it’s built, the most senior of our seniors can stay on the island among their friends and neighbours instead of having to look for supportive accommodation on the mainland.
Snug Cove House Society needs more to close up the gap in its funding caused by the past year’s inflationary surge in building costs, and is approaching philanthropic foundations, individuals and senior levels of government. Meanwhile it’s not too late for you to chip in.
You don’t even have to fill in a form, just e-mail the sentence “I pledge $_____ towards the construction of Snug Cove House” to [email protected] or drop it off at the pharmacy. We’ll ask you to turn your pledge into money when we’ve enough to start construction.
- With gratitude, the board of directors of Snug Cove House Society
Martine Sampath, Pernille Nielsen, Cindy Macleod, Graham Ritchie, Rev. Lorraine Ashdown, Holly Mackintosh, Andy Powell-Williams, Sheilagh Sparks
