DEAR EDITOR:
Remarkably, during last year’s public (summer) hearing, no one from the public showed up to comment on major modifications to the island’s Official Community Plan. Could it be that our modern communication channels for public announcements are ineffective?
This year’s public (summer) hearing deals with many perplexing changes to the island’s Land Use Bylaw (LUB). Despite appeals from the public to postpone this hearing, it remains scheduled for July 12 at 4:30 p.m. Sadly, the meeting will only be via Zoom, for active – but remote – participation.
It’s scheduled too early in the day for those who commute and have to tackle tourist season traffic jams and ferry loads. Won’t the beach look very attractive at this time of the day, especially if temperatures remain high?
But make no mistake, this public hearing is important. It provides the final opportunity for the public to comment on the many changes proposed in Bylaw No. 528/2020.
What may have started off some three years ago as an exercise in benign LUB housekeeping has turned into a convoluted document resembling an omnibus bill, that, if enacted in its entirety, would have a far-reaching impact on the island. If you live, work, play, develop or do business on Bowen Island, the proposed changes are bound to change things for you, in one way or another.
The draft document is 187 pages long and contains 220 comments crafted by BIM staff in an attempt to explain the rationale behind the many recommended changes. This much-awaited version has been posted on BIM’s website, as late as June 28 (https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/246946).
If you started that day scrutinizing and processing these comments, at a rate of 16 comments per day you’d be well prepared for the public hearing. If you start only after reading this letter you’re probably better off to wing it. I am willing to bet that between Part 1: Interpretations and Part 7: Development Permit Guidelines, not to mention the blank pages of Schedules B through F, you will find something that will make you scratch your head.
I, for one, can’t figure out why the newly introduced definition of a “fence” in the LUB permits a fence up to 20 cm thick, excluding posts and rails. I am sure there’s a reason, but to me this sounds more like a brick wall, perhaps to be sat upon by Humpty Dumpty?
It’s these kinds of headaches and dilemmas that council needs to hear about at this public hearing before Bylaw 528 gets to third reading to ensure that in the end, all of it makes sense. Otherwise, what’s the point?See you on Zoom and maybe later, on the beach!
Richard Wiefelspuett
