Smart Growth -   
                               let's keep North Cowichan a community of communities

North Cowichan is a community of communities -- each with a natural growth area. 
The Official Community Plan sets out "urban containment boundaries" that will preserve our rural character while accommodating growth.  They stop leap-frog development, which is costly, both environmentally and socially.  The new draft OCP suggest tighter UCB’s as rural growth greatly increases taxes over time as services such as water and sewer age out.

We have  protection in the OCP, which keeps most  growth in the urban containment boundaries.

​ The municipality during the last term recently partnered with  Avi Friedman and his students from McGill University, who created designs for affordable housing that protects green space and creates common space on two municipally owned properties.  The old Chemainus Elementary School site and the Echo Heights property at Humbolt Street. I would like Council to visit those designs and to consider offering the old school site for cooperative housing on the school footprint and green-space on some of the rest.  A cooperative housing project could house the same number of people there on so much less land. 
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My Commitment 

To support the Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Climate Action and Energy Plan (CAEP).

 Encourage  cost-effective, low-impact growth such as secondary suites and infill building in our core areas such as around Chemainus, Crofton, the University Village area and Berkey’s Corners..

 To work for the best long-term results, not just a quick fix. 

Consider temporary housing tenures .

 To carefully consider, with each decision, what kind of community we're leaving for our grandchildren.  Whether we're closing doors for them and laying burdens on their shoulders, or opening options for them to make their future here.