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Bowen Island Municipality 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0

Phone: (604) 947-4255 Email: bim@bimbc.ca

March, 2009
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A publication of the Bowen Island Municipality

Volume 3, Issue 1

Municipality to hold public information meeting on Cape Roger Curtis

The municipality is hosting a public information meeting regarding Cape Roger Curtis on Sunday, April 5, at the Bowen Island Community School gymnasium. The intent of the meeting is to provide information, respond to questions, and for council to listen to islanders who wish to express their views. Following that meeting, Council agreed that it would meet no later than April 20 to review and identify next steps.

Council gave first reading to a proposed amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) in September of last year. The Cape Roger Curtis Neighbourhood Plan is a complex proposal that considers comprehensive development of the 630 acres of privately owned property located in the southwest corner of Bowen Island. It is controversial because while offering the potential for many public amenities, including conservation of 80% of the coastline and 52% of the land as park, the proposed density of the development far exceeds the current OCP.

As well, the Municipality has committed to undertake an update of the OCP. Some members of the public, including 500 who have signed a petition, have argued that a decision on the future of Cape Roger Curtis would be premature before the completion of the OCP overhaul.

The owners of the property, in a letter dated 17 February, 2009, have indicated that they will withdraw their application for an OCP amendment if by June 1, the proposed bylaw has not proceeded through a public hearing and Council has not voted on third reading. At that point, they say they will proceed with their back-up subdivision application.

The proponents filed an initial subdivision application in September, 2004, for 60 – 10 acre minimum size lots. The municipality issued a Preliminary Layout Review letter on July 7, 2006, in response. That letter, from the Deputy Approving Officer, stated that: “Notwithstanding that the proposed subdivision is consistent with the OCP from a density perspective, on the basis of these other considerations [as outlined in the correspondence] the Planner has concluded that the application in its current form does not comply with the overall vision and specific policies of the OCP.”

The property owners then submitted a revised subdivision application in September of the same year. Neither the Approving Officer nor the Municipality have provided any comments on this revised plan.

However in April, 2007, the applicant and the Municipality agreed to enter into a comprehensive planning process. While this was underway, the owners of Cape Roger Curtis offered to put their application on hold while the Municipality in turn agreed to keep the file active.

However, in an address to Council on March 2, Edwin Lee, one of the Cape’s owners stated that time has run out. “We cannot endlessly spend time and money examining options that the municipality has already been told are not viable. We have spent more than four years on this already. Both the time and cost spent on this process have gone well past our budget, yet we still cannot see an end to it.”

Lee urged Council to move the process forward by holding a public information meeting and a public hearing. “Bowen Island should not abandon its commitments after others have acted upon them. And Bowen Island should not deny the public its right to speak to a fundamental option for the island,” said Lee.

The municipality is currently attempting to disseminate as much information as possible regarding the CRC Neighbourhood plan, the process of OCP amendments and other details via its website. A page is under construction at on the BIM website carrying an array of background documents, studies and reports, as well as the proposed amendment.

On March 2, at a Committee of the Whole meeting, Council received a staff report summarizing the results of its referral process, which followed first reading of the proposed bylaw. Approximately one dozen agencies and volunteer committees responded to Council’s request to provide written comments reflecting assessment of various aspects of the proposed comprehensive development of the Cape lands. Michael Rosen, the municipality’s planning consultant summarized the reports and identified three “broad emerging directions.” Rosen wrote:

The Greenways Advisory Committee, Bowen Island Conservancy, and Cape Roger Curtis Trust Society recognize the merits of the park and greenway components of the Plan, but identify a number of suggestions as to how to these elements of the Plan could be further enhanced;

The South Terrace has attracted significant attention from a number of the groups with the suggestion that creative solutions be sought so that this area can ultimately be included within the park amenity and thus as much un-fragmented land as possible could be preserved; and

The Advisory Planning Commission, Affordable Housing Working Group, and Sustainability Framework Working Group support the general direction of the Plan in terms of its land use and densities, but outline a number of suggestions as to how the Plan could be improved.

Council agreed that it would be helpful for members of the on-island referral groups to participate in the public meeting in April, to offer details and rationales for their conclusions.

An electronic copy of the Cape Roger Curtis Neighbourhood Plan can be found here on the BIM website. Printed copies are available for viewing at the Bowen Island Public Library and the Bowen Island Municipality.

OCP to undergo significant update

When Bowen adopted its Official Community Plan, our municipality did not yet exist. Nor did the document include any mention of global warming, climate change, or identify targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. That was in 1996, and times have changed.

The OCP, which was to have been reviewed every five years, is set to get a major overhaul. Dave Witty, former Dean of Architecture at the University of Manitoba and long-time Bowen resident has volunteered to chair the steering committee to update the island’s foundational plan. Primarily a navigational tool that goes beyond land use matters, the OCP said Witty, will define “what this community wants to be, where it wants to go, and what it wants to address on that trip.” It must address social, ecological, economical and physical development, the designer told Council at a recent special committee of the whole meeting.

Witty’s first task, assisted by Reiden van Kervel and Brian Hodgins, is to select four members of the community to join him on the steering committee. Council will appoint three additional members of the public to the volunteer group, which, as a “committee of the community” will deliver to Council a series of OCP amendments that have been vetted through an extensive public process.

To assist the Steering Committee, the Municipality will hire a consulting firm, who, with a budget of $120,000, will facilitate the public consultation process and ultimately craft the amendments to the OCP. Council will retain the responsibility for final decisions.

The Municipality is expected to announce the names of the committee in early April. A call for expressions of interest will follow and once the search for a consultant is completed, the committee will finalize a work plan. Community input will be solicited in the summer and fall, and with analysis of background information and new studies occurring concurrently and throughout early winter. ready for The community and Council will review “draft scenarios” in the New Year, and the target date for the first reading of the amended bylaw is May, 2010.

While the timeline may seem ambitious, Witty is confident that the update will be concluded in a timely manner. He points to a number of precedents in terms of both content and process and reminded council and Municipal staff that an OCP review is not “an unchartered journey. We should not be intimidated by the process.”

The planning department, with Jason Smith in the lead, will play an active role in assisting the steering committee, with the OCP update becoming its top policy priority. The other key player will be the public. This is essential to the process, noted Witty, if the objective -- creating a document embraced by the entire community -- is to be achieved.

Feedback and input from Bowen residents of all ages, from children to seniors, will be sought throughout the process. The municipality will rely on numerous mechanisms for public engagement, including interactive web-based tools and social media initiatives such as blogs, web conferencing, and email, as well as through more traditional means including mail-outs, charrettes and open houses.

At the end of the day, said Witty, the OCP review should be a community building process.

“If we go in with the intent to have an OCP that sets out for a long-term vision of this island in the fullest sense, then we will, through that discussion, discover that vision and how to get there.” The goal will be attained through a commitment to a comprehensive, collaborative process and “dialogue that is empowered by the community.”

“In my view, if someone speaks, every idea is a legitimate idea; everyone’s voice needs to be heard. If that’s the process, people figure it out.”

What is an OCP?

According to the Local Government Act, an Official Community Plan (OCP) is a statement of objectives and policies to guide decisions on planning and land use management, within the area covered by the plan, respecting the purposes of local government.

The Act specifies the required content of the plan. These include:

1. An official community plan must include statements and map designations for the area covered by the plan respecting the following:
     (a) the approximate location, amount, type and density of residential development required to meet anticipated housing needs over a period of at least 5 years;
     (b) the approximate location, amount and type of present and proposed commercial, industrial, institutional, agricultural, recreational and public utility land uses;
     (c) the approximate location and area of sand and gravel deposits that are suitable for future sand and gravel extraction;
     (d) restrictions on the use of land that is subject to hazardous conditions or that is environmentally sensitive to development;
     (e) the approximate location and phasing of any major road, sewer and water systems;
     (f) the approximate location and type of present and proposed public facilities, including schools, parks and waste treatment and disposal sites;
     (g) other matters that may, in respect of any plan, be required or authorized by the minister.

(2)    An official community plan must include housing policies of the local government respecting affordable housing, rental housing and special needs housing.

(3)    An official community plan must include targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the area covered by the plan, and policies and actions of the local government proposed with respect to achieving those targets.

Council considers Greenways Strategy

The proposed Greenways Strategy Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment (Bylaw 215, 2008) was presented to Council on March 16th. Council has re-read the bylaw for the first time. Municipality planner, Celene Fung presented the revised Strategy and. reminded Council that the intent of the strategy is to help prevent the fragmentation of natural areas and the loss of bio-diversity. The Greenway Strategy will guide the Municipality in creating opportunities for the protection of lands, which will be managed for environmental conservation, outdoor recreation, ecotourism, as well as community health and wellness purposes. Fung noted that “The Greenways Strategy will help guide future policy and bylaw development, rezoning and development discussions, park and trail planning, as well as bring community members together to work towards conserving Bowen’s natural assets.”

Though a fairly new concept, greenways are important for the island’s future sustainability as they address both carbon issues and climate change, noted Fung. Since 2002, many residents and local volunteer groups have been working with Municipal staff to develop a strategy. Sue-Ellen Fast, a local naturalist and chair of the Greenways Committee called the proposed legislation a “Bowen-made piece of work” and a “more comprehensive way of looking at nature on Bowen and ecological services.”

Council read a first version of the Strategy last September. It was referred to the Advisory Planning Commission and the Islands Trust, both of whom were fully supportive of the proposed bylaw. The Municipality’s solicitor also found no fault with the document.

The Municipality held a public information meeting in October, attended by approximately 35 people, who gave the strategy mixed reviews..Fung reported that “the majority of community members supported the proposed bylaw. Some saw it as an opportunity for “cooperative stewardship” with individuals and the Municipality to work together to protect and improve the existing informal greenway system on Bowen.

But others raised concerns about the potential of infringement of their property rights, pointing to specific wording that they said could be interpreted to allow the Municipality expropriation privileges. Fung clarified that the proposed legislation “does not impact existing property rights nor adds or diminishes the Municipality’s existing ability to regulate land use.” In response to concerns raised, some of the wording in the proposed Strategy was revised to help dispel any misconception.

Some members of the public called for comprehensive maps designating existing and proposed greenways. However Fung responded that the Strategy refers to the development of a “concept”. Detailed maps along with specific land use criteria will be created for specific initiatives. Fung added that the 2009 work plan of staff and the Greenways Advisory Committee includes the creation of an inventory of existing and potential greenway areas and public trails. Greenways have been developing organically on the island as opportunities present themselves.

Questions as to the timing of the proposed amendment were also raised. Since the Municipality will shortly be embarking on an OCP update considering island-wide land uses, it was suggested the Greenways Strategy could be considered then. However, Fung responded that the proposed bylaw has been a community led initiative that has already received considerable public input. “The Strategy is ready to go.” However, there will be additional opportunities to comment through the Public Hearing process.

Community Planner Jason Smith added that the proposal has a “long-standing history.” It’s in “a good state, we’ve responded to concerns raised … and it will make the OCP process easier.” Even if appended to the current OCP, the Strategy can still be tweaked while the OCP update is underway, staff noted.

The next step is for the Municipality to set a date for a public hearing on the proposed Greenways Strategy. To view and download the proposed Bylaw No. 215, 2008, please visit the BIM website and click here for a copy.

Did you know?

Bowen already has an extensive connective informal island-wide Greenways system that includes private and public lands and trails. Public lands include Municipal, Regional, and Crown Land. Bowen Island has several significant green corridors which include significant green areas such as Crippen Regional Park, Mt. Gardner, Collins Ridge, Headwaters and Quarry Parks, Fairy Fen Nature Reserve, and the Ecological Reserve. Many of these areas have an interconnected network of trails, various road rights-of-ways, public beach and shore access areas, and linear parks along creeks. Collectively, these and other components make up part of the informal island-wide Greenways system on Bowen.

In terms of private property, Greenways are currently secured when opportunities present themselves such through rezoning discussion or residents placing a voluntary green space covenant on their property.

Ferry Advisory Updates

The Bowen Island Municipality Ferry Advisory Committee (BIMFAC) met for their regular monthly meeting in March to discuss numerous ferry transportation topics. On the agenda was news regarding the discontinuation of prepaid paper tickets, the ferry status sign coming soon to Snug Cove, the appointment of a new committee member, and an update regarding the Experience Cards™.

Ferry Taxi Service for Bowen Island
At the request of the committee, Brian Biddlecombe and Leanne Laudrum of Cormorant Marine, attended the meeting. They had been invited, along with representatives of other water taxi companies providing services to Bowen including Granville Island Water Taxi and Coastal Link Ferry.

Biddlecombe told the committee that Cormorant Marine has been offering local service for 30 years. One of its key roles is providing emergency transport, completing over 180 trips per year for that purpose. BC Ferries regularly calls on Cormorant Marine when the vehicle ferry service to Bowen is delayed or cancelled. Biddlecombe says he has noticed that the number of passengers traveling from Horseshoe Bay has decreased. While he reported that business is still thriving, he is “watching with interest” the advent of the two relatively new businesses offering water taxi services. Representatives of the two companies sent their regrets at being unable to attend the meeting.

Electronic sign delayed
The Chair of BIMFAC, Bob Lalonde, reported that BC Ferries is having problems erecting an electronic sign, to be used to notify waiting passengers of ferry sailing delays or cancellations. The installation has been hindered by complications involving the use of a crane and hydro lines. But it is hoped that the sign, which will be activated by the control tower in Horseshoe Bay, will be operational soon.

Inadequate notice of refit
The committee discussed the inadequate notice given to the community regarding the present refit of the Queen of Capilano, which began 18 February. It was noted that BC Ferries knew about the refit two months prior, but only provided notice to the Bowen Island Municipality two days in advance. “We simply have to have better communication,” Lalonde stated. The committee agreed to request that in the future, BC Ferries coordinate with Transport Canada to have the annual ferry safety inspection and refit (required every two years) undertaken during the same period, and preferably during off hours.

Experience Card™ Update
BC Ferries has announced that the acceptance of paper tickets will be discontinued as of June, 2009 on the Horseshoe Bay-Snug Cove route. The ferry company will continue to offer its clients the opportunity to transfer the value of the paper tickets onto its Experience Cards until April, 2010. The cards will soon be accepted on all routes. BC Ferries has also introduced card pooling whereby primary card holders have the option of sharing the balance on their cards with a secondary card holder.

Fare Increases
BC Ferries is hiking up fares as of April 1, a measure it says it is taking due to the rising cost of operating and capital expenditures. The Chair of BIMFAC noted that that the press release announcing the new fares states that it represents a 7.25 percentage spike in vehicle and passenger ticket prices for the Bowen-Horseshoe Bay route. However, the actual percentage appears to be higher, at approximately 8.5 percentage. The committee agreed to request clarification from BC Ferries as to the actual increase. According to the BC Ferries website, as of April 1, an adult fare is $9.20 (less a 30 cent fuel rebate) and a passenger vehicle ticket is $26.40 (less a 95 cent fuel rebate).

About BIMFAC
BIMFAC is an operational committee, established by municipal bylaw and is recognized by BC Ferries as one of its 12 advisory committees. Its role is to deal with marine transportation and act, on behalf of the local community, as a liaison to ferry service providers, working to ensure effective communications. Bob Lalonde chairs the committee, which meets formally twice a year with staff and management of BC Ferries. Alison Morse sits as the liaison between the committee and council. Members include Doug Elliott (Vice Chair), Trish Jacquet, Daniel Heald and the newest volunteer, Kim DeSante.

The committee meets monthly, and all meetings are open to the public. Members of the public are welcome to contact the committee with questions or comments, via email, at bimfac@bimbc.ca.

Council sets priorities

In early 2009, Council reviewed and considered policy, planning and operational priorities for the community. With the goal of establishing a strategic plan for 2009 and the current electoral term, Council identified its three top priorities -- a search for a new Chief Administrative Officer, the review of the Official Community Plan, and the creation of a strategic capital plan for priority infrastructure projects.

Council next determined four strategic priorities for capital planning. These include: civic facility, sewage plant and collection system, ferry marshalling and cove roads and the fire hall. Bowen’s elected officials have instructed staff to develop critical paths addressing these priorities.

The search for a chief executive for the municipality is well underway, coordinated by a professional executive search agency. Interim CAO, Bryan Kirk, says the municipality hopes to have the position filled by early summer. The process for a comprehensive update of the Official Community Plan has been set, with Dave Witty accepting the role as volunteer chair of the Steering Committee. (See article.)

An infrastructure committee, consisting of councillors Cro Lucas, David Wrinch and Peter Frinton has moved swiftly to respond to opportunities announced recently by the federal government and its Building Canada Fund. They’ve worked with a number of island professionals and Municipal staff to apply for a grant to assist with the extension of the Snug Cove sewer line. This initiative is vital for the development of community lands, the Abbeyfield seniors’ complex and other potential projects. It builds on the work underway to expand and “green” the municipality’s waste-water treatment plant. Upon Council’s decision on the most appropriate choice of projects, the Municipality will be filing additional applications for funding of infrastructure on Bowen.

Calls down; traffic violations up on Bowen

Corporal Don Southern, the head of the local RCMP detachment, reported to Council at a recent regular meeting. In reviewing stats over last three years, the police officer noted that when it comes to police business, Bowen has experienced “not a lot of change.” The community continues to grow at a steady pace, however, the number of calls to police has fluctuated little over the past few years. There’s “nothing really alarming” to report, said Cpl. Southern. Except, he added for the “hot button issue” – traffic occurrences, which he described as “the necessary evil of police work.”

Southern told Council that community members asked the police to get more active in terms of traffic control. And last year they did just that. In 2007, police wrote 13 violation tickets. In 2008, that number rose to 142. The detachment was inundated by complaints about “people speeding and showing poor driving behaviour,” said Southern. “We decided that warnings don’t work.” Instead, local constables adopted a more assertive approach and enforcement activity swelled by over 1000%.

The result, said the uniformed police officer, is that “we hear that people are feeling safer using the roads on Bowen Island.” In fact, he added, most accidents have been weather related and minor.

Cpl Southern acknowledged the controversy of the newly posted 10 kilometre slower speed limit along roads running from Eagle Cliff to Snug Cove. These came in response to a petition by residents of the area known as Seven Hills. He informed Council that the difference between the old 40 kilometre per hour speed limit, and the new 30 kilometre per hour speed limit, when traveling the 1.7 kilometre distance is .8 minutes. Adding a minute or two to the expected driving time will eliminate the need for speed, the officer commented.

Southern added that it is not the police’s prerogative to set speed rates for the roads, but rather the Municipality’s responsibility. However, he pointed out that the Municipality’s Public Works manager had looked a survivability rates at various speeds. At 30 km per hour, the rate is 95 percent, at 40 km per hour, it drops to 50 percent. “Combine that with the fact there are no real sidewalks, the area around Miller Road is a high density area, and the roads are used by cars, cyclists, pedestrians and sometime horses. That makes that stretch of road even more dangerous.”

Southern was asked about the potential for traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, in the area. Southern replied that he has met with BIM staff and is talking to ICBC regarding infrastructure money that might be available to help solve problems locally.

Community Recreation alive and well on Bowen

It’s bright and lively and it could result in a healthier lifestyle. It’s the Community Recreation Spring brochure, recently circulated by the Bowen Island Municipality. If you didn’t receive a copy, or you’ve misplaced yours, pick up another at the Community Recreation office at BICS, or, simply download a pdf version. The brochure is filled with descriptions of a host of leisure opportunities and recreational classes available on Bowen. This season’s brochure, in a new re-energized format, includes programming offered by the Community School and the Arts Council, as well as Community Recreation. The three local service providers have collaborated to deliver a slate of recreation, arts and educational classes to residents of all ages. Check it out!

Garbage decal renewal date changes

Council has amended its decal rates for waste collection, removal and disposal for 2009 to 2013. It has also changed the dates for renewal of garbage stickers.

Last year, it cost $73 for the one garbage can decal. This year the cost rises to $76. However, residents who currently have a 2008 annual, second can or partial decal that has an expiry date of March 31, 2009 have until the beginning of July to purchase a new decal. The new decals will be valid from June 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010.

A decal for half a year, from July to December or January to June costs $44, with one-time only pick-up sticker costing $6.

Decals go on sale April 1 at Municipal Hall, Recreation Centre, and for three weekends in June through the volunteers of the Bowen Island Recycling Depot outside the General Store. Payments can be mailed to the Municipal Hall as well.

Annual rates for receptacle decals will continue to rise over the foreseeable future, with the cost for one garbage can rising to $79 in 2010, $82 in 2011, $85 in 2012, and $88 in 2013. The cost for a second decal is $116 in 2009, $119 in 2010, $122 in 2011, $125 in 2012 and $128 in 2013.

The Municipal collection system transfers approximately 700,000 kg of garbage and 250,000 of recycling annually from Bowen Island to the lower mainland.

Bowen to participate in Earth Day

Residents of Bowen Island once again have the opportunity to participate in a worldwide effort on behalf of the environment. Earth Hour 2009 is set for Saturday, March 28. Islanders can join millions of people around the globe by turning off lights and unnecessary equipment between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

The World Wildlife Federation has inspired those who care about the planet to act simply and make a difference by demonstrating support for action on climate change. The Bowen Island Municipality is pleased to be one of the hundreds of Canadian communities endorsing the WWF initiative.

Last year, more than 30 countries participated, and in Canada, almost 10 million individuals took part. Organizers are urging everyone to take action this year and make Earth Hour 2009 even bigger by celebrating with candle-light parties, moonlight walks and other events to commemorate the occasion.

While Earth Hour is largely a symbolic event, it demonstrates individual action that can result in a powerful impact. The program promotes ideas and approaches to reducing energy consumption. Take Bowen Transit, unplug unused electrical appliances and wash your clothes in cold water. The list is endless and every action helps makes a difference.

For more ideas on how to participate, visit the Earth Hour Canada website.