Sooke Harbour: News:
Sooke Growth Boundary
Council working to define areas for Sooke growth boundary
By Pirjo
Raits
Sooke News Mirror
May 18, 2005
An informal meeting to discuss a
proposed Bylaw amendment to the Official Community Plan ,held May 16
at Council Chambers, brought out a half-dozen people concerned with
what the Regional Growth Strategy might mean for Sooke.
The Regional Growth Strategy (RGS), part of the Regional Context
Statement, would define a boundary for growth in the urban core of
Sooke.
The CRD adopted a Regional Growth
Strategy in August 2003, giving Sooke an opportunity to determine
the Urban Containment and Service Area in a regional context. The
purpose of the document is to aid in realizing an overall vision for
growth and change.
The protection of the rural character
and lifestyle of Sooke was foremost in the minds of some of the
attendees. Cluster housing, densities in the urban core, and water
were the topmost issues discussed.
"It's all about servicing," said Mayor
Janet Evans. "We are not amending the OCP, we are adding to it."
Evans reiterated that it was critical
for Sooke to have control over development as well as the provision
of services without having to look to the CRD Board for unanimous
approval. The Urban Containment boundary would be set in place to
provide servicing, and to encourage more population and commercial
development in the core. The lands outside the boundary are intended
to stay rural in nature. Growth would be controlled by other
regulating documents, such as the zoning bylaw.
The idea of subdividing rural lots to a
minimum one-hectare size to encourage larger homes, while retaining
the rural character, was brought forward. This would also discourage
cluster housing, an idea few of the people attending the meeting
liked or wanted.
Following the adoption of the RGS, each
municipality is required to, within two years of adoption, adopt a
regional context statement.
The context statement must identify the relationship between the OCP
and the content of the RGS and if applicable, specify how the OCP
and the RGS will be made consistent over time.
A public hearing of Proposed Bylaw No.
212, Official Community Plan Amendment to include the Regional
Context Statement is scheduled for June 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Council
Chambers.
Verbal and written submissions will become part of the public
record.
© Copyright 2005 Sooke News Mirror
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