North Cowichan Council held a 9-hour meeting on June 15th, 2016.
After lengthy discussion, a development at Berkey’s Corner will go ahead, as North Cowichan Council approved the bylaw to rezone the land from residential to commercial. Mayor Jon Lefebure says staff brought new information to the meeting, which council used to make the decision.
Council was almost split on the decision, voting 4-3 to give third and final reading.
Also, plans for a new hospital in the Cowichan Valley are moving forward. Council passed second reading of a bylaw to allow the facility to be build on Bell McKinnon Road. Lefebure says a public hearing is scheduled for next week, and while there is overwhelming support from the larger community, he can understand concerns from residents in the immediate Bell McKinnon neighbourhood.
Lefebure says he encourages everyone in the community to come out to the public hearing on June 29th.
Another topic discussed – Crofton will be the newest community within the Cowichan Valley to house an electric vehicle charging station. North Cowichan council is using funds from the Climate Action and Energy Reserve to cover the cost.
Lefebure says aside from supporting the effort to move away from fossil fuels, it’s also a good move from the economic development perspective.
This is the first electric vehicle station in Crofton, but there are already charging stations at the Visitors Centre and Island Savings Centre in Duncan, as well as one in Chemainus.
