A zoning bylaw amendment to allow a new home-based health clinic to open in Lake Cowichan has been approved.
The amendment received the first three readings last week and was adopted at Tuesday evening’s council meeting.
Lake Cowichan Mayor Tim McGonigle says in order to approve a clinic as a home-based business they needed to amend the allowable uses within the R-3 Zone, where the facility is to be located.
He says the next steps will be a building inspection for the new addition to the residence, issuing an occupancy permit, and then approval of a business licence application.
McGonigle says adding health services to the list of businesses will improve healthcare in the community.
He says the proposed clinic, to be operated by a Nurse-practitioner, will help reduce the pressure on Island Health’s Kaatza Health Care Centre in Lake Cowichan.
Meantime, the existing medical clinic remains vacant following the departure of Lake Cowichan’s family physicians earlier this year.
McGonigle says they will meet with senior health ministry staff at the Union of BC Municipality convention next week in Victoria to discuss long term solutions for healthcare in the community.
