COURTENAY, B.C- It could be a long time for a final decision to be made on a contentious residential development near Stotan Falls.
3L Developments Inc has been trying to build the development west of Courtenay, on land close to the falls.
In it’s current form, the development would cover 550 acres in the area, near the meeting place of the Browns and Puntledge rivers. It would consist of a commercial centre and 740 homes, with a self-contained water and sewage system.
The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) has consistently disagreed with the company’s plans, which lead to a court battle. 3L won, with B.C Supreme Court ordering the CVRD to consider the development as an amendment to their plans for growth in the Valley, which came before the district’s Committee of the Whole earlier in July.
While there was a unanimous decision to proceed with an amendment process, it was decided for the amendment to follow the “standard” process, instead of the “minor” process, which would be quicker.
During the board’s meeting today, the question of whether or not the amendment would be minor or standard was voted on again, due to the first successful vote not requiring a unanimous decision.
It was decided that the amendment process would be handled with the standard method, which requires more consultation by the CVRD.
“It could be a longer process,” said CVRD board chair Bruce Jolliffe.
“It all depends on a number of factors, that are out of our control. If a lot of communities don’t think it’s a good idea, say Courtenay decides it’s not a good idea, or Comox doesn’t, then it could change.”
Communities outside the Valley would also have a chance to weigh in on the possible amendment.
“All the surrounding regional districts do have a say. Historically, surrounding regional districts don’t weigh in too much,” said Jolliffe.
“They have to have legitimate concerns.”
The final approval for the standard process will be ratified at the CVRD board meeting at the end of the month, and the public will eventually have a chance to weigh in on the project in a public hearing.
Kabel Atwall, 3L’s project manager and 3l’s owner David Dutcyvich were both present at the meeting, and took questions from the board prior to the vote.
They both repeated their desire to see the question of the development resolved, with Dutcyvich asking the board to make a park in the Stotan Falls area a reality.
After the vote for the standard amendment, Kabel asked board members and CVRD staff about the voting process, taking issue with how it was conducted. Both men declined interviews.
Pamela Groberman, a spokesperson for 3L, later told the MyComoxValleyNow.com newsroom that the company is talking to the CVRD about the voting process, seeking clarification on whether or not the right voting method was followed.
Groberman said she was “fairly confident” the standard amendment process would be changed to the minor, due to an incorrect voting method.
She expected clarification by tomorrow morning.
