COURTENAY, B.C- The court dispute over lands near the Stotan Falls is waiting on a verdict.
3L Developments Inc and the Comox Valley Regional District were in court in Vancouver from March 12th to March 15th, where the company was hoping to see an overturning of the district’s decision to deny an application to change the district’s Regional Growth Strategy.
The company is looking to develop lands located close to Stotan Falls, a popular swimming spot for locals and visitors along the Puntledge River.
In January, the company announced a closure of all their lands near Courtenay.
Located near the Duncan Bay Main bridge crossing the Puntledge River and along parts of the river’s course, the area contains the Stotan Falls.
Last October, the company filed a petition to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, asking for the Comox Valley Regional District’s denial of an application to amend the area’s Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) to be set aside.
The CVRD filed a response to that petition. It disagreed with every point raised by the company.
The company later adjusted their petition. More details on that change can be found here: https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/50845/3l-changes-up-court-petition-as-stotan-falls-development-dispute-gets-set-for-march/
According to the district and to the online court record system for British Columbia, the fate of the case is now resting with the judge.
“While our lawyer has advised us to limit our comments while this matter is before the Court for consideration, the CVRD wants to make it clear that the CVRD strongly believes that it considered 3L’s application in a fair, open and transparent process; only after a thorough review of the application, including public consultation, did the CVRD Board deny the application,” read part of a statement from district CAO Russell Dyson.
The district expects a verdict in the next four to six months.
