A little over a year ago in a Caledonia Courier article titled Fort St. James candidates speak out, mayoral candidate Martin Elphee in his own words said “Previous councils have not been transparent on most issues with the local residents and appear to want to ramrod decisions through without duly informing them.” In my opinion there does not appear to be any improvement now that he is the mayor.
One example is the subdivision being planned on Stones Bay Road. A November 23rd Caledonia Courier article reads that maps of the current plans for the development are available at the district office and online via the agenda package for the October 12th meeting. The maps, issued for review and dated January and May 2022, are out-dated and do not show the current plans.
At the August 22nd Council meeting Mr. Hooke of Canyon Tree Farms, the subdivision developer, gave the District a new site plan map issued for construction and dated July 31, 2023. The map shows five additional lots impacting the District’s cemetery parking lot and road access. Why wasn’t the July 31st map on the agenda of the October 12th meeting? Why isn’t the July 31st map being made available now? The answers seem evident; lack of transparency.
To provide transparency the District should clarify, answer and/or confirm what was said at the October 12th meeting, and what was reported in the November 23rd article.
The article reads Mayor Elphee stated the District’s position on the subdivision as “We’re all for it.”, suggesting Council and staff have already made up their minds on its approval in advance and without giving consideration to the following.
The associated OCP amendment requires consultation with other levels of government and organizations; the process began in late September, when will all results be made public?
The OCP amendment also requires a public hearing between second and third reading, Mayor Elphee said at the meeting that would happen November 14th or 28th but it did not, when will it take place?
The article also reads, based on a District staff report from the meeting agenda, once zoning and OCP amendments have been adopted council no longer has control over the subdivision approval process. Considering the following, that does not appear to be the case.
The District intends on expanding their boundary to include in the subdivision the 9.95 acre parcel currently within the RDBN. That lengthy process involves Council approval and approval of the expansion by the District’s electorate; when will the process be started and its estimated conclusion?
Mr. Hooke stated at the workshop and in the article his intension to develop the subdivision in stages. According to the District’s Subdivision Servicing Bylaw and the Local Government Act that requires Council to create a Phased Development Agreement Bylaw that must also go to a public hearing prior to approval; what is the timeline for that process?
In the article Mr. Hooke said the greenbelt designation in his proposed subdivision is not something which can be dictated on private land. The District’s Subdivision Servicing Bylaw and the Local Government Act both state that a percentage of land within a subdivision must be provided as park land, or cash payment to the District in lieu, and the greenbelt/park land must be referenced in the Phased Development Agreement Bylaw.
The article reflected Mayor Elphee saying while he chaired the October 12th meeting the event was funded by Canyon Tree Farms (Mr. Hooke). Mayor Elphee chaired the meeting only for a short period, until a facilitator took over; did the District pay for the facilitator or did Mr. Hooke, and what was the cost?
The facilitator compiled flip charts of comments, questions and concerns raised during the meeting on October 12th, and it was said the information would be provided to those that attended the meeting. The District has received that information but has not yet sent it out to the attendees; when will it be?
Brenda Gouglas
Resident and Taxpayer
Fort St. James