The possibility of a number of the electoral areas in the south end of the Cowichan Valley Regional District forming their own municipality, and of the City of Duncan expanding its boundaries, could be among the considerations as the CVRD works toward developing a regional growth strategy, according to Duncan Mayor Michelle Staples.
The city, as well as the CVRD鈥檚 other municipal members, had been asked by the district to each appoint a representative to the district鈥檚 new growth-strategy steering committee and, at Duncan鈥檚 council meeting on Dec. 16, Staples said the development of a growth strategy for the Cowichan Valley has been under discussion for decades and she鈥檚 excited that it鈥檚 finally happening.
A growth strategy is a regional-level strategic planning document administered by a regional district to 鈥減romote human settlement that is socially, economically and environmentally healthy and that makes efficient use of public facilities and services, land and other resources.鈥�
The Capital Regional District, Regional District of Nanaimo, and the Comox Valley Regional District all have growth strategies, but the CVRD does not.
鈥淥ne of the changes in this process is South Cowichan wanting to form its own municipality and that鈥檚 part of the discussion that鈥檚 happening at the CVRD鈥檚 board table, and some money has been contributed to that by [electoral area directors] from South Cowichan,鈥� Staples said.
鈥淭hings are at a point in South Cowichan where it does make sense to look at it differently. Having large numbers [of people] in some areas and having just one electoral area director is not functional.鈥�
The Shawnigan Lake electoral area, in particular, has a similar population as some of the CVRD鈥檚 municipalities, which have full councils to represent them, while the electoral area has just one director.
Staples said there has also been discussions over the years of Duncan, which is Canada's smallest city at just two-square kilometres in size, expanding its boundaries either south into the CVRD鈥檚 electoral areas, or north into North Cowichan and, as the region continues to grow, she would like to see the CVRD鈥檚 new growth-strategy steering committee deal with that issue as well.
鈥淲e need to look at the boundaries of our communities and what makes sense as we grow because all of the lines were drawn at a different time when they made sense because that鈥檚 where the businesses were,鈥� she said.
鈥淎s the city and region grow, I think this is a good time to look at what鈥檚 happening now, and it will also be easier for us to project what things will look like in the future [with the newly developed growth strategy]. It will benefit the city and other communities within our region to go through this process.鈥�
Kyle Young, Duncan鈥檚 director of planning and sustainability, was unanimously appointed by council to be the city鈥檚 representative on the CVRD鈥檚 growth-strategy steering committee at the meeting.
In October, the CVRD鈥檚 committee of the whole referred a staff report on the topic of a growth strategy to the City of Duncan, Municipality of North Cowichan, Town of Ladysmith, Town of Lake Cowichan and the directors of the CVRD's electoral areas, and that the municipalities be asked to appoint a representative to the steering committee; consider potential additional matters in the development of a growth strategy, including, but not limited to, potential municipal incorporation and boundary changes to accommodate future growth and servicing objectives.
The CVRD鈥檚 updated corporate strategic plan calls for the district to work collaboratively with member municipalities and First Nations towards the development of a growth strategy.
Once a regional district decides to initiate an regional growth strategy, it must ultimately be accepted by all local governments within the area and will be binding on those local governments.
