A subdivision proposal that would impact a unique Garry oak grove behind Georges P. Vanier Secondary School could be headed back to Square One.
Courtenay council was concerned to learn Monday that some of the information it heard about the involvement of the Victoria-based Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT) in the proposal may have been incorrect.
In light of new information from GOERT clarifying its role, Mayor Greg Phelps informed councillors he will bring the application back to council under the mayor鈥檚 prerogative next week.
鈥淭his information is certainly a little different than perhaps what some of us had been led to understand at the meeting when we passed the development variance permit,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause of concerns, I asked the municipal clerk not to sign the documents for that development variance permit and have instead asked that it be brought back to council tonight for discussion on this.鈥�
In December, council received an application from School District 71 (SD71) to subdivide its land on Headquarters Road and asking to vary the subdivision control requirements and set aside the city general off-site requirements policy to defer works and services to the building permit stage. SD71 would sell a lot to the Comox Valley Christian School for a new school.
Council voted to issue the development variance permit (DVP) Dec. 20.
Comox Valley Christian School representative Ken Gaglardi told council the school would add Garry oaks and increase the area occupied by the trees, while establishing the ecosystem among the trees.
He explained that GOERT was helping the Comox Valley Christian School, and an advisory committee had been created with representation from GOERT.
Holly Clermont, a conservation specialist with GOERT, explained in a letter to Coun. Ronna-Rae Leonard that the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society took the lead on communications with Gaglardi in March, and GOERT鈥檚 role in this informal agreement is to contribute information.
GOERT did not appoint a representative to Gaglardi鈥檚 advisory committee, although it offered to serve as a resource and provide information and advice.
Clermont also noted that it appears the restoration report provided to Gaglardi in May may have been provided with insufficient context.
鈥淭he restoration report outlines recommendations to the church in the event that development proceeds to mitigate some of the damage; it was not intended as the best course of action for the property but without additional context may have been interpreted as such,鈥� she wrote.
GOERT recommends that the site be protected rather than developed.
If development proceeds, GOERT recommends that a comprehensive survey be conducted before any construction-related work or ecosystem restoration.
Phelps suggested council invite the Comox Valley Christian School to come back to council and explain the situation.
Coun. Jon Ambler suggested council invite others such as the Comox Valley Land Trust and GOERT to speak to council as well.
Leonard appreciated that the application will be brought forward again.
鈥淚t was rather startling to realize that perhaps we didn鈥檛 have the certainty that we thought we had regarding the Garry oak ecosystems recovery team and support for the project and participation on the advisory committee,鈥� she said.
When the DVP comes back before council, the previous decision will become null and void.
The Assessment of Restoration Potential for Vanier Grove report, prepared by GOERT, states that Vanier Grove is among the northernmost Garry oak and associated ecosystems in the world.
鈥淰anier Grove makes up the largest and most intact occurrence of Garry oak (Quercus garryana) at this northern extent in the species鈥� range,鈥� it noted. 鈥淚t may be the only example in the world of a Garry oak/Sitka spruce association and is one of the few remaining Garry oak ecosystems in the Comox Valley, providing an invaluable reference ecosystem.鈥�
writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com
