The regional district board plans to appeal to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Premier Christy Clark and area MLAs and MPs for immediate action for infrastructure improvements to resume passenger and freight service on the Island rail corridor.
VIA Rail’s Victoria-to-Courtenay passenger service has not run since March 21 because the company has deemed the tracks unfit for travel.
On Tuesday, the board voted in favour of appointing Courtenay director Greg Phelps to the Island Railway Corridor Foundation for 2011. The foundation is a partnership of First Nations, regional and municipal governments that has assumed ownership of the 290-kilometre rail line.
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The regional district will provide $2,000 towards the Canadian Waterman Festival, a nautical event planned for August at the Comox Harbour.
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The board tabled a recommendation to recognize development applications submitted before adoption of the Regional Growth Strategy bylaw. Staff recommends subsequent rezoning applications would be considered in accordance with the document that addresses land use in the Valley.
Area B director Jim Gillis criticized the proposed Harbour View development presentation that appeared before Courtenay council April 4. Foundation Capital requested annexation to Courtenay
six days after the board adopted the RGS.
"I felt it was imprudent at the time," Gillis said, noting the housing development is proposed near the Little River ferry terminal in a Settlement Expansion Area.
He feels the annexation request flies in the face of sustainability and orderly expansion.
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In a "good news story," Gillis spoke about a Project Watershed film detailing the move towards historic site status for the Courtenay River Estuary. The project has received donations from Courtenay ($2,500), Comox ($1,500), Area C ($5,000) and Area B ($10,000).
