The selection of a new Advisory Planning Commission (APC) proved more difficult than usual for mayor and council, and will likely involve an amendment to APC Bylaw 898.
The amendment would bump up the number of non-Town of Lake Cowichan resident members from one to two. This change is being made in order to accommodate member Chris Rolls, who served as chair during her past term, and Pat Weaver. Although both Rolls and Weaver live in the Cowichan Lake area, both reside outside the town’s boundaries, with Rolls having recently relocated.
“They’ve been on the APC for some time now, and the APC... is close to completion, so it would be nice for them to see it through to the end,” mayor Ross Forrest said, of their work on the Official Community Plan.
The changed bylaw would state that no less than three members must be Town of Lake Cowichan residents, in addition to no more than two non-resident property owners or residents of CVRD electoral areas F or I.
The Town of Lake Cowichan residents who have applied to the APC include returning members Hazel Beech and Rita Dustow. Newcomer Les Bowd has applied to fill the void left by Janeen Bakewell, who decided to not re-apply because of too many other commitments.
Two non-voting members include one councillor from the Town of Lake Cowichan (now Franklin Hornbrook), and the town’s chief administrative officer Joseph Fernandez.
A special council meeting has been called for Tuesday, February 1, during which time it’s expected that mayor and council complete a final reading of this bylaw amendment, and officially appoint the new APC.
The APC is nearing completion of the Official Community Plan, and will go to the public for consultation some time in the near future.