Gratitude
I just got back from hiking the Juan de Fuca trail. Once or twice a year, typically when I start complaining too often, I head out on a solo 3 or 4-day hike into the backcountry with nothing more than a tent, sleeping bag, cooking pot and a bag of steel-cut oats. If I don’t make a fire, I don’t eat. I purposely go when it’s cold, dark and generally miserable. There’s nothing like a few days of heavy walking and hard sleeping to quickly and persistently remind me of what I’m grateful for.
Over the last few months, we’ve had several community meetings and events, facilitating many one-on-one conversations. A lot is going on in our quiet community. Record-setting Halloween bonfire and fireworks attendance, a strong turnout for the CVRD run Future Visioning Idea’s Fair, a Remembrance Day that would make our grandparents proud, and an informative Community Conversation focusing on water safety and security the next day. I’m grateful for all the comments, questions, encouragement and understanding.
Acknowledgements
I want to thank all those who selflessly donated their time to planning and organizing the Saltair Centennial Halloween bonfire and fireworks. Specifically, Janet and Tim Evans, Dave Key, Saltair District Residents Association, Saltair Community Society, local business sponsors, and the monetary donations from Saltair residents. Many thanks to CVRD Coralee Breen and her team, which hosts the OCP Ideas Fairs. They have patiently and diligently worked with our communities for many years, modernizing our Official Community Plan and multiple Local Area Plans. Kerry McIntyre(SDRA) for moderating our Community Conversations series, and the Saltair Community Centre Society for providing the setup/takedown, snacks, and beverages. Director Maatmen from Area H for speaking at our last community conversation, and finally, our CVRD water manager, Todd Etherington, gave a fantastic presentation on all things water at the same event. For those who missed it, you can find a link on my website to his PowerPoint presentation detailing the pipe replacement schedule (nearly done), the following steps for our water filtration, and the status of the Stocking Lake dam.
Balance
When I was campaigning and going from home to home, knocking on doors, housing was on everyone’s tongue. As many of you know, the Province recently passed short-term rental (STR) legislation. I suspect housing and land use will remain at the fore in Area G as several zoning and housing-related topics (e.g. consolidating B&B and STR regulations and Accessory Dwellings, aka Carriage homes) are being referred to the Area G Advisory Planning Committee.
The province wants all local governments to increase housing stock and expedite permitting. Still, as their true intentions filter to the surface, they focus primarily on increasing density around major transit hubs. In addition, they have indicated that STRs within a primary residence are fine; it’s the second, third, and fourth homes, etc., that they want to return to the long-term rental stock.
As we collectively discuss maintaining our rural look and feel while providing families more flexibility with their properties, I encourage you to think local and remain engaged. I welcome your feedback, and if you’re interested, I have much more to say about these topics on my website (www.jessemcclinton.com).
2024
Please save the date: Our following Community Conversation features the CVRD Board Chair and Mayor of Ladysmith, Aaron Stone, on Sunday, January 21st, at 2 p.m. at the Saltair Community Center. Subscribe to the newsletter on my website to get more information as the date approaches.
If you want to speak to me about anything, please call me at 250-2526525. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
