Question lack of green aspects, affordable units in new development
Dear North Cowichan mayor and council:
We question seemingly skimpy green aspects and a lack of sorely needed affordable rental units in the 570-unit Beverly and York street housing project approved by council.
Details appeared on the Cowichan Citizen’s website May, 2, 2024.
While this huge apartment fits our density plans and urban-containment boundaries in our green-leaning official community plan, we fear it does not include storm-water catchment ponds to stop more environmental impacts on our sensitive Somenos Marsh sitting beside this monster project.
Furthermore, this type of project fails to follow to provincial concerns about water scarcity propelled by climate-change drought.
Our province has ordered more housing, but has not dictated what, where, how, nor for whom that housing is built.
Those aspects are left to municipal governments such as North Cowichan.
We strongly urge council to determine our municipality’s limits to growth, while inserting green and affordable aspects into all housing projects.
We must affordably and prudently house folks already living here before illogically accommodating more people from elsewhere.
Yours in smart growth and ecology,
Peter W. Rusland
North Cowichan