By Colleen Dane - Comox Valley Record
Published: February 17, 2009 3:00 PM

Electoral Area C residents kicked off the public process for the Regional Growth Strategy Monday by writing fantasy news leads, reviewing photos and marking maps.

“Tonight, it’s about identifying the issues. We really want to hear from you on that,” said Pino Di Mascio with Urban Strategies Ltd., the consultant group developing the RGS.

Monday’s meeting at the Black Creek Community Hall was the first of the week’s press for public input. Yesterday, they were at the Comox Rec Centre for another public meeting. Today, they will be at the Cumberland Rec Centre from 6 to 9 p.m. and Thursday at the Florence Filberg Centre from 5 to 8 p.m.

These public meetings are different than most, and involve little sitting and listening. The consultant team has set up a range of stations which include hands-on work and tangible opportunities to give feedback.

For example, residents are asked to write down the three best and three worst things about the Comox Valley. In Black Creek that included statements like natural beauty, social community and recreation opportunities as the good, and rural sprawl, lost ecosystems and complacency as the bad.

They’re also asked to write what a newspaper story would say under the headline of “Comox Valley recognized as B.C.’s best,” as well as mark on a map with stickers the best and the least appealing parts of the Comox Valley.

There was a focus on protection of agriculture land at the Area C meeting, as well as the need to have development suit its surrounding areas.

This is the first part of the public process, and planners say they will come back to the communities in May and June to take the next steps.

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