Process time for Trilogy reasonable agree supporters and critics


By Colleen Dane in Comox Valley Record. February 11, 2010 6:00 PM

In 2006, he’d hoped to be turning ground by the end of the year.

Four years later, with no work yet started, the president of Trilogy Properties said he’s pleased with how the process has gone for the 760-acre proposed development at Cumberland’s interchange lands.

“I think that the timeframe has been reasonable when you look at all that has to be considered,” said Evans this week.

On Monday, the village council gave final approval to the Official Community Plan and zoning amendment bylaws for the project.

“I think the way I would characterize the process is ‘as expected,’ “ said Evans looking back on the past four years of motions, reviews, bylaw changes, legal counsel, public meetings, public hearings and council consideration.

The project will include a series of mixed-use developments, ranging from a walkable ‘lifestyle centre” at the northeast corner of the Inland Island Highway and Comox Valley Parkway, to larger commercial and larger-lot residential down past Royston Road.

While Evans is pleased to see the project take this important step, others in the community are more reserved in their enthusiasm.

“I’m hoping that in retrospect we will see that it is the best decision,” said Grace Doherty, an organizer with the Cumberland Residents’ Association that has advocated against the development.

“It’s going to be very interesting to see what transpires,” said Doherty.

Calling herself an eternal optimist, she notes that she has concerns about some of the decisions that were made — particularly around concessions made to the developer with no real explanation from staff except to say it was asked for.

“There’s been a number of concerns with no clear explanation from our staff and council as to how that would be in the best interest of the village,” she said — pointing particularly to the allowance of subdivision before water and sewer servicing and permission for Trilogy to have its own water source.

She said the length of process was appropriate considering the size of the application — and said public interest faded because of the feeling that they weren’t being heard.

“We are told by our mayor that people were listened to, but that certainly wasn’t the impression that we got,” she said.

All said and done, Doherty said she recognizes the democratic process has played out, and hopes the decision does provide all the benefits proponents have said it will. She has not heard of any indication that there will be a legal challenge to the bylaws.

Evans is already carrying out their next steps — notably working on a benefits agreement with the K’ómoks First Nation and finalizing the Discovery Centre tourism centre plans.

Further construction on the site will likely focus around that centre he said.

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