Lasqueti First! information and commentary

There is, as far as I can tell, very little, and possibly no opposition at all, to more public docks. Our OCP encourages community and neighbourhood docks. A private dock is privately owned and controlled, though occupying public waterfront space.

There is some muddled history and understanding in the Lasqueti First flyer that came in Monday's mail.  I'll address some of it briefly here.

Lasqueti's Land Use Bylaw does not "allow docks".  Section 4.13 (1) (b) and (c), on page 20 of our Land Use Bylaw (p23 on the on-line version at https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/lasqueti-island-land-use-bylaw-no-2023/ ) specifically limits them to properties without public road access - surrounding islands and isolated parcels on Lasqueti.

Our Official Community Plan says that private docks and boat ramps can be considered in the M2 Maarine General zone Policies 15 and 16, p21 (p24 online at https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/lasqueti-island-ocp-bylaw-no-2023/

The statement that trustees "behave like servants to a salaried bureaucracy" is insulting and indicates lack of knowledge with how local government works. Staff have a huge amount of influence: they give advice. Trustees make the decisions.

Similarly, the assertion that "The only by-law Carey violated was that, in effect, if the property on which the dock is built is accessible to a public road, you are automatically disqualified from applying" is incorrect. The Careys have applied twice to have their dock considered, and both applications were accepted, and then turned down after community input and LTC consideration and decision at public meetings. Aslan told me that early in the process, before the dock was built, Islands Trust office staff  advised him not to bother applying, as they wouldn't get approval for their dock. Since the  LTC decided not to proceed with either of the applications, the Policy Statement (which might have been the reason for staff's advice) didn't need to be considered.

The Islands Trust was set up with a special purpose, not just as a local government to do what it's local residents and property owners want. The Trust's object is to preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the Trust Area and of British Columbia in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, First Nations, other persons and organizations and the government of British Columbia.  Essentially, "progress" is to be limited in the Islands Trust area, for everyone's benefit, though this has costs (usually a reduction of profit) for some. It's different from the rest of the province!

All Local Trust Committees (LTCs) have to work within this purpose, and Trust Council is required to adopt a Policy Statement that sets out how they will preserve and protect the Trust Area. The Policy Statement is being "renewed", and consultation on the proposed draft are beginning. Lots of details at   https://islandstrust.bc.ca/programs/islands-2050/  

The Policy Statement guides or controls what a LTC is able to do, and every bylaw it wants to adopt has to be reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee before it can be adopted. The potentially new Policy Statement was given first reading by Trust Council at the end of July, and consultation will carry on until February, in various ways.

It will be useful to have a Lasqueti public meeting about docks, or about any other community issue.  I think it's extremely important for individuals and groups to get involved with the consultation on the new Trust Policy Statement while it is still a draft proposal, and the Trust is asking for feedback. This is the time to work to make it how we want it to be, because another opportunity to do so won't come along again soon, and every Trust community, and especially the Local Trust Committees, will have to live with the newly adopted one.    Information on it (again) is at    https://islandstrust.bc.ca/programs/islands-2050/