Sierra Acton Area B

05/22/2026

Paving Notice: Many of you know that as an Electoral Area the province manages our roads, funded by general government and a line item on your property taxes as Rural Tax.

If you haven’t noticed the signs yet the province will be paving along West Shawnigan Lake Road starting this summer. Those who sent letters last year, congratulations that really helped you get 7.8km of new road.

05/19/2026

https://www.planyourcowichan.ca/old-baldy-mountain-park-management-plan

Help design Old Baldy's future.

Project Introduction and Purpose The CVRD is preparing a Management Plan for Old Baldy Mountain Park to guide the future care, stewardship, and improvement of the park over the next 10 to 15 years. During Phase 1 engagement, the community shared what they value about

04/25/2026

Remembering my colleague Klaus❤️ he never wavered from his convictions. (Jan 2019) it’s been a big week!! Will update you all shortly.

04/11/2026

As promised, here’s information for the upcoming meeting on next steps for the CZB:

Wednesday, April 15, 1:00 PM

There are several ways you can stay informed and participate:

• Submit input by email: [email protected]
• View the agenda: Available under Special EASC
• Watch the meeting: Live or afterward online
• Attend in person: You can provide verbal input at the beginning of the meeting

You can also subscribe to receive notice of meetings if you’d like to stay updated.

If you email your input, feel free to cc me at [email protected] so I can stay connected to your concerns.

If you’re thinking about attending in person for the first time, I’m happy to walk you through what to expect and how to participate just reach out.

Agenda can be accessed below. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

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04/10/2026

WE HEAR YOU! April 15th the CVRD will have a Special meeting at 1pm to discuss NEXT STEPS for the CZB. I will share the agenda and a link to watch the meeting(and provide input) after it is published. Thanks everyone!

04/05/2026

Many of you have been asking where I stand right now on the proposed Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw (CZB), so I wanted to share an update. You can also watch the April 1 CVRD meeting for more context.

First, it’s important to note that I am one vote out of nine on the Board, while representing a significant portion of the electoral area population. There fore your thoughtful input is appreciated because we are not unite at the table.

As many of you know, the CVRD is working toward one zoning bylaw for all electoral areas. On March 26 and April 1, the Board was presented with the proposed CZB. Prior to March 26, there was very limited time to review such a large and complex document.

In the days between those meetings, I heard from many of you. A consistent message came through: the document feels overwhelming, overly prescriptive, and not reflective of the values that brought us here—things like supporting families, maintaining affordability, and being able to enjoy our properties and this beautiful area.

I want to acknowledge the way many in this community have shown up. While there has been some misinformation circulating which can happen when people feel concerned or uncertain there has also been a great deal of thoughtful, respectful feedback. Many of you have taken the time to read through the material and share your perspectives in a constructive way, and that matters. (Know I have read all my emails but may not be able to respond to them all.)

At its heart, zoning is about being good neighbours. It should help create balance—allowing people to use and enjoy their property while respecting those around them. It should reflect our Official Community Plan and support rural living, agriculture, recreation, and the lifestyle we value.

I was surprised by this proposal. I expected something simpler, clearer, and less restrictive And also not so comprehensive as a first draft.

Right now, I believe we need to take a step back.

My view is that we should first clearly present the zoning we already have, on its own, so everyone understands what exists today. Then we bring that forward to the community, listen carefully, and make improvements together. Only after that should we look at modernization or changes, if needed.

This isn’t just about a bylaw it’s about how we live, and how we support each other as a community and why we all live here in the first place.

We need to take the time to get this right. On April 15th the EASC board will meet to discuss a path forward.

Please continue to follow https:://www.planyourcowichan.ca i will also share more ways to stay informed.

Stay informed by joining Plan Your CVRD

03/30/2026

Area B — I have, and always will, act with the community’s best interests in mind. I am committed to continue representing you with integrity and thoughtfulness.

I kindly ask that we approach these conversations with respect and curiosity. Please don’t demand to know how I will vote—part of my oath to office is to remain open-minded as I review all information.

For transparency: this information comes to both the Board and the public at the same time. I am listening closely, re-reviewing the material, and I have read your emails.

If you’d like to better understand the process so far, feel free to call me. If you’d like to provide input, please email [email protected] and cc [email protected].

Thank you for your continued engagement.

03/30/2026

CORRECTION: Although not part of the Boards standard way to run a meeting. Chair Maartman is going to suggest adding another public input to the meeting. It is still a continuation of a meeting and not standard practice. So I could be wrong about my warning below. Before attacking me I just wanted to let people know incase they had expectations.

Just for clarity:
It’s great if people want to attend and listen to the meeting on Wednesday but it is a continuation of a meeting that ran out of time. Public input in person has already happened so you will not get a chance to speak, that already happened at the beginning of the agenda however if you want to give input to the Directors email [email protected] and cc myself. [email protected]

03/27/2026

CVRD Moves to Simplify Land Use Rules with New Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw (CZB)
Lots of good information including instructions on how to look up your own property.
Input can be sent to [email protected] and myself [email protected]
Six Openhouses scheduled for May, see website for times and locations.
For more details and the full CZB

The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) is updating and consolidating NINE existing zoning bylaws into ONE region-wide Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw (CZB) for all electoral areas. The new zoning bylaw will simplify zoning regulations, making them easier to understand

02/14/2026

Thanks everyone for your comments. Amber Champ represented us well as Alternate Director at the CVRD Budget meeting on Thursday. The proposed user fees was not supported by the board. CVRD meetings are not easy to participate in, I am very grateful that Amber can hold her own in my absence. Thanks again everyone and especially Alternate Director Champ!!