SRD passed Cortes Island's zoning update

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents -The Strathcona Regional District Board passed the Cortes Island Zoning Bylaw. Regional Director Mark Vonesch gave an overview of the process: “We're at the last stage of potentially passing the Cortes Island zoning bylaw. It's been almost a two year process of community consultation, both online and in person. It's gone to the advisory Planning Commission on Cortes, and it's gone through a public hearing at the beginning of September. We had 140 plus folks attend that hearing, which is amazing. The reason I deferred it a month was that you have 200 pages of comments on this, and I wanted to take the time to read them all and to really assess what people's challenges and also what they like about the bylaw before making my own personal recommendation.” “I think overall, people appreciate that there will be increased density allowed for the Cortes Housing Society on their Rainbow Ridge property.” “Again, not everyone's in complete agreement, but I'm really excited about that part of the housing needs on Cortes is increasing our nonprofit housing. I'm excited that they're moving forward with 24 units on part of their property. I think that's obviously doesn't cover every concern or every comment that everyone had, but it covers a lot of the bigger comments.”