Notice is hereby given that Public Hearings will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 to allow Council to receive public input on “Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 4008, 2025”, “Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 4013, 2025” and “Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 4016, 2025”. As authorized by the Local Government Act, these hearings will be conducted by electronic means and members of the public will be provided an opportunity to be heard verbally or by submitting their comments in writing in advance of the hearings. These hearings will be a Hybrid Meeting and will be conducted in person from Council Chambers and by video conference using the Cisco Webex platform. Anyone wishing to participate may do so in person by attending Council Chambers, or by joining the meeting using a computer, smartphone or tablet, or telephone (audio only). If you wish to participate electronically, please visit www.northcowichan.ca/virtualmeeting for instructions on how you can join the hearings and find the link to join. You may also view the meeting as it is streamed live by going to www.northcowichan.ca/Agendas and click on the ‘View Live Stream’ link. A copy of the recording will be made available after the meeting on North Cowichan’s website for on-demand viewing.
Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 4008 (Bell McKinnon Residential Rural Zone – R1-BM) proposes to amend Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 to prevent low-density in the Bell McKinnon Local Area Plan (BMLAP) area by:
- Adding a new “Bell McKinnon Residential Rural Zone (R1-BM)” which has the same regulations as the “Residential Rural Zone (R1)” except that the R1-BM zone has a larger a minimum lot size of two hectares (4.94 acres).
- Within the BMLAP area, changing all properties currently in the “Urban Residential Rural Zone (R1-U)” to the new Bell “McKinnon Residential Rural Zone (R1-BM)”.
- Within the BMLAP area, changing all properties currently in the “Residential Rural Zone (R1)” to the new “Bell McKinnon Residential Rural Zone (R1-BM)”.
The map shows the boundary of the BMLAP area shaded in grey. This area includes lands on both sides of Bell McKinnon Road extending from Drinkwater Road north to past Sprott Road and includes an area north of Drinkwater Road on the west side of the Trans-Canada Highway.
The areas where the zone is proposed to change are outlined in black in the map.
Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 4013 (Cannabis Sales – 3055 Oak Street) proposes to amend Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950, Section 40.5 [Cannabis Sales Prohibited] by adding the following subsection:
“40.11 Despite Section 40.5, one cannabis retail store is permitted at 3055 Oak Street (PID: 023-186-151)”.
This amendment is to allow for retail cannabis sales on the subject property as shown outlined in bold on the map.
Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 4016 proposes to repeal Temporary Mobile Home Bylaw No. 1685 and to make the following amendments to Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 for the purpose of removing the reference of the Temporary Mobile Home Bylaw:
- Deleting the definition of “Temporary Mobile Home” and removing the off-street parking regulations associated with Temporary Mobile Homes.
- Removing Temporary Mobile Home from the permitted uses and removing all associated regulations (e.g., setbacks and density provisions) from the following zones: Agricultural Zone (A1), Rural Zone (A2), Rural Restricted Zone (A3), Rural Resource Zone (A4), Rural Residential Zone (A5), Residential Rural Zone (R1), and Urban Residential Rural Zone (R1-U).
PUBLIC INPUT
If you believe your interests in land will be affected by the proposed bylaws, you are encouraged to submit your comments by following the instructions provided below:
1. In writing in advance of the Public Hearing:
Submit your comments in writing to Mayor and Council until 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025 by:
- Email to publicmeetings@northcowichan.ca
- Mail to Mayor and Council, Municipality of North Cowichan, 7030 Trans-Canada Highway, North Cowichan, BC V9L 6A1
- Fax to 250-746-3133
- In person deposited through the mail slot at the Municipal Hall, Main Entrance
2. Verbally or in writing at the Public Hearing:
- In person by attending Council Chambers at Municipal Hall, 7030 Trans-Canada Highway, North Cowichan, BC.
- Virtually by logging in electronically, details and instructions will be available at least one week prior to the Hearing at www.northcowichan.ca/PublicHearings
- Written submissions may be submitted during the Public Hearing by presentation to the Corporate Officer or her designate.
PLEASE NOTE: Submissions should reference the bylaw numbers and include your name and the civic address or legal description of the land affected by the proposal. Please be advised that all submissions, including the individual’s name and address will form part of the public record and will be published on North Cowichan’s website. Do not include any personal information in your submission that you do not wish to be disclosed, as submissions received are public documents and will not be redacted (with the exception of email addresses on electronic submissions, phone numbers and signatures). Written submissions will not be accepted after the conclusion of the Public Hearings.
Copies of the bylaws and related documents, including public comments received in writing, will be available to inspect online at www.northcowichan.ca/PublicHearings until the close of the Public Hearings. The documents may also be inspected in the Planning Department at the Municipal Hall, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays) between 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from May 30, 2025 to June 18, 2025.
Personal information is collected by North Cowichan under the authority of s. 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of administering the Public Hearing. Please direct any questions about personal information to North Cowichan’s Privacy Officer by Phone: 250-746-3116,
Email: privacy@northcowichan.ca or Regular Mail: 7030 Trans-Canada Highway, North Cowichan, BC V9L 6A1
