Potential Comox OCP questions - Comox OCP Open House is June 24, but you can ask these questions of the Town via phone, email, letter, or at Council meetings.

There are a lot of issues facing the community as the OCP process continues. Probably not a single one is a yes/no, either/or, zero-sum issue. Planning for our future is complicated! SOFT- CV recognizes that we need affordable housing, sufficient infrastructure, fire management resources, schools, recreational amenities, etc., as well as a healthy tree canopy. If you are interested in advocating for tree protection in Comox, here are a few questions you could ask. Thanks to SCUF - Save Comox Urban Forests for these ideas:

1) Where are the future potential development sites? Keep an eye for which areas are currently treed. Express concern about these.

2) On large undeveloped properties identified for future development, suggest that preliminary ecological and environmental surveys be completed by Registered Professional Biologists (RPBios) prior to determining an area's zoning or potential land use.

3) On deep private properties - Are they  / can they be mandated to be four-plexes?  Can we prioritize NOT cutting trees on these properties?

4) There appears to be a huge disconnect between the current OCP and the Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) and Tree Bylaw. How will the timing coincide between these 3 critical policies? How is Town & Council ensuring there will be trees left to save?

5) On the far side of Torrence (456 & 480 Torrence Rd.), there is a large forested area that's currently in the CVRD, outside of Comox boundaries. Info in italics is from the Town.

The Town of Comox is proposing to extend its boundaries to include:

> ➡️ North ½ of Lot 20, District Lot 186, Plan 449 (PID 001-095-544)

> ➡️ Lot A, District Lot 186, Plan 24247 (PID 002-992-647 – 480 Torrence

Road)

> ➡️ North ½ of the South ½ of Lot 20, District Lot 186, Plan 449 (PID

009-047-671 – 456 Torrence Road)

> If you are an eligible elector and oppose this proposal, submit an Elector Response Form by this Friday,June 6 Find out all the details here: 

https://www.comox.ca/government-bylaws/news-alerts/alternative-approval-process-aap-results-boundary-extension-torrence

Comox is likely to accept, or has already accepted, these Torrence properties as becoming part of Town. Private owners are assumed.

SCUF's thinking is that they can possibly better speak up to save the trees in this area if it is actually part of the Town. Unfortunately time is running out for the public to have its say as a result of the new Alternative Approval Process adopted by the Town of Comox, where lack of interest for a proposal is assumed and interpreted as Public Approval. Is there a plan to annex this area into the Town of Comox?  If annexed - will it be protected??

6) What other opportunities will there be for the public to see the final draft plan? Will the Town of Comox solicit more public feedback? Will the public be able to comment on the final document? Has there been enough communication about this very important process and document?

7) Will the Town of Comox be presenting the final OCP to the public with an opportunity for the public to ask questions and participate in discussion.