Letter RDN re Descanso Bay Wharf Use

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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
 
700 North Road, Gabriola Island, BC  V0R 1X3 
Telephone  250-247-2063    Fax  250-247-7514 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 660-2421.  Elsewhere in BC 
1.800.663.7867 
Email  northinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
November 2, 2018 
Via email: corpsrv@rdn.bc.ca  
Board of Directors 
Regional District of Nanaimo 
6300 Hammond Bay Rd. 
Nanaimo, BC V9R 6N2 
Dear Board of Directors: 
Re: Request to broaden the use of the Descanso Bay Wharf, Gabriola Island 
The Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee recently conducted a review of its water taxi zoning regulations. 
Community consultation in conjunction with this project indicates strong support for increasing opportunities for 
commercial water taxi use on Gabriola Island, and that Descanso Bay is the preferred location for this type of use.
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Based on the input received from community members, the Local Trust Committee requests that the Regional 
District of Nanaimo (RDN) Board consider expanding the use of the Descanso Bay Wharf (established by Descanso 
Bay Wharf Service Bylaw No. 1357, 2003) to accommodate commercial water taxi operations.  
The Local Trust Committee recognizes that the RDN may need to conduct its own feasibility studies, and that a 
public process (referendum or alternative approval process) or amendment to the RDN’s Crown tenure agreement 
may be required in order to expand the use of the Descanso Bay Wharf.  However, it should be noted that there is 
no regulatory barrier from a land use planning perspective as the Gabriola Island Land Use Bylaw permits the use 
of the wharf for the “loading and unloading of people, goods and materials plus the accommodation of vessels”. 
The Local Trust Committee further requests a written reply regarding any actions to be taken by the RDN Board in 
response to this correspondence, via email to gabriolaislandlocaltrustcommittee@islandstrust.bc.ca.  
Thank you for your consideration. 
Sincerely, 
 
Laura Busheikin, Chair 
Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee 
cc:  Melanie Mamoser, Gabriola Local Trustee 
 Heather O’Sullivan, Gabriola Local Trustee 
 Clare Frater, Director of Trust Area Services 
                                                
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 Results of a community questionnaire, completed by 209 respondents, indicated that 82% of respondents support water taxi 
use within the Water Commercial 3 – Marine Transportation (WC3) zone, which includes a portion of Descanso Bay. 92% 
indicated Descanso Bay was the preferred location for water taxi use because there is existing infrastructure and it is accessible 
for most of the island’s population.

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