Gabriola LTC Regular Meeting Minutes

Extracted text (beginning)

ADOPTED 
GB LTC CIM 
June 26, 2013 ADOPTED 1 
Minutes of the Special Business Meeting of the 
Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee 
Held on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 6:30 PM 
At the Haven, Phoenix Room 
240 Davis Road, Gabriola Island, BC 
 
 
Members Present:   David Graham, Chair 
Sheila Malcolmson, Local Trustee 
Gisele Rudischer, Local Trustee 
 
Staff Present:    Courtney Simpson, Regional Planning Manager 
Aleksandra Brzozowzki, Island Planner and Recorder 
Jessie Sherk, Recorder 
 
Media and Others Present: Maggie Henigman, Ecosystems Biologist, Province of 
British Columbia 
Trystan Willmott, Qualified Environmental Professional 
Two local media representatives and approximately 50 
members of the public were in attendance 
 
 
1. OPEN HOUSE: 
 
 
2. CALL TO ORDER: 
 
Chair Graham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. He introduced himself, the staff 
and trustees in attendance and thanked everyone for coming. 
 
 
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 
 
 
4. OPENING REMARKS: 
 
Trustee Malcolmson said that there is more and more evidence showing that what 
happens on land effects what happens with fish.  Ten years ago the province gave the 
responsibility to regulate and protect fish habitat to local governments.  There are 100 
local governments that have already regulated this and we are the last to comply.  It is 
important work but it is also costly. They are committed to personalizing this bylaw to 
meet the island’s needs. Trustee Malcolmson also mentioned how pleased she is that 
there was someone from the province here to speak about this.  Gabriola has six 
development permit areas already and to be clear, she reminded the public that the 
steep slope project has been abandoned and that this meeting was only about riparian 
areas. The proposed bylaw will be going to public hearing next month. She explained 
that this meeting is to provide information so everyone understands what’s going into the 
bylaw and also to give the opportunity for the public to have his or her say. She 
encouraged everyone to get their questions out and utilize the experts that were in 
attendance. She also thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. 
 

ADOPTED 
GB LTC CIM 
June 26, 2013 ADOPTED 2 
 
5. PRESENTATIONS: 
 
5.1 Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, 
Maggie Henigman, Ecosystems Biologist 
 
Ms. Henigman introduced herself and said she was very happy to be there to 
explain this legislation and the Riparian Area Regulation (RAR).  She said that 
protecting fish habitat is a priority and that trees and vegetative streamside 
habitat is essential for healthy fish populations. 
 
She explained some of the history of RAR and described that wetlands are highly 
productive areas that are critically important to the fish downstream and that 
homeowners may not realize how important these low wetlands are.  
 
Ms. Henigman presented the key design principles of the RAR and explained 
that protecting the features, functions and conditio

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