COWICHAN VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT

ELECTORAL AREA SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES

Wednesday, December 03, 2025 01:30 PM

 

Boardroom 

175 Ingram Street, Duncan, BC

 

PRESENT: Chair J. McClintonDirector K. SegallDirector H. AbbottDirector S. Acton*Director K. DeckDirector B. MaartmanDirector A. NicholsonDirector M. WilsonDirector I. Morrison

 

ABSENT:

 

ALSO PRESENT: D. Myles Wilson, Chief Administrative OfficerP. Robins, Corporate OfficerT. Bowen, Chief Financial Officer*A. Kjerulf, General Manager, Land Use Services DepartmentD. Mooney, General Manager Operations DepartmentN. Pukesh, General Manager, Community Services DepartmentV. Thomson, Senior Manager, Utilities DivisionI. MacDonald, Senior Manager, Building Inspection & Bylaw Enforcement DivisionC. Breen, Manager, Planning - Strategic Initiatives*L. Wilson, Manager, Parks Planning & Stewardship*M. Tippett, Manager, Community Planning DivisionR. Buchan, Planner IIIC. Boyle, Planner IIV. Phelan, Secretary III

 

*Participated Electronically

Wednesday, December 03, 2025 at 9:30 P.December 3. - 10:30 P.December 3.

1.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

• It was moved and seconded:

  That the December 3, 2025 Electoral Area Services Committee agenda be approved, as amended, to include the addition of New Business item Bill M216 for discussion, a revision to the Report for Item 7.4, and the addition of three Correspondence items related to Item 7.3.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

2.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

2.1

Electoral Area Services Committee Meeting of November 19, 2025

• It was moved and seconded:

  That the minutes of the Electoral Area Services Committee meeting of November 19, 2025, be adopted.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

3.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

4.

PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD

5.

DELEGATIONS

5.1

Staff Sergeant Ken Beard and Sergeant Colin Cook, North Cowichan/Duncan Royal Canadian Mounted Police Detachment Re: Quarterly Policing Report (July-September 2025)

• For Information.

6.

CORRESPONDENCE

6.1

Union of British Columbia Municipalities - 2026 Electoral Area Directors' Forum and 2026 Local Government Leadership Academy Leadership Forum Registration Announcement

• For Direction.

• It was moved and seconded:

  That it be recommended to the Board:

  That the following Directors be approved to attend the Union of British Columbia Municipalities - 2026 Electoral Area Director's Forum and 2026 Local Government Leadership Academy Leadership Forum:

  • Director Segall
  • Director Wilson
  • Director Morrison
  • Director Abbott
  • Director Nicholson
  • Director McClinton
  
  MOTION CARRIED

6.2

J. Finn - Re: Short Term Rentals, dated November 30, 2025

• For Information.

6.3

J. Vassallo - Re: CVRD: Short Term Rentals, dated December 1, 2025

• For Information.

6.4

M. and G. Jones - Re: Short Term Rentals, dated December 1, 2025

• For Information.

7.

REPORTS

7.1

Application No. SA21D02 (Frontage Exemption - 1205 Sutherland Drive, PIDs: 027-634-434, 029-642-698, 029-642-701, 029-642-710, 029-642-728, 029-642-736, 029-642-744 & 000-837-598)

• It was moved and seconded:

  That it be recommended to the Board:

  That proposed Lots 1, 2 and 6 in Subdivision Application SA21D02 (1205 Sutherland Drive, PIDs: 027-634-434, 029-642-698, 029-642-701, 029-642-710, 029-642-728, 029-642-736, 029-642-744 & 000-837-598), be exempted from the minimum parcel frontage requirement in accordance with Section 512 of the Local Government Act.
  
  MOTION CARRIED

7.2

Sentinel Ridge Sewer Inclusion – 671 Bay Road

• It was moved and seconded:

  That it be recommended to the Board:

  1. That the Certificate of Sufficiency (Attachment B) confirming that a sufficient petition requesting inclusion to the Sentinel Ridge Sewer Service Area, be received;
  2. That CVRD Bylaw No. 2790 – Sentinel Ridge Sewer System Service Establishment Bylaw, 2006, be amended to include the property described as PID: 007-008-490, Lot 3, Block H, District Lot 18, Malahat District, Plan 1720; and
  3. That the amendment to Bylaw No. 4699 be forwarded to the Board for consideration of three readings and, upon payment of capacity connection fees, adoption.
  
  MOTION CARRIED

The Electoral Area Services Committee meeting recessed at 2:34 p.m.

The Electoral Area Services Committee meeting resumed at 2:45 p.m.

7.3

Short-term Rental Zoning Review

• It has been moved and seconded:

  That it be recommended to the Board:

  1.  That staff be directed to prepare draft zoning amendment bylaws for all electoral areas, identifying the zones where suites are permitted and allowing short-term rental use as an accessory use to a single detached dwelling, provided that:

  1. The permanent resident of the principal dwelling is present on the property when the short-term rental guest(s) are present;
  2. The business licensing bylaw is in effect and a license for the short-term rental has been issued by the CVRD, prior to any short-term rental guest being present;
  3. The short-term rental use is limited to either an attached suite or a detached suite, or a second dwelling on the property if it is permitted by the zoning, or if the dwelling is lawful non-conforming;
  4. No Agricultural Land Reserve properties are eligible for short term rental; and
  5. The proposed whole home rentals will still require a temporary use permit.

  2.  That the Electoral Area Services Committee review the draft bylaws before consideration of three readings and adoption.

• It was moved and seconded:

  That the motion be severed to consider each alphanumeric item separately.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

  That it be recommended to the Board:

  1.  That staff be directed to prepare draft zoning amendment bylaws for all electoral areas, identifying the zones where suites are permitted and allowing short-term rental use as an accessory use to a single detached dwelling, provided that:

  1. The permanent resident of the principal dwelling is present on the property when the short-term rental guest(s) are present.
  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

  1.b. That the motion be amended to delete the words "business licensing" and replace with "short-term rental licensing".

  
  MOTION CARRIED

Voting resumed on the main motion, as amended

• 1.b. The short-term rental licensing bylaw is in effect and a license for the short-term rental has been issued by the CVRD, prior to any short-term rental guest being present. 

• It was moved and seconded:

  That Item 1. b. The short-term rental licensing bylaw is in effect and a license for the short-term rental has been issued by the CVRD, prior to any short-term rental guest being present, be referred to staff until such a time as further information is provided on how the short-term rental licensing would be administered, the level of requirements that would be in effect, and the cost of such a program.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

  1.c. The short-term rental use is limited to either an attached suite or a detached suite, or a second dwelling on the property if it is permitted by the zoning, or if the dwelling is lawful non-conforming.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

  1.d. No Agricultural Land Reserve properties are eligible for short-term rental. 

  
  MOTION DEFEATED

• It was moved and seconded:

  1.e. The proposed whole home rentals will still require a temporary use permit.

  
  MOTION DEFEATED

• It was moved and seconded:

  2. That the Electoral Area Services Committee review the draft bylaws before consideration of three readings and adoption.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

The Electoral Area Services Committee meeting recessed at 4:25 p.m.

The Electoral Area Services Committee meeting resumed at 4:36 p.m.

7.4

Development Services Modernization Project

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  1. That staff be directed to prepare amendments to the Development Application Procedures Bylaw No. 4483, 2023 to:

  1. Expand delegated authority to staff for consideration of minor variances;
  2. Delegate authority to staff to forward Non-Adhering Residential Use applications for detached dwellings to the Agricultural Land Commission;
  3. Clarify public hearing and notice of intent procedures;
  4. Update Schedule A – Development Application Fees – to ensure fair and appropriate cost recovery; and
  5. Address minor bylaw maintenance issues.

  2. That staff be directed to prepare amendments to the Development Applications Referrals Policy to:

  1. Incorporate procedures for Agricultural Land Commission referrals to replace the current Agricultural Land Commission Referrals Policy.
  2. Update procedures for Section 510 referrals to Community Parks Advisory Commissions.

  3. That staff be directed to explore the option of a rules-based system for processing riparian development permit applications consistent with the Riparian Areas Protection Act.

• It was moved and seconded:

  That it be recommended to the Board:

  That the Development Services Modernization Project be postponed to the January 21, 2026 Electoral Area Services Committee Meeting.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

8.

NEW BUSINESS

8.1

Bill M216

For Information.

9.

QUESTION PERIOD

10.

CLOSED SESSION

• It was moved and seconded:

  That the meeting be closed to the public in accordance with the Community Charter Part 4, Division 3, subsections as noted in accordance with each agenda item at 5:13 p.m.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

10.1

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

10.1.1

Closed Session Electoral Area Services meeting of June 18, 2025

10.2

REPORTS

10.2.1

Section 90(1)(e) The acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements.

10.2.2

Section 90(1)(j) Information that is prohibited, or information that if it were presented in a document would be prohibited, from disclosure under Section 21 Disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party, of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

10.3

RISE FROM CLOSED SESSION

• It was moved and seconded:

  That the Electoral Area Services Committee rise, without report, and return to the Open portion of the meeting at 5:34 p.m.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

11.

ADJOURNMENT

• It was moved and seconded:

  That the meeting be adjourned at 5:36 p.m.

  
  MOTION CARRIED