Hello Cortes Community,

The Cortes Housing Forum on Saturday felt like a huge success. In partnership with the Cortes Housing Society, we had over 100 people participate with 16 break out sessions online and in person to hear from participants on a wide range of housing related topics. We are drafting up the outcomes of the forum and will be sharing them with the community soon.

Here's a link to the powerpoint presentation that kicked off the discussion: https://1drv.ms/p/s!AimK_m7Sa_5NgUZzp0iiz0PbOF1c?e=xIGVHA

Thank you to everyone that showed up in person or online to share your experiences and ideas. There is momentum in the air and I’m beginning to see an opening through our complex web of housing challenges.

For those of you that were not able to make the forum, please fill out this short housing survey by Friday at noon to have your voice included. Your input will help steer the direction of the Cortes Housing Society and myself as your Regional Director:

https://forms.gle/n7BuAxssPsDCDV1L8

If you are connected to folks that aren’t online, please support them in filling it out. I'm excited to share results with you at the end of the week!

Thank you!

Mark

Mark Vonesch
Regional Director
Cortes Island
mvoneschsrd.ca
mb: 250-202-4422

PS: On Monday, Dec 11th at 1-4pm at Manson's Hall the Strathcona Regional District is hosting a community drop in to begin gathering data to update our zoning bylaws. This first step in community consultation will support SRD staff in developing a new draft of our zoning bylaw for our review.

Your involvement is essential to ensure the Zoning Bylaw aligns with the vision and values of our island as they relate to:

1. Permitted uses (i.e. residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, marine, etc.);
2. Short Term Rentals (STRs) / Vacation Rentals;
3. Rural land use density and lot size;
4. Residential housing density and permitted housing types.

Here is the link to our current zoning bylaws that will be updated:
https://srd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Bylaw-No.-380-Amendment-No.-30-to-Bylaw-No.-2455-Nov-4-2020_1.pdf

See you there!