This is the unedited audio from the September 8, 2025 Public Meeting about Cortes Island’s zoning bylaw chaired by Regional Director Mark Vonesch.

Annie Girdler, from the SRD’s panning department gave an overview of the proposed bylaw changes

Cortes Island resident comments:
- regulations prevent people from doing what they want on their property
- we need regulations to protect the community
- we need more Advisory Planing Committee meetings (There recently was one for zoning)
- people should get jobs and buy houses with their own money, not get hand-outs
- regulations & penalties pertaining to liveaboards
- support for the proposed zoning bylaws
- the need for more housing
- the need for more houses on large lots
- how the proposed bylaws do not help Cortes Island’s climate resilience
- the need to protect landlords from abusive tenants
- Can Cortes Island’s aquifers support more housing
- Cortes Island’s Aquifer study (which was published last week)
- the water pollution problem in Hague Lake & how it was resolved by the Dillon Creek Restoration Project

The audio file can be listened to on the Cortes Currents website

You can also access the article Cortes Island’s First Aquifer Health Study