Public Hearing - Wow!
A Big Thanks to all of you who attended, wrote letters, wished us well, or otherwise participated in the success of the Public Hearing on Tuesday. A number of people who wanted to attend were not able to make it, but we were fortunate that the snow stayed away until many hours after the Public Hearing finished.
I was pleased and surprised to see that, other than one speaker, everyone who spoke at the formal portion of the pubic hearing was supportive of the rezoning application. It was very encouraging to see the clear expression from the local residents that we need new models and new solutions to the problems of deforestation, climate change. Living Forest Communities was clearly identified as a valid concept for the CVRD to pursue.
The current economic climate is causing a number of innovations and collaborations that previously never would have happened. People within the “Green and socially responsible space” are working together like never before, possibly because they know that if they do not work together they may see the death of agencies, organizations, and companies that they really believe in.
Similar to the public information meeting that we held in May, it was interesting to monitor the emotional temperature of the people at the meeting and see how the room warmed up, first during my 30 minute presentation, and then more so during the informal question and answer period. A big thanks to the insightful and evocative comments from Roger Wiles, Brandy Gallagher, Kathryn Gee, Steve Lawrence, Mike Pidington, Karin Lennger, Graham Ross-Smith, Allison Hill and others (several of whom I just met that night).
Thanks also to the consultants who answered questions with professionalism and warmth. So, onwards we go.
If I don’t see you in the next week, please have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Happy Eid al-Adha, or a Happy Pancha Ganapati as may apply. And let us all have a terrific 2009.
Doug
Filed under: Doug Makaroff on December 19th, 2008 | No Comments »


