Petition for a Pause, Independent Environmental Review, and Renewed Public Consultation on the Stonebridge Development

To:
Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD)
Relevant Provincial Ministries
Elected Officials and Regulatory Agencies
Limona Group

We, the undersigned, respectfully request:

• An immediate pause on further clearing within environmentally sensitive portions of the Stonebridge development area.
• An independent environmental assessment of the entire development footprint and its cumulative impacts, with all findings made publicly accessible.
• A renewed and meaningful public consultation process focused on environmental values, biodiversity, watershed protection, and community priorities.
• A review and redesign of the project to preserve the most ecologically significant areas of the property.

Why We Are Concerned:

We recognize that the Stonebridge lands are privately owned and that planning for this development has been underway for many years. We also recognize that Mill Bay requires thoughtful growth, housing, and investment.

However, the scale of environmental change now occurring on the property has raised significant concern among residents regarding the long-term impacts on local ecosystems, waterways, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and community green space.

The Stonebridge property contains mature forests, wetlands, riparian corridors, community trails, and three creek systems - Shawnigan Creek, Hollings Creek and Handysen Creek - that form part of a larger ecological network within Mill Bay. These lands provide habitat for birds, mammals, amphibians, pollinators, and other wildlife while contributing to water filtration, flood mitigation, carbon storage, climate resilience, and community well-being.

Recent clearing activities during bird nesting season have heightened concerns about environmental oversight and the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Residents deserve confidence that sensitive habitats, species at risk, riparian ecosystems, and watershed functions are being protected through transparent and independently verified processes.

Why a Renewed Review Is Needed:

While statutory hearings and planning processes have occurred, much of the visioning and foundational planning for Stonebridge originated more than a decade ago. Residents are questioning whether those processes adequately reflect today's understanding of biodiversity, watershed protection, climate resilience and community priorities.

The CVRD's own Climate Change Adaptation Strategy identifies the preservation of local biodiversity as a key regional objective. The CVRD states that its climate adaptation work is intended to "preserve local biodiversity" and that it is "more important than ever to protect the natural environment, and the functions it provides in our everyday lives." The strategy further commits to protecting, conserving, and improving terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem health.

Given these commitments, residents have a reasonable expectation that developments of this scale will be evaluated against today's environmental standards and community values.

We Call For:

• An independent environmental assessment of the entire Stonebridge development area, including cumulative impacts across all phases of the project.
• Full public access to environmental studies, biological assessments, hydrological reports, mapping, and supporting data.
• Detailed assessment of:
  • Riparian areas and creek ecosystems
  • Groundwater recharge and water-table impacts
  • Salmon habitat, beaver habitat and watershed health
  • Species at risk and sensitive wildlife populations
  • Wildlife movement corridors
  • Mature forest ecosystems
  • Biodiversity impacts and habitat fragmentation
  • Climate resilience, flood mitigation, and natural water-storage functions
  • Identification and permanent protection of the most ecologically valuable portions of the property before further clearing occurs.

A Better Path Forward:

This is not a call to stop development. It is a call for accountability, transparency and an updated public conversation about how development can proceed while protecting the natural assets that make Mill Bay unique.

We believe a revised plan could focus development in lower-impact areas while preserving significant cedar stands, creek corridors, wildlife habitat, biodiversity hotspots and community trail networks.

We ask decision-makers to pause, review, and ensure that future development reflects both the needs of a growing community and the long-term health of the land, water, and wildlife that sustain it.