To:  North Cowichan Mayor and Council

We the undersigned, petition Mayor and Council for the District of North Cowichan as follows:

          to deny the application request put forward that will initially allow an A&W drive-thru, Tim Horton’s drive-thru, Canco Gas Bar with Convenience Store at the northeast corner of Henry Road and Highway No. 1 Chemainus.  There are 2 more spots available. This area covers 3.5 acres which is about the size of the Country Grocer shopping centre. This request requires several zoning changes from Industrial and Employment to Commercial and 3 Properties off Juniper Road to be changed from Residential to Commercial. There is NO access to this property from No. 1 Hwy.  All access will be off Henry Road.

       This request is a significant deviation from our Official Community Plan 2022 (OCP). OCP states Commercial Designation 3.2.11(c) “Discourage expansion of these areas if it facilitates auto-oriented uses or development.”  OCP Commercial Opportunity 8.5.2 (f) states “Not to permit additional drive-throughs as they are typically associated with fast food stores that are often visually unappealing and promote vehicle use and increased GHG emissions.” We think the OCP is a worthy document and should be applied in this case.  The OCP was developed with Community input.

       North Cowichan Planning staff recommended the proposed OCP amendments and the zoning bylaw amendments be denied.

       Let’s keep this a beautiful town. Stop OCP Amendment Bylaw No. 3976 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw No.3977