Some old bullshit for those of you unaware of how sleazy this developer is – came into the community and lied, intentionally dividing the community and making big empty promises.

Discussion continues on developing land

The Courtenay Comox Valley Record.  Courtenay, B.C.:Nov 15, 2006.  p. A8 

(Copyright (c) 2006 Black Press Group Ltd.)

Kensington Island Properties and a contingent from the Comox Strathcona Regional District will meet Thursday to continue discussions about the proposed 845-acre development in Union Bay.

The meeting in Vancouver will address the outstanding issues, which still need to be settled before final reading can be given to the proposal that received third reading in May this year.

“The water study is one of the issues that will be under discussion,” said CSRD general manager of corporate communications, Leigh Carter.

The water study is one meant to look at the Van Lakes watershed, which has caused some contention over who will pay for it, and who will lead the review. It’s a preliminary step in the regional district’s goal of a regional water service, which proposes to provide water to Baynes Sound from Cumberland water licences and KIP- built infrastructure.

Carter said that the CSRD is also waiting for another study for the watershed to be completed by the Village of Cumberland, but that in the meantime, the CSRD and KIP would hopefully be able to move forward with their discussions.

Negotiations between the two parties came to the forefront during debates over the recent incorporation referendum in Union Bay, when KIP vice-president Brian McMahon came out in favour of incorporating, citing in part disagreements over potential water supply.

reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com

No answers yet for Union Bay sewage treatment

Colleen Dane. The Courtenay Comox Valley Record. Courtenay, B.C.:Aug 14, 2008. p. 2 (Copyright (c) 2008 Black Press Group Ltd.)

The road to sewage treatment plans will be one walked alone by Kensington Island Properties, until a regional study is complete and plan developed.

During a Comox Valley Regional District committee of the whole meeting this week, KIP vice- president Brian McMahon raised the issue of sewage treatment that’s been in limbo in the area for years.

“We need some input from the regional district now in order to handle the waste-water treatment plant,” said McMahon to the board. “We’re trying to make a decision as to where we’re going with the wastewater treatment and we don’t want to exclude these folks.”

The developer was on hand to update the board on tentative steps the company is taking toward building its 845-acre project on the north end of Union Bay.

While McMahon discussed a water licence application KIP has made to draw water from unnamed creeks to irrigate its golf course, he also said that over the wet winter months, their priority will be detailed planning of a sewage/waste-water treatment plant.

“The waste water treatment plant is now going to be built. How big are we building it?” he asked.

The original plan had been for Kensington to build a facility that Royston and Union Bay residents would be able to hook into. To allow that, residents approved a referendum vote in 2006, allowing the CVRD to borrow $10 million and agreeing to pay for that amount with an additional parcel tax during the next 20 years.

The overall sewer project for Area A (Baynes Sound) was expected to cost around $30 million. The regional district had counted on provincial and federal funding to cover the rest of the cost, but those grant applications were turned down.

“When we got turned down for grants this year, it was basically the end of that,” said Leigh Carter, communications manager for the RD.

Area A director Suzanne Murray told McMahon they don’t have permission to borrow more than the $10 million, which doesn’t nearly cover the project.

“I do commiserate with wanting to move ahead with this, and I’m sure the community does, too. It’s a question of cost,” said Murray, who suggested that a modular building would allow expansion in KIP’s infrastructure when Area A finds a way to do the upgrade work.

Ron Neufeld, general manager of operational services, said the regional district will wait until a recently undertaken regional sewer master plan is complete in January 2009 before making any further decisions.

“This exercise is basically taking one step back and looking at a broader regional approach,” said Neufeld.

Until then, no further referendum vote is being considered, or further cost review for the project. reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com

Kensington golf course okayed pending amendments

Colleen Dane.  The Courtenay Comox Valley Record.  Courtenay, B.C.:Apr 2, 2009.  p. A.3 

(Copyright (c) 2009 Black Press Group Ltd.)

The Kensington Island Properties’ golf course will span over the Union Bay coal hills, once some updating is done to its Comprehensive Development Agreement.

The Comox Valley Regional District board of directors gave a zoning amendment third reading this week to change the coal sledge portion of the KIP properties from mixed-use residential/commercial to golf course residential.

“I feel that third reading gives us some certainty that the golf course will move forward, that it’ll become the championship golf course that we envision it to be,” said Brian McMahon, with KIP.

The proposed project would have nine holes of a championship links-style course, focusing on natural grade and native, unmanicured plantings for more of its grounds.

Included in the proposal is a clubhouse on the property, and a public walkway around the shoreline to continue the public’s access around the beach.

The initial application for this change to the already-approved KIP bylaws was made last summer, culminating in a public hearing last month on the issue.

The majority of speakers at the meeting said they liked the KIP project, liked it even better with the increased green space the golf course would provide on the oceanside of the property, and were eager to see it move ahead.

KIP ready to proceed promptly

Colleen Dane.  The Courtenay Comox Valley Record.  Courtenay, B.C.:Aug 11, 2009.  p. A.1 

(Copyright (c) 2009 Black Press Group Ltd.)

Five or six years is all Kensington Island Properties would need to have the village area of its proposed Union Bay development well underway, once it receives the necessary approvals.

KIP vice-president Brian McMahon made a presentation to the Comox Valley Regional District’s electoral area services committee meeting this week, outlining further details to the project given first and second reading at the end of July.

“We feel this is a good depiction of what a West Coast waterfront village would feel like,” said McMahon, showing pictures and drawings of potential building features for the area.

The cosmetic details were only a small part of the presentation, which covered water supply, coal hill remediation and sustainable building initiatives.

“This is one of the priorities of the province right now,” said McMahon about the coal hill remediation planning. KIP is working with the provincial and federal governments, and West Fraser Timber to plan the work, which would include containment around the shore’s edge.

“It’s coming to a head very quickly,” he said.

KIP says the marina it has planned, in the cove area that is now home to the Union Bay Boat Launch, would be started soon after any work is given the formal go-ahead.

Bruce Jolliffe, director for Area A in which the development would happen, asked for more information about water supply — saying that is the No. 1 concern for many in the community.

McMahon said KIP’s studies show there is sufficient water for 1,200 new doors before significant upgrades. KIP plans to do upgrades, though, namely adding an additional reservoir at Langley Lake.

Its first task would be to put in a wastewater treatment plant, and would work with the Union Bay Improvement District toward meeting new provincial water treatment standards.

They’ve committed to pay for the new chlorination and UV filtration required by the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

“We’re cognizant of what needs to be done with water,” said McMahon, adding KIP would use recycled effluent for irrigation on the property, and store stormwater for firefighting reserves.

The company is also looking at geothermal lines running under the golf course to heat and cool the waterfront portion of the development.

The water treatment and waste-water plant would be among the first tasks they would face if their permits were approved.

“We’ve evolved because of many factors — we just have to do things smarter than people did 10 years ago,” he said about the green building initiatives now included in the proposal.

Directors thanked McMahon for his presentation, and said they hope the process will remain this open in the months to come as they develop the bylaws for the project.

While first and second reading were given late last month, they decided not to set a date for the public hearing until they received the responses to referrals CVRD staff sent out, and moved further along with the K’omoks First Nation consultation process.

reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com