current zoning

Currently Parkview Slopes (approximately 20 acres) is zoned for 23 to 24 single-family residential lots (see Area 4 of the Comprehensive Development 2 (Cates Hill) Zone in Bowen Island Municipality's Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002). Leigh Automotive Garage has been built within Parkview Slopes (the current zoning also allows vehicle repair garage use), but has no residential component associated with it.

Parkview Slopes is within the area of Snug Cove.

The zoning for Parkview Slopes was part of the comprehensive zoning for Cates Hill which was approved in June 1999, and which was the outcome of an extensive public consultation and planning process following the implementation of the then new Official Community Plan (Bylaw No. 139) in February 1996. At that time we had proposed that the area now known as Parkview Slopes could include the creation of a small neighbourhood/community college surrounded by a live/work community composed of artists and artisans. (For more details, see History.) Our proposal was at least partly successful on two fronts: 1) approval of a retreat on the site which now accommodates Rivendell Retreat, and 2) approval of sites for Island Pacific School and Cates Hill Chapel (however, they were located at Carter Road instead of Parkview Slopes). The bulk of the remaining lands on Parkview Slopes received zoning for 24 residential lots with a minimum size of 900 square metres. Subsequently "vehicle repair garage" use was added to this area to allow Leigh Automotive Garage to operate within Parkview Slopes.

Given the current review of the Official Community Plan which is underway, and a greater awareness within the Bowen Island community about the vital ingredients and necessary preconditions to create and maintain a truly sustainable community, we want to find out if a 24-lot single family subdivision at Parkview Slopes, which is within the area of Snug Cove, is truly the preferred choice over a diversified live/work community with alternative housing.

What's New

On December 20, 2009 we made a submission to the Official Community Plan ("OCP") Steering Committee in response to their invitation to the development community to contribute to the OCP update. In that submission we described some of the challenges for Bowen to be more sustainable (social, environmental, and economic well being), some items that should be addressed by an updated OCP to achieve greater sustainability (diversity, affordability, community life/spirit, local economy), and how some of the planning mistakes of the past can be changed.

On July 9, 2010 we published an ad entitled "The Value of Real Estate on Bowen Island: Thoughts and Observations" noting that real estate values rise where people want to live. Vancouver is still considered a real estate bargain compared with other desirable places in the world to live. That simple fact will become the force that will ultimately shape real estate values on Bowen Island. The challenge remains to plan for housing forms for citizens with modest means. We are working on some models in an effort to break through the current barrier of non affordability. On April 30, 2010 we published an ad entitled "Living on an Island" in which we discussed some of the benefits and challenges specific to island living -- especially on Bowen Island which is so close to the City of Vancouver and its scenic neighbourhoods. On April 16, 2010 we published an ad entitled "A Call for Civic Pride", suggesting that civic pride would dictate that the first impression of Snug Cove, the gateway to Bowen Island, should reflect the soul and spirit of Bowen Island and its citizens. Unfortunately the Cove has lost much of its earlier charm -- something should to be done about that.

In 2009 and 2010 we published articles about Bowen's future, the current review of the Official Community Plan, land economics and affordability, the meaning of community, creating a sustainable community, local economy, the idea of density transfer and its relationship to sustainability - those articles can be found on the Media section of this website.