With the coming municipal elections, there are several questions we electors in Qualicum Beach need to ask ourselves as well as the candidates for council. I am concerned about espoused policies, not personalities. I am not a candidate for Council.
What process will be utilized to determine future use of the former bus depot site?
Why was the process to develop the last few official community plans (OCPs) so flawed? Did you feel manipulated by the quality of life survey? Did you feel your concerns were heard and acted on?
What town policies could be created to encourage private investors to replace the significant number of downtown buildings that are well past their best before date and in some cases derelict?
Why is it that, with an OCP that encourages the creation of more homes close to downtown and when an investor proposes to create those homes that instead of discussing the substantive issues associated with the proposal, we get sidelined into an argument about how many stories the proposed building will be?
With Qualicum Beach’s social history and economic heritage based on visitors to our town, why is it that we now have two fewer hotels than we once had to accommodate those visitors? Why is it that when we put so much effort into creating wonderful events for visitors and residents alike that we essentially tell many visitors to go elsewhere at night for meals and accommodation?
Why is it that when our OCP encourages environmental sustainability and a socially vibrant, diverse and walkable downtown that there is so much car oriented development happening outside our town and so little residential development within easy walking distance of our downtown?
Who is responsible for abdicating our town’s responsibility for making land use decisions within town boundaries to other jurisdictions?
Why do we lack an integrated coherent strategy for our town’s future?
What do you think are the best solutions to our town’s problems? Why are investors going elsewhere? How can we become more competitive as a place where families will want to live, work, play and invest?
Rusty Joerin
Qualicum Beach