Newsletters & Financials

October 2025

1. Majority Rejects Development Permit Areas 2. Webinars to Understand the Reports 3. Fall Road Maintenance Underway 4. September Traffic Counts 5. Become a Member. It’s free. 1. Majority Rejects Development Permit Areas. Consistent with earlier public engagement, Savary Island property owners have expressed in the August survey that they do not want DPAs in Savary’s revised Official Community Plan. The DPAs proposed in the survey cover archaeological sites, and hazard lands assessed as environmentally sensitive, subject to landslide, or subject to flooding. DPAs are a regulatory tool that can restrict development plans on land that is assessed as being at risk. The What We Heard Report shows survey results of 74.3 percent (364 of 490) rejecting slope DPAs, 73.5 percent (360 of 490) against flood DPAs, 70.2 percent (344 of 490) against archeaological DPAs, and 63.7 percent (311 of 488) against ecological DPAs. While these figures are decisive, they could be affected by the results of the next survey that will follow two October webinars. 2. UPDATED Correction. The October newsletter misstated that the upcoming OCP survey would follow the October webinars. The qRD Planning department has advised that the survey will not happen until 2026, and will be an opportunity for feedback on the draft OCP. Webinar Update. The qRD has now posted the registration (required) for the upcoming zoom presentations by the authors of these two technical reports. Register for Savary Island Groundwater Report on Tuesday October 28 at 6:00 pm-7:30 pm: https://ca01web.zoom.us/meeting/register/f59vnNf2RRCfiwpfbxTPSQ#/registration Register for Savary Island Slope Hazard Study on Thursday October 30 at 6:00 pm-7:30 pm: https://ca01web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dg7S_kM8SxGFOvA9NvszSA#/registration 3. Fall Road Maintenance Underway. We were pleased to see the Inlet Raider arrived Tuesday morning with a Capilano Highways grader and roller-compactor. These are the same machines that worked Savary roads in June, and are a lot more effective than the backhoe sent to Savary last fall. The machines are just in time. The long dry summer had kept the roads dry and smooth, but now with the rain, pot holes are back. According to Capilano Highways, this will be the final grading for the fall road maintenance, and spring grading will start after winter. It would helpful to know how the grading has affected the roads across the island, so that we have a record. If you will be driving on Savary this week after the grader is gone, please drop us a note at asic@asicsavary.com with your Savary address, and if convenient include a photo. Emergency winter maintenance remains one of the concerns of the SIVFD. Last winter, the Fire Chief instructed his crew not to transport patients, because the roads were too dangerous, and Savary had been denied emergency road maintenance. The Roads Committee has expressed to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit that emergency requests should not be refused. 4. September Traffic Counts. There were 5527 vehicle crossings counted by the traffic counter at Vancouver Blvd and Anderson Rd in the month of September. The average count was 184 vehicle crossings per day; the peak was 325 on a single day; and the lowest day was 93. 5. Become a Member. It’s free. All Savary property owners (on title) and their spouses/partners are eligible. We look to our members to help us understand Savary priorities. Newsletters are emailed to members monthly on government and ASIC projects affecting landowners. And if you know of any new residents, please encourage them to join us as well, as we strive for 1000 members. ASIC’s quick membership form is at asicsavary.com Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer.

September 2025

1. Ice Cream Giveaway Success. 2. Busiest Traffic Volumes Recorded. 3. OCP Input from the Texada Director. 4. OCP Input from the Area B Director. 5. Cancelled Survey on SenseNet. 1. Ice Cream Giveaway Success. Not surprisingly, people like free ice cream. One hundred ice cream tickets were given away by ASIC at the final Market Tuesday, and all tickets were happily redeemed at Pascal’s Ice Cream stand. This event was possible from proceeds of the auctioned painting on July 5. 2. Busiest Traffic Volumes Recorded. There were 14,786 vehicle crossings counted in the month of August recorded by the traffic counter at Vancouver Blvd and Anderson Rd. The average count was 477 vehicle crossings per day, and the peak was 646 on a single day, August 2. The second busiest day was also over 600, and there were 9 days over 500. These volumes are impressive, especially when considering that the traffic counter in its current position is not capturing the east-headed traffic to the wharf or barge landing, from Campbell Way, Isabel Lane, Blair Rd, Arbutus Lane, and Anderson Rd. 3. OCP Input from the Texada Director. In discussion of letters from Savary residents, at the qRD Planning Committee meeting on August 26, Texada Director Sandy McCormick put forward significant “lessons learned” from the Texada OCP development. She commented that there’s nothing wrong with allowing more time for the OCP development, and that the extra year provided to the Texada OCP resulted in a well received final document. Second, she noted that regulation of hazard areas in any part of the Regional District is likely to be contentious, and that the Texada OCP instead chose to recommend, not regulate. She also said Texada had held town hall meetings, and that they had been successful. 4. OCP Input from the Area B Director. At the same Planning meeting, Director Mark Gisborne said that Savary might be interested in his proposed amendment to an Area B motion. He said the motion’s condition (requirement) for a geotech assessment would look like the qRD had changed a recommendation to a regulation, something that had been feared during the development of the Area B OCP. He suggested the motion’s condition be substituted with a recommendation. New motion carried. 5. Cancelled Survey on SenseNet. The ASIC Board represents its membership, so when asked for support of SenseNet, we replied that we'd ask the members. But at the SenseNet presentation (2.5 MB) to the qathet Committee of the Whole on September 11, it was clarified by the presenters and Regional Director Jason Lennox that ASIC’s involvement was irrelevant to the proposal other than as communicator. So while our planned survey might have confirmed, or not, the community’s support for SenseNet, we understand the survey wouldn’t have affected a qathet decision on the proposal. The survey also would have asked for community response to the possible future tax increase, but at no point did the presenters request this outright. It was only suggested that ongoing annual costs, after the donated $400,000 had been depleted, could be added to the fire services annual budget (tax), but if not, funding would continue by donations. The contract was still in negotiations at the time of presentation, so figures were not final, and it was not discussed whether SILT would continue to administer the donations, and which entity—SILT, qathet, or other—would sign the SenseNet contract. The proposal is now in the hands of qathet's Emergency Services, to prepare a report for consideration at a future Committee of the Whole meeting. Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer.

August 2025

1. Ice Cream Giveaway Event 2. Video of SenseNet Webinar 3. Before you fill out the government survey. 4. Clarification to MOTT. 5. Traffic counts in July. 1. Ice Cream Giveaway Event Local artist Linda Benoit generously donated the painting we auctioned at the ASIC AGM, making it possible to offer this tasty treat to our community. Pick up your free ice-cream cone coupon at the ASIC table at the Tuesday Market and enjoy a free ice cream cone from Pascal's Ice Cream counter at the Hacienda. Redeem by August 31 and celebrate summer, Savary-style! 2. Video of SenseNet Webinar We encourage those interested in the SenseNet fire early-detection technology and costs to view the informative July 31 webinar video linked here. The video may help you decide whether you support this initiative, as it answers some good questions. The research group is also creating a Frequently Asked Questions, to address some of the island debate. Please review, and email your reasons in favour or opposed: asic@asicsavary.com A resolution passed at the July 5 Annual General Meeting committed the ASIC Board to presenting to the qathet Regional District an independent fire technology research committee’s findings, if the Savary community were in favour of the technology. The project has evolved since the AGM. SenseNet is the preferred technology. The number of sensors has increased for more island coverage, so operating costs are now higher. Fundraising for SenseNet installation is directed to the Savary Island Land Trust. The Nature Trust has pledged $50,000. Other pledges are coming in. The video proposes fundraising for the first and second years, and if the technology were to prove itself effective and worthy, annual costs could become a core budget item, meaning tax. 3. Before you fill out the government survey. The qathet Regional District’s Key Directions booklet mailed to 1100 households, and the related online survey, both ask readers to consider Development Permit Areas (DPAs) for protection of Savary land, which on face value is a good thing. The qRD does not explain that the recommended setbacks for DPAs could result in many properties being unbuildable, unchangeable, and un-rebuildable after a fire. To determine if your property is affected a little or a lot, research further below. 3a. Could your Property be in an Environmentally Sensitive DPA? If you have Coastal Douglas fir on your property, it could be assessed as environmentally sensitive. The Key Directions booklet notes natural areas recommended for setbacks include Savary's “Coastal Douglas fir ecosystem and dunes.” You could also check if your property is located in one of the green zones of the 2006 OCP map of environmentally sensitive zones. If these or other sensitive areas become Development Permit Areas in the new OCP, the properties must get professional Ecologist assessments for protection of the trees and/or dunes, and might not allow alteration of the land, building, or rebuilding. 3b. Could your Property be in an Archaeological Area? Heritage sites are mapped and registered by the Archaeology Branch, and added as new sites are discovered. Archaeological Information on your property may be requested from Archaeology@gov.bc.ca or https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/natural-resource-use/archaeology. If your property is in a heritage site, you must hire a qualified Archaeologist to determine if and how any planned development or land alteration will impact the site, before the developement or alteration is approved or denied. 3c. Could your Property be in a Flood Erosion DPA? If you own low bank or sea level property, you are probably in an area identified for flood erosion risk. The Key Directions booklet links TetraTech reports of flood zone risk for the year 2100. For easier download, we’ve separated out six pages of the west half of Savary, and six pages of the east half. Blue indicates the projected flood area. If you are unsure of your property’s location relative to the flood map, refer to the qRD cadastral (property lines) map from https://www.qathet.ca/about/about-the-qrd/qrd-map/. If flood risk areas become Development Permit Areas in the new OCP, the properties must get individual Geotechnical assessments for protection from erosion, and might not allow alteration of the land, building, or rebuilding. 3d. Could your Property be in a Slope Erosion DPA? All Savary perimeter properties are identified for slope erosion risk in the TetraTech slope hazard study. If Savary perimeter properties become Development Permit Areas in the new OCP, they must get individual Geotechnical assessments to recommend setbacks from the crest. The TetraTech study recommends building setbacks up to 2x the height of the slope (description page 7, map page 14, of 38 pages), which would result in many properties becoming undevelopable or not rebuildable after a fire. 4. Clarification to MOTT: Savary roads are already Class 6. In response to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit’s letter summarizing a June meeting with ASIC’s Roads Committee, we have corrected MOTT that Savary roads are already designated Class 6. We forwarded the letters from two previous Ministers of Transportation and two previous Operations Managers, all confirming the upgrade from Class 7. The significance of a Class upgrade is more road service and quicker response. Roads issues reviewed at the meeting and in the letters were the maintenance plan, dust control, drainage, grading, traffic volume, winter maintenance, and other ongoing concerns. 5. Traffic counts in July. The traffic counter on Vancouver Blvd at Anderson Rd registered 573 vehicle crossings on July 19. The average for July was 461 per day. Data is available here. Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer Please send comments or questions to asic@asicsavary.com Website: ASICSavary.com Our mailing address is: Association of the Savary Island Committee PO Box 333 Savary Island, BC V0N 2G0 Canada

July 2025

1. Regional District Reverts to OCP Regulations 2. Triathlon Success 3. Fun at the Fundraising Concert 4. AGM Highlights 5. Join SenseNet Zoom 6. Community Events Need a Venue 1. Regional District Reverts to OCP Regulations. After months of placating Savary property owners with published reassurances that “there does not appear to be sufficient citizen support for implementing land use regulations pertaining to slope hazards. Thus, the community plan team [qRD] will be exploring non-regulatory solutions to addressing the physical limitations on Savary Island,” the Regional District issued a surprise reversal on July 4 in their draft 19-page "Key Directions Discussion Book” received by the OCP Advisory Committee. The draft booklet reintroduces Development Permit Areas (DPAs)—which are regulations—with no explanation as to how DPAs severly restrict property rights. We ask that a transparent explanation of DPA effects be included in the booklet’s final version that will be sent to every Savary property owner this month. Residents should be told of the financial and physical impacts on their land use. They should be advised that before building, adding on, or even rebuilding after a disaster, all 604 perimeter properties, and some inland lot owners, must first pay for and submit to the Regional District a geotechnical engineer’s report, which—hopefully—concludes that the planned structure and its environment will be safe to the year 2100. We already know that the geotech authors of the TetraTech slope and flood reports stipulate a starting minimum setback of 15m (49ft) at every perimeter lot, plus additional setback calculations so outrageous as to render many properties undevelopable. Site-specific geotech recommendations cannot be expected to be much better. Geotechnical assessments that align with TetraTech could be devastating to owners who lose their property rights when not permitted to rebuild after a fire, earthquake, or other disaster. The draft booklet depicts DPAs in a favourable light as if achieving collective goals that protect buildings and nature. In this inadequate context, readers are asked to consider whether the Official Community Plan should include Development Permit Areas for (1) properties in slope hazard areas, (2) in flood hazard areas, and for (3) protecting sensitive ecosystems and archaeological resources. Some properties could require all 3 permits. We urge you to attend the upcoming OCP events, and ask the Planning team to fully explain the potential effect of DPAs on your property rights. Events are: Monday, July 28, 2pm-3pm Drop-In Open House, and 3pm-5pm Facilitated Workshop, both at the Hacienda; Tuesday, July 29 workshop review 11am–1:30pm at the Market; Tuesday, August 5 webinar 4pm-5pm (register here). 2. Triathlon Success. The 23rd Annual Savary Island Fun Triathlon was held in the morning of Sunday July 20. The race started with a parade down Malaspina Promenade from the barge ramp site to the dock, lead by the Powell River Clansman pipe band. Turnout was great, and donations generous. Event organizer Wayne Goodridge thanks all who participated and contributed. 3. Fun at the Fundraising Concert. ASIC would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who attended our 3rd annual fundraising concert on July 5th. The concert was successful and helped us raise over $1,100 for the community. We hope to see you again next year. 4. AGM Highlights. Ninety-one members, and 4 speakers, attended ASIC’s 2024 AGM held at the Hacienda. Directors Janine Reimer and Bud Graham presented the Directors’ Report, with focus on the OCP and Roads. Finance Committee member Wayne Goodridge presented the 2024 Financial Statements. Powell River RCMP Staff Sergeant Lee Dyson provided an overview of police activities and budget, and received applause when he announced a planned police presence for May long weekends, as had been requested by the fire department. SIVFD Deputy Chief Richard Glover gave news of the new fire truck that will arrive in October, to replace the department’s Engine-21 of 1996 vintage. Regional Director Jason Lennox provided a year’s update on several topics, some regional, and some specific to Savary. Beach Cleanup organizer Catherine Ostler reported 15,000 pounds of marine debris removed from Savary beaches by volunteers over the last four May long weekends, including a guess of 2,500 pounds this year. Two motions were passed. The first was that residents establish a citizens committee of up to five people, to investigate what new technologies exist for early fire detection. The second was that ASIC board of directors endorse the formation of a community-led fire detection technology review committee, and not bear responsibility for the committee, but facilitate communication between the committee, qRD and the broader community. 5. Join SenseNet Zoom. Savary’s Wildfire Detection Committee will provide an update on progress to date. SenseNet representatives will present their detection technology and answer questions. Information on potential fundraising and grant opportunities to support implementation will also be shared. 7:30 pm Tuesday July 22 Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6046121380?pwd=aUkyQnhYOW0rL2U0QmpDZVp4THRkZz09&omn=84961526524 6. Community Events Need a Venue. The Hacienda at the corner of Vancouver Boulevard and Brian’s Way might soon be sold, leaving no immediate similar venue for community events. The owner has informed ASIC that he is again considering selling the 2 lots, to remove his workload of maintenance on the properties and buildings. If sold, the properties' new owner might be hospitable to island events, or not. ASIC and other groups, including music, market days, and large private functions, should contemplate their next location. Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer Please send comments or questions to asic@asicsavary.com

Notice of AGM 2025

1. Notice of AGM 2. Agenda 3. Draft Minutes AGM 2024 4. Directors’ Report 5. Financial Statements 6. Motions NOTICE OF AGM 2025 This notice is to invite you to ASIC’s 14th Annual General Meeting 10 AM* - 12 PM, Saturday July 5, 2025 at Hacienda Pascalito 2778 Vancouver Blvd at Brian’s Way, Savary Island. * Please arrive 20 minutes early to sign in, so that the meeting may start on time. Thanks! Weather dependent, this meeting will be either indoors or out. You may wish to bring a hat and a chair, as there are a limited number of chairs. At the meeting, the Directors will review topics of the past year and year to come, as outlined in the Directors’ Report, and the Financial Statements. Confirmed guest speakers include Regional Director Jason Lennox, RCMP Staff Sergeant Lee Dyson, and Denise Smith representing Tla'amin. Two Motions received by the June 5 deadline will be presented by the authors. Non-members may not vote. Those wishing to become members may sign up now or at the AGM before the meeting begins. Come back later for the music. The AGM ends at noon, but there will be music in the evening, open to everyone. Tickets are available now, and are ASIC’s main source of funds. Adults $20, Children 12 and younger $10. Contact Joan at djvollans@gmail.com _ AGENDA 1. Introductions 2. Acknowledgement 3. Approval of the Agenda 4. Approval of the 2024 AGM Minutes 5. Directors’ Report 6. Guest speakers 7. Financial Statements 8. Motions received by deadline 9. Additional Remarks 10. Adjournment DRAFT MINUTES AGM 2024 Click here to download Minutes PDF DIRECTORS’ REPORT 2025 ASIC is 907 members, at last count. This association’s strength is in its numbers and its property-owner membership. Persons on Savary land title and their spouses / common law partners are invited to be members. As we stride towards 1,000 members, ASIC represents the most significant representation of Savary Island resident interests. This is helpful when seeking a response from the regional district or provincial government on local issues. ASIC’s board of 5 directors was acclaimed in November 2024. Four of the 9 seats remain empty. The 2024-2026 directors are Janine Reimer, President; Emer Dubois, Vice President; Joan Vollans, Secretary-Treasurer; Jennifer Yourk, and Bud Graham. Jennifer is the sole director representing Savary’s Area B—between Phyllis Road and Maclean Road. Bud is the sole director representing Savary’s Area C—west of Maclean Road. Janine, Emer, and Joan represent Area A—east of Phyllis Road. Bud chairs the Roads Committee that includes Steve Lackey, Doug Smith, and Anne Troyer. Emer maintains the website and traffic data. We are fortunate to have the continued participation of Wayne Goodridge, previously ASIC’s president, now serving in the Finance Subcommittee with Joan, and providing Communications and Membership services. He and Joan have been keeping this association afloat with fundraising projects and Grants-in-Aid. A Call for Directors was published in the ASIC newsletter in January to try to fill the 4 empty seats in Areas B and C, with the goal being a more balanced representation across the island. The Call received no expressions of interest, so we will remain only 5 until the 2026 Election of Directors. The 2026 Election of Directors will be completed by the summer AGM instead of its traditional November schedule. Ballots will be provided online as previous. We encourage all members to consider running to be a Director. It is a volunteer position, with about 10 meetings a year to discuss Savary concerns and propose solutions that members can review in ASIC’s newsletter, website, and AGM. Traffic counter data. With generous and immediate support from the community, the traffic counter was purchased and put to use on April 2. We now have 2 months of traffic data which has already been presented to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT). Traffic data will be collected for the next year, and longer, as we continue to ask MoTT for an increase in road maintenance. Roads committee met with MoTT on June 4. The Zoom meeting included a review of the shortcomings of Savary road maintenance, and a request for an increase in maintenance so we never again see the poor conditions of this past fall/winter/spring. The committee's biggest ask was for winter maintenance, and that it should be up to the SIVFD to decide when the roads need to be made safe for response to fire and medical 9-1-1 calls. Gravel show. With a team effort of the Roads Committee, vocal residents, drivers, SIVFD, and MoTT, Savary Island got a gravel application in March, although only on the eastern portion of the main road from the barge site to Duck Bay. That portion is still holding up after several months and a few heavy rains. Only the worst parts of the road west of Duck Bay to the propane depot received remaining gravel. The roads were graded all the way to the west boat launch, but without gravel, many areas were left in a muddy condition. ASIC has received correspondence about the resulting mud and remaining potholes. The Roads Committee is working on a proposal for more gravel, and better grader crowning and shaping of the road surface to get water off the roads. In Savary Shores there are existing ditches but the majority of them are blocked by roadside berms, built up over decades by graders pushing debris, dirt and gravel off to the sides. So water sits on the road and causes pot-holes and pools. Dust control. ASIC’s Roads Committees have for years been pursuing a solution to the health hazard of dust on Vancouver Blvd. In the driest days of summer, residents have been known to wear respiratory masks to work in their yards. This year, the Roads Committee met with the Ministry of Environment to ask if they could bring their Air Quality Monitoring Equipment to Savary Island to quantify the dust levels and the dust particulate size. These are key to evaluating the health risks. Unfortunately, the Ministry equipment is already committed for 2025 and in any case has high power demands that may not be usable in off-grid locations. The dust issue was discussed at the June 4 meeting with MoTT, and in the week of June 16, dust control was applied along the main road. We will keep bringing up this important issue with MoTT. SIVFD request for additional policing. On May 23, Fire Chief Chris Philpott met with RCMP Staff Sergeant Lee Dyson at the Powell River detachment to request police presence on future May long weekends. The request was a followup to incidents of May 17-19 involving 2 stolen vehicles, and a large unattended fire close to fuels—driftwood, beach logs, and other flammable debris. It was also the May long weekend of 2 years ago when a group built a fire directly under the timbers of the wharf approach, and abandoned it. ASIC supports the Chief’s initiative to keep Savary Island from becoming a May long weekend destination for lawless and dangerous activities. Official Community Plan scheduled for the fall. ASIC directors have been watching and discussing the development of the new OCP that was set in motion last August and is due to wrap up this year. We are not in a position to help write the document, but can provide feedback to the qRD regarding community concerns. The prospect of restrictive property development regulations has been a dominating objection from the community. In response, the qRD’s updated FAQ states that they will be “exploring non-regulatory solutions to addressing the physical limitations on Savary Island.” However, it is unclear whether property owners will be “required to have geotechnical analyses performed on their lots,” as the FAQ states that “no decisions have been made by the qRD at the present time.” FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Click here to download Financials PDF MOTIONS Received by deadline June 5. At the AGM, each Motion must be read aloud by its author. Motion from ASIC members Peter Armstrong and Liz Webster Motion from the ASIC Board (1) Motion from ASIC members Peter Armstrong and Liz Webster Rationale for the Motion is to investigate the viability and capabilities of fire detection technology to understand if it is appropriate for Savary Island. And if it is a viable technology, then propose how to operate and pay for the equipment. WHEREAS Savary Island has massive number of trees, over 800 homes/structures and limited firefighting resources, with all citizens, forests and buildings being at risk from fires from natural or human causes, our community needs to investigate if new fire detecting technologies provide any additional protection worth the expense. BE IT RESOLVED THAT ASIC in conjunction with the SIVFD, the regional district and residents establish a citizens committee of up to five people, to investigate what new technologies exist and if any are appropriate to increase the safety against fires on our island, and Specifically, the citizen committee will report out through ASIC on their findings. The findings should include, but not limited to, • What technologies exist, their operating experience and capabilities, • Are any fire detection technologies appropriate for Savary Island, • The thoughts of the SIVFD, ASIC, the regional district and any other organization that may provide advice, oversight, possible approval and possible source of funding, • Establish the projected capital costs and ongoing operating, maintenance costs of such technologies, • Recommendations as to how to fund the fire detection system, capital costs, operating costs and possible future upgrades. • And any other issues, concerns or opportunities related to the fire detection system. • This citizen committee while researching all aspects of the technologies will only make its finding known so that the appropriate authority can determine next steps. The citizen committee should be all volunteer, with individuals that have the time, commitment to work on this project, represent the broader community, with special focus on firefighting needs, skills to evaluate the technology and experience on fund raising. The committee should report out to the ASIC community within 45 days of this motion passing. (2) Motion from the ASIC Board Rationale for this Motion is that each of the 5 current ASIC board members cannot commit the time required to fulfill the preceding Motion. Therefore, if the Motion from Peter Armstrong and Liz Webster is passed by majority vote, then ASIC will present this motion: WHEREAS emerging fire detection technologies may offer additional protection that could be beneficial to the community; Be it resolved THAT (a) ASIC endorse the formation of a community-led Fire Detection Technology Review Committee, independent of ASIC’s board of directors, to investigate new fire detection technologies, assess their applicability and cost-effectiveness for enhancing fire safety on Savary Island. In keeping with ASIC Constitution, the board will assist such a committee in presenting to the qathet Regional District the committee’s findings, if the community is in favour of the technology on Savary Island; and (b) the ASIC board of directors shall not bear responsibility for conducting research or dedicating volunteer time to this initiative, beyond facilitating communication between the committee, qRD and the broader community. Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer Please send comments or questions to asic@asicsavary.com Website: ASICSavary.com Our mailing address is: Association of the Savary Island Committee PO Box 333 Savary Island, BC V0N 2G0 Canada

May 2025

1. Motions due Thursday June 5. 2. Open to all, ASIC AGM & Annual Fundraising Concert, Saturday July 5. 3. April data from the Traffic Counter. 4. OCP Advisory Committee update. 5. Groundwater presentation video summarizing the study. 1. Motions due Thursday June 5. While topics of all sorts are welcome at ASIC's Annual General Meetings, Motions are the tool for asking the ASIC Board to act on a specific idea. An AGM Motion opens community debate on concepts for the betterment of Savary. After discussion, votes are taken. A majority in favour triggers the ASIC board to consider how best to proceed on the subject. Topics of the past have included vehicle restrictions, speed limits, parking regulations, barge regulations, public washrooms, a community hall and associated tax line, and last year, deer hunting. Motions received after June 5 cannot be accepted, except proposed amendments for clarity. The Board reviews all Motions, and within reason may reject submissions, or may request revisions that help with understanding, before they’re published in the Notice of AGM. At the AGM, Motions must be read by the authors exactly as published. 2. Open to all, ASIC AGM & Annual Fundraising Concert, Saturday July 5. ASIC’s Annual General Meeting is coming to the Hacienda from 10 am - 12 noon on Saturday July 5. A Concert will follow at 7 pm to 9 pm that day, featuring KP Duty, a duo from Powell River performing a mix of Americana, Folk and Blues. During the day, a silent auction will take bidders on Linda Benoit’s framed watercolour painting, with proceeds going to community events. Details and tickets are available through Joan Vollans’ email djvollans@gmail.com The offiical 2025 Notice of AGM, Directors Report, 2024 Financials, and motions, will be issued June 20. 3. April data from the Traffic Counter. April’s average daily traffic was 149 at Vancouver Blvd and Anderson Rd. The highest volume was during Easter Week, peaking at 214 on April 24. Daily peaks align with the water taxi morning and afternoon schedule. The PDF of daily traffic data may be downloaded here. 4. OCP Advisory Committee request. Twelve of the OCP Advisory Committee members emailed a request to the qathet Planning Committee on May 1, asking for opportunities for dialogue and idea-sharing during meetings, and a possible extension of the process to facilitate this. The members had anticipated more collaborative involvement, as laid out in the Advisory Committee’s Terms of Reference, including: providing input on background information; offering direction in the development of draft OCP goals, objectives, and policies; and supporting the project team in identifying and assessing alternatives to address key community issues and opportunities. The Planning Committee responded with a revised meeting structure for providing more time to work together. 5. Groundwater presentation video summarizing the study. Last month, we provided this link to "Assessment of Groundwater Resources on Savary Island - Qayɛ qʷən.” The study is 218 pages, and thorough—so thorough in fact that you might prefer the summary video for a quicker understanding. There is a recording of Sylvia Barroso’s presentation for the qathet Regional District Planning Committee at https://qathetrd.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/175838/?preview=177830. The presentation begins around minute 45:30. Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer Please send comments or questions to asic@asicsavary.com Website: ASICSavary.com

April 2025

1. Vision Statements Missing Mention of “No Regulations.” 2. Finally, Spring Grading. And Some Gravel. 3. Traffic Counts April to April. 4. The 3rd Annual Fundraising Concert & 14th Annual General Meeting. 5. AGM Motions: Things to Know. 6. Excellent Groundwater Study presentation. 1. Vision Statements Missing Mention of “No Regulations.” At the April 14 OCP advisory committee zoom meeting, attendees were asked to indicate their preference for either of the 2 Vision statement Options below, to guide the rest of the OCP. Attendees were also encouraged to write any ideas that may have been missed. One idea missed was a mention of regulation—whether for, against, or limited. The topic of regulation has been shown in OCP public engagement and surveys to be a dominant concern of Savary property owners, who have asked for a Vision statement that will "clarify the role of regulation.” (p2 Vision and Goals). The Frequently Asked Questions (March 2025, p2) states, “there does not appear to be sufficient citizen support for implementing land use regulations pertaining to slope hazards.” This is helpful to the 600+ perimeter properties, but there are other potential regulations still needing clarification. Might private properties require permits for tree removal? Might flood plain properties be subject to development restrictions? Might siting permits be required for all new development? Below are the 2 Vision Options provided from the qRD. If you would like the role of regulations clarified, please write to Director Jason Lennox jlennox@qathet.ca and the Planning Committee at planning@qathet.ca with a cc to asic@asicsavary.com OPTION 1 Our community is committed to maintain Savary Island’s unique character and off-grid, rustic island lifestyle while protecting the island’s groundwater resources, its sensitive ecosystems and its unique biophysical characteristics (the interaction of soils, plants, animals, air, water and geological features). OPTION 2 Savary Island is a cherished home for both year-round and seasonal residents. We value the peacefulness, serenity and independence of island living. Our community is committed to preserving its unique character and off-grid, rustic lifestyle while protecting its groundwater resources, fragile ecosystems, and distinctive natural features—shaped by the interactions of soil, plants, animals, air, water, and geology. 2. Finally, Spring Grading. And Some Gravel. After a long wet winter with the pot-holes getting worse every day, Savary finally got its spring road grading in the week of March 17. This time though, it included a bonus supply of new gravel which was unexpected but welcome, even though it was only about half of what Savary received in 2019 and 2021. Our understanding is the gravel was part of a last minute, end of provincial budget year decision. The letters to the Minister from ASIC, qRD, and SIVFD must have helped. The grading and new gravel fixed most of the main road starting from the barge ramp to the wharf, up the wharf hill, along Vancouver Blvd, and the worst pot-holed sections of the road through Nature Trust. Unfortunately, it was only enough gravel to get to the propane depot. Grading was also done on the west end of the island but the heavy rains during and after have left many sections a muddy mess. Next steps for ASIC Roads Committee and SIVFD is to have a meeting in May with Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) head office staff. ASIC and SIVFD will be asking for guaranteed regular and dependable road maintenance for Savary from here onwards, including in the winter if it's needed. There is strong backing from the qRD Regional Board this time around. Another winter of dangerous roads like we just had cannot happen again. 3. Traffic Counts, April to April. Following the recent grading and gravel work, ASIC deployed the new traffic counter on Vancouver Blvd at Anderson Road. This location will capture much of the island traffic to/from the wharf and barge ramp. The counter will be kept at this location for the year, because its purpose is to show traffic volume changes through the seasons at a specific location. The ASIC Roads Committee will review the results with MOTT for determining an appropriate road classification for maintenance purposes. The counter will be moved after 12 months to an alternate location. 4. The 3rd Annual Fundraising Concert & 14th Annual General Meeting. The 3rd Annual Fundraising Concert will be at the Hacienda from 7pm to 9pm on Saturday July 5, following the 14th AGM at 10am-noon that day. The Concert will feature KP Duty, a duo from Powell River performing a mix of Americana, Folk and Blues. There will be more information about both events as the date approaches. 5. AGM Motions: Things to Know. The deadline for AGM motions is end of day June 5. The Notice of AGM will be issued 2 weeks later and will include the motions, after they have been vetted for clarity. Receiving the motions in advance provides members an opportunity to prepare arguments for or against the motion. At last year’s AGM, the 30-day advance deadline was mistakenly overlooked, but is a requirement of ASIC’s Bylaws. The purpose of a motion is to propose an action by the ASIC Board that could lead to a desired result. The motion should also be stated in the positive (like “will” rather than “won't”), and have a clear purpose, so the voting members understand the result of a yes or a no vote. A motion may include an introduction to explain why the motion is being raised. A complaint is not a motion. Motions will not be accepted from non-members of ASIC, nor from an anonymous source. As required by ASIC's Bylaws, the motion must be read at the AGM exactly as submitted, by the person who submitted it. Again, at last year’s AGM, this rule was mistakenly overlooked. 6. Excellent Groundwater Study presentation. The most recent Advisory Committee meeting featured an hour-long (the extended version) presentation of the "Assessment of Groundwater Resources on Savary Island - Qayɛ qʷən” by GW Solutions. Senior Hydrogeologist Sylvia Barroso provided a well-rounded scientific picture of the current and future state of Savary’s water quality and quantity. Visit ASICSavary.com and send comments or questions to asic@asicsavary.com Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer Please send comments or questions to asic@asicsavary.com Website: ASICSavary.com

March 2025

1. Make Room for Gravel. 2. Traffic Counter to be Deployed after the Gravel Work. 3. Your brand-new ASIC Website is Live. 4. Annual General Meeting Saturday July 5th, 2025. 5. The Third Annual Fundraising Concert 1. Make Room for Gravel. On Monday March 17, 2,000 tons of gravel will start arriving at the barge ramp. Throughout the week it will be spread, compacted, and graded by Capilano Highway Services. The main road of Savary is a trail of craters, and 2,000 tons seems as if it should correct the problem but realistically this volume will allow for spot treatments, which is still helpful. We look forward to more. In addition to the new gravel, the grading and reshaping of the road to enable better drainage will be just as important to fix the pot-holes. Capilano Highways reviewed the main road last week in preparation, so they will have a good idea of the soft spots most in need of reshaping and gravel. Some of the worst pot-holes are in the wharf area, particularly the stretch from Ashworth to the base of the wharf hill. Anyone currently parked there needs to move their vehicles elsewhere for the week so the heavy equipment can fix that difficult section. The timing is not ideal, as the gravel project will be underway during Spring Break when more residents are on island. Please, for your safety and the heavy equipment operators' ability to complete this important project, stay off the main road as much as possible. Much appreciation to all involved: Ministry of Transportation, qathet Regional District, SIVFD, ASIC Roads Committee, and other vocal residents who have helped this delivery happen. 2. Traffic Counter to be Deployed after the Gravel Work. There was an amazing response of donations to buy the traffic counter. Within about 10 days, the counter was fully funded and purchased. A huge thank you to all who contributed. We've also received a donated computer that will be used to collect the data. 3. Your brand-new ASIC Website is Live. We encourage all ASIC members and the Savary-curious to explore ASIC's new website asicsavary.com to learn more about this island-wide association of property owners, stay updated on upcoming community events, and share what matters most to you. 4. Annual General Meeting Saturday July 5th, 2025. ASIC is 15 years old! ASIC members and the Savary community are invited to the 14th Annual General Meeting, at the Hacienda on Saturday, July 5th from 10am to 12 noon. We anticipate this year’s most popular topics to be the Official Community Plan and Roads Maintenance. 5. The Third Annual Fundraising Concert. The 3rd Annual Fundraising Concert will follow the AGM, in the evening from 7pm to 9pm, featuring KP Duty, a duo from Powell River performing a mix of Americana, Folk and Blues. For more information on the AGM, concert and ticket purchases visit our website at asicsavary.com closer to the date. Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer Please send comments or questions to asic@asicsavary.com Website: ASICSavary.com

January 2025

1. Call for Donations - Savary Island needs a traffic counter. 2. Savary responds "As little regulation as possible." 3. Can regional directors make an OCP "recommendation" mandatory? 4. qRD Mail-Out to All Savary Property Owners. 5. Call for Directors. 1. Call for Donations — Savary Island needs a traffic counter. We have to prove to the BC Government (MoTT) that Savary's a busy island that requires better year-round road maintenance for its residents, for the SIVFD's ability to respond to fires and medical emergencies year-round, for the safety of firefighters and First Responders, and for the prevention of costly damage to its equipment and vehicles. By December 10 2024 the roads were so bad the SIVFD Chief informed the qRD and BC Emergency Health Services that "I have instructed our first responders not to transport any suspected spinal concerns, fractures or dislocations." It's now January 2025 and the roads are in worse shape. MoTT's reply to SIVFD's request for emergency road maintenance is No, there will be no grading until March 2025. Their refusal stems from a misconception that the island is empty in the off-season. We believe traffic data will change that. Back in 2014-2015 we borrowed a traffic counter from the City of Powell River and that data convinced the Ministry of Transportation that their old road classification of 0-10 vehicles per day was no longer valid for Savary. In 2018 they changed it to 10-100 vehicles per day, averaged across one year. Even that is low, because the data showed the average vehicle traffic count as slightly higher, with daily summer counts in the hundreds. We have some traffic data from 2023 and 2024 but it's not enough to convince the government of our year-round traffic volume, and we can't keep relying on a counter from the City of Powell River; they've been generous enough. We need a traffic counter here on island for continuous data. The quote is $2,138 for the counter and accessories, shipping and taxes. The plan is to get a traffic counter soon and begin collecting data ASAP. If you can donate $25 or more you can help make Savary a safer driving experience. And if you donate $50 or more, you'll get a Savary Island umbrella, while supplies last. If we reach our goal we will let you know. If by chance we exceed the goal all funds will still go towards road-related items like additional counter equipment, printing of reports, etc. We are now able to accept cheques to PO Box 333, Lund BC V0N 2G0 and can also accept them in person on Savary. Etransfers may be sent to asic@asicsavary.com 2. Savary responds "As little regulation as possible." At the regional district’s December 5 webinar to discuss the upcoming Savary OCP, attendees were asked in a PowerPoint presentation to reply with their smartphones/devices to a multiple choice question: "How would you define/describe success for the Savary Island Community Plan project?” The most popular, response, at 47% of the 4 possible choices, was “As little regulation as possible.” Other responses were: 24% “balance environmental preservation and landowner rights;” 16% “community feels heard, represented and confident in the Plan,” 11% “strong environmental preservation / future generations can have clean water, beaches and woods to explore;” and 3% “increased education on the island’s challenges.” * The Manager of Planning Services acknowledged the Savary attendees' preference for no regulations, and the presenter from Bluerock noted that Texada Island has similar values. He suggested Savary might consider tailoring the Texada OCP language to arrive at a Savary OCP. So, as an exercise only at this point, let’s see if the Texada Vision Statement can be tailored to Savary. Comments welcome! Savary example, adapted from Texada language — "Savary Island’s vision is to sustain an independent rural lifestyle with minimal regulations. We envision our island economy fostering a diverse and balanced mix of seasonal and full-time residents, and small business enterprises. Savary Island will adapt to change carefully, while always preserving our freedoms, stewarding the natural beauty of our island and our island lifestyle.” *The webinar attendees were a portion of Savary’s population, so their answers are not necessarily reflective of all. 3. Can regional directors make an OCP "recommendation" mandatory? ASIC has asked Regional Director Jason Lennox for help explaining what powers and limitations are entrusted to regional district directors for making decisions affecting the regulation of land in an OCP. He agreed the subject would be worth clarifying, possibly as early as the February OCP advisory committee meeting. ASIC had been under the impression that in order for any part of an OCP to become regulatory, it must first be described in the OCP's “Development Permit Areas” chapter, then echoed in a zoning bylaw. The corollary was also thought to be true—and still might be—that areas of Savary Island not mentioned in a DPA chapter would therefore be non-regulatory and unenforceable. We bring this up because we recently observed that a single non-DPA non-zoned property in the qathet Regional District has been subject to a new requirement that the owner get a geotechnical assessment of flood and slope hazards before he is allowed to subdivide a corner of his property. The OCP itself (Area C) only recommended assessments, but the directors' final decision was to require an assessment. An understanding of that director decision will be helpful when Savary starts developing recommendations for its own OCP. 4. qRD Mail-Out to All Savary Property Owners qRD Director Lennox has informed ASIC that the OCP mail-out has been sent. Property owners were first told of a planned mail-out at the December 5 OCP webinar, and after a Canada Post strike-lockout delay, the mail-out was sent in January to an estimated 1107 mailing addresses of all Savary property owners. ASIC directors have not yet seen the mail-out, but anticipate its content to be silmiar to other presentations by Bluerock Planning, the team contracted by qRD to guide Savary through the OCP process. Property owner's comments are an important part of the OCP review process and the OCP advisory committee work. We encourage you to take care in your responses to any questions posed by the mail-out, as your input will help inform the content of the OCP that could direct Savary Island land use for the next 20 years or so. 5. Call for Directors by Jennifer Yourk A year ago I agreed to come on ASIC’s board. I was thinking: trails, forest management and bathrooms. In reality all the concerted energy went to improving road conditions, (a formidable and multi layered task), land policies and communicating with ASIC’s 900 plus members. It’s been inspiring to watch the board members pour out their time, energy and education , for their united goal: a great love of Savary’s well being. Currently there are four unfilled ASIC board seats in zones B and C. Our voice would be much stronger in the community/government if they were filled, not to mention having a greater tool box of skills and strengths to draw from. Please consider joining this team so that united with all the other great organizations and people that work on Savary’s behalf, we can grow into our future. ASIC’s mandate: a) To advocate and act for the members when liaising with government agencies, other organizations and individuals. b) To advise government agencies on the financial and administrative management of Savary Island affairs and services. c) To strive for local control over policy-making and activities that affect the community, including how are tax dollars are allocated, so as to meet the needs of our community. d) To strive for fairness that reflective of the diverse values of the members, by consideration of majority and minority opinions in the decision-making. Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer Please send comments or questions to asic@asicsavary.com

December 2024

1. OCP Glossary 2. Emergency Road Maintenance Denied 3. Traffic Counts in August Were High 4. Grant in Aid 1. OCP Glossary “Background Studies” = plans, reports and studies, including the TetraTech slope hazard study, the TetraTech flood mapping study, and others posted to the qRD’s OCP webpage: https://www.qathet.ca/current_project/savaryocp/ “Bylaw” = an enforceable localized law. A zoning bylaw, for example, is a law that implements an OCP and restricts land use. The zoning bylaw may be enacted without public consultation. "Development Assessment Area” (DAA) = an area of Savary, as designated in the OCP as being a hazard land or ecologically sensitive land, for which property owners are recommended to obtain a risk assessment by a Geotechnical Engineer or an Ecologist before building, adding, altering or rebuilding. "Development Permit Area” (DPA) = an area of Savary that can be restricted through a zoning bylaw, and designated in the OCP as being a hazard land or ecologically sensitive land that would require a favourable Geotechnical or Ecological assessment before obtaining a Permit for any proposed structure, addition, or alteration. “Existing Development” = a structure exactly as-is at the time the OCP is adopted. After the OCP is adopted, and if a zoning bylaw is enacted, any plans for alterations, additions, new structures, and rebuilt structures, are subject to regulation. "Floodplain Bylaw” = a separate bylaw for restricting development in low-lying areas that may be vulnerable to flooding. A floodplain bylaw can be enacted without reference to an OCP. “Geotech" = an engineer knowledgeable in the characteristics of soil and rock, and who would follow geotechnical guidelines for determining the hazard risks of proposed structures in a Development Assessment Area and a Development Permit Area. “High Level” and “Site Level” = general and specific risk assessments of properties. The qRD refers to the TetraTech hazard studies as “high level” meaning the studies are a general overview, and are not exact. A more accurate evaluation is to be found at the “site level,” meaning a favourable Geotech assessment would be necessary to prove the property safe for development. “Implementation” = actions that would convert OCP policies into law. The previous (2006) OCP identified a zoning bylaw and a siting permit system as “high priority” implementations. No implementation has been done, which is why the 2006 OCP has been called advisory rather than regulatory. “Local Government” = qathet Regional District (qRD) Directors and staff. They are ultimately responsible for writing and approving the new OCP and any related bylaws. “Local Government Act" (LGA) = BC provincial legal framework for local governments, including the qathet Regional District. "OCP" = Official Community Plan, now also shortened to just Community Plan, although it is still an Official document guiding the community’s future land use. “Regulatory" = Legal, enforced through a zoning bylaw. The OCP on its own is non-regulatory, but if enforced with a zoning bylaw, would become regulatory. “Vision Statement” = same as “Principal Aim” in the 2006 OCP; sometimes called “Mission Statement.” It is the main guiding statement on which OCP goals and policies are based. We must therefore be careful what our Vision Statement says. “Visionary” = non-regulatory. OCPs are considered visionary because they are not laws. However, if a zoning bylaw is enacted, it must refer back to the OCP. So again, we must therefore be careful what we include in our OCP. “Zoning Bylaw” = A regulatory and enforcement tool that specifies permitted uses of land identified in the OCP. A zoning bylaw that implements an OCP does not require public consultation. The qRD has said they have no plans for a zoning bylaw, but we note this can change, as staff, politicians, and goals change. 2. Emergency Road Maintenance Denied The Savary roads are in extremely poor condition. Again. As reported last month, the SIVFD/First Responders sent an email to qRD Director Jason Lennox on November 13 requesting that he intervene with Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT) , formerly MOTI, Area Manager Rino Parise, to provide emergency road maintenance. MoTT continues to claim that Capilano Highways is meeting the annual maintenance requirements, so no emergency maintenance will occur. ASIC and SIVFD consider this ongoing response to be unacceptable. ASIC will continue to advocate for safer roads. Bud Graham has agreed to chair the Roads Subcommittee for the next two years. ASIC members Doug Smith and Steve Lackey have volunteered to be on the Subcommittee. They met recently with Wayne Goodridge to review the efforts made by the previous Subcommittee and will be addressing overlapping issues. In the new year, ASIC will be contacting the province's new MoTT Minister and new MLA. The NDP Government has appointed Mike Farnworth as Minister of MoTT, and the new Powell River/Sunshine Coast MLA Randene Neill has been appointed as a cabinet member. 3. Traffic Counts in August Were High You thought it was busy in August? Well it was. The peak single day count was 517 near the General Store. And in the middle of the month the top of the wharf hill averaged 408 vehicles per day. 4. Grant In Aid Award We are pleased to announce that the qRD has approved a grant of $2,500 to assist ASIC with annual operating costs. We will receive these funds in late December of 2024. We would like to thank Jason Lennox for all his support shown to the community through the application process. Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer

November 2024

1. New Board Gets Down to Business 2. Roads Maintenance Update 3. OCP Update 1. New Board Gets Down to Business The new board has wasted no time getting down to business. Janine Reimer was voted unanimously to take on the role of president and chair of ASIC. Janine is also a member of the OCP Advisory Committee. The board will continue to utilize sub-committees as a strategy to tackle important island issues and property owner priorities. Bud Graham will chair the Roads Committee and Joan Vollans will chair the Visitor Stewardship Advisory Committee (VSAC). The board has also appointed me (Wayne Goodridge) to be the Communications Director for ASIC. This will ensure a seemless transition and allows board members to dedicate all their valuable volunteer time to the OCP review and update process. 2. Roads Maintenance Update The state of Savary Island roads have become very dangerous. The SIVFD has written the qRD and Director Jason Lennox asking them to intervene and contact MOTI to do some emergency maintenance before the winter no-maintenance Road Classification begins (90 days , December 1 - February 28th). ASIC has also sent an email to the qRD in full support of the SIVFD letter. Potholes are forming everywhere across the island and the number and depth increases every week. SIVFD response times to potential structure fires and to medical emergencies will be severely slowed and put residents' lives at risk. 3. OCP Update At the first OCP Advisory Committee zoom meeting on November 12, one of the presenters stated that the inclusion of setback recommendations in an OCP does not automatically make those recommendations regulatory. The Committee was told by qRD Manager of Planning Services Laura Roddan that the qRD is not working on nor planning a zoning bylaw, which is the mechanism for making an OCP regulatory. Laura Roddan also said the qRD had prepared a mailout that would go to all property owners, advising them of the OCP process and survey. Hopefully, the Canada Post strike/lockout will not delay the mailout for too long. In correspondence a couple of days later, Laura said that the 3 studies (landslides, floods, and coming aquifer/septic) will be linked on the OCP project webpage. At the November 6 Planning Committee zoom meeting, ASIC and other attendees learned that other areas in qRD had excluded hazard setbacks in their OCPs. We could do the same. Texada Director Sandy McCormick said that just because Savary had a study doesn’t mean it would be in the final OCP. Area B Director Mark Gisborne said the Area B OCP had hazard land areas identified, but they were not written as Development Permit Areas (DPAs), and for this reason had not been regulated. (A zoning bylaw can reference the DPAs to restrict development and re-development.) ASIC has also learned from an ASIC member’s correspondence with the Planning Manager that if ever the qRD were to develop a zoning bylaw for Savary, the qRD's Communications Policy would require public engagement. We appreciate the qRD’s current policy, but also note that policies can change, as can staff and politicians. Meanwhile, the Local Government Act allows the qRD to enact zoning bylaws without any public consultation, provided the zoning bylaws are consistent with their adopted OCPs. So, words matter. Let’s be careful what gets included in the 2025 OCP, because it could one day be regulated by a zoning bylaw. Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Joan, Jennifer, Janine, and Emer

October 2024

1. ASIC Potluck End of Summer Party 2. Traffic Counter Project 3. Savary Island Community Plan 4. IP Boat Ramp Update 1. ASIC Potluck End of Summer Party Thanks to everyone who attended our end of summer party. We had a lot of fun and good conversation and plan to make this an annual event. 2. Traffic Counter Project We completed the final data collection of traffic on October 4th and are currently waiting on final results from the City of Powell River. 3. Savary Island Community Plan The qRD has entered into the Phase 2 Planning stage of updating the Savary Island Community Plan which they hope to have completed by mid 2025. This topic has become front and centre over recent days and has created a stir of emotions amongst property owners on social media platforms, and rightfully so. There has been a very well thought out and researched informational document circulating about the implications of the Tetra Tech Slope Hazard report should it ever be used in a future Land Use Regulation introduced by the Regional District under the Local Government Act. This has been dismissed as "fake news". It is not fake and very carefully describes a scenario we could face sometime in the near future. At heart of the controversy is the Slope Hazard Study completed by Tetra Tech last year and the associated set back recommendations in three defined Hazard Zones around the perimeter of Savary Island. An important thing to note here is that an individual lot setback is also based upon the qRD Coastal Flood Mapping report, prepared by Tetra Tech in 2021. This report forecasts potential future coastal flooding and erosion in the year 2100 and it projects a 1 meter sea level rise around Savary Island. The set back recommendations in the slope hazard study references this "2100 natural boundary" as the basis for set back calculations for individual lots in each of the three defined hazard zones around Savary Island. The recommended set backs are as follows: 1) Red Zone - greater of 15 m or 2 x slope height + 2100 natural boundary offset 2) Yellow Zone - greater of 15 m or 1.5 x slope height + 2100 natural boundary offset 3) Green Zone - greater of 15 m or slope height + 2100 natural boundary offset As an example, a 150 foot lot on the high bank slope of 140 feet, and a Natural Boundary Offset of 130 feet results in the following setback calculation: 130 feet NBO +280 feet (2 x slope height) = 410 feet! Use the following link to access the full Tetra Tech Slope Hazard study report and determine if your lot falls within one of the hazard zones and what your potential setback could be: Slope Hazard: https://www.qathet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2023_Savary-Island-Slope-Hazard-Study.pdf So what does this all mean ? When questioned by ASIC, the qRD has gone on record and stated they are not working on a zoning bylaw and regulations in the current Community Plan review. However , they did state in an October 13th 2023 Planning report , repeated in the Powell River Peak on November 30th of last year , that the qRD board has accepted the Tetra Tech Slope Hazard study as an important background study for the upcoming official community plan review and update process . If they include this report in the OCP update it does pave the way for future Land Use Regulation and bylaws and those regulations would be bound by the contents of the community plan. If this were to happen , many lots around the perimeter of Savary Island and many inland lots close to these perimeter lots would be classified as "non conforming". This could potentially severely restrict the use of your property and kill a lot of dreams of owning a home on our beautiful island paradise. We have to ask ourselves about the potential personal financial impacts as well, such as the impact on property value and insurance costs. We know this may not apply directly to Savary Island, but the BC Government announced in 2014 that all land contracts between government and owners would be phased out and eliminated by June 30th, 2024 and to be replaced by zoning bylaws to govern land use in the province. This is a small excerpt from their website: "A local government must not hold a public hearing if a proposed zoning bylaw is consistent with the official community plan (OCP) in effect for the area. Where there is not consistency with the OCP, a local government must hold a public hearing on a proposed zoning bylaw, including amendments to the bylaw." So what our next steps? It feels like we have a bit of a fight on our hands. When looking at public opinion recently , via social media and community discussion, we see a small number of property owners pushing for more restricted land use and a majority , large number of property owners are adamantly against it. Most property owners understand the need to manage erosion issues on Savary, but using an individual's private property to achieve it is very wrong. Ultimately, we need to question the validity of the Tetra Tech Slope Hazard report and whether it should be included as part of the OCP review and update. The qRD has a community survey live until October 31st. Please complete this as soon as you can. The survey is a little vague and does not cover the Slope Hazard report but you can certainly use the comment sections to ask about the underlying impacts. Use this link to access the survey: qRD Survey: https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx?s=2CA36F04-8B7E-41B5-BC84-FF3781094DF9 We will be asking the qRD another series of questions tomorrow (October 25th) and asking for comments before the survey ends. We will also be working on an official position to be sent to the qRD on behalf of the entire community . The questions are as follows: 1) is the qRD intending to use last years Tetra Tech slope hazard study and the associated set back recommendations in the Savary Island Community Plan? 2) if this Study is included and adopted into the community plan, would any future And Use Regulation be bound by the community plan ? 3) will the qRD be referencing the Thurber Report which was a large part of the 2006 OCP? 4) would the qRD be willing to explain potential impacts to property owners in each of the three hazard zones if and before its included in the community plan ? 5) is the qRD considering a Land Use Regulation after the community plan review and update is finalized and adopted? We really need to make our voice heard and heard loud as we go through the next phases of the OCP review and update. If these recommendations go forward , many property owners will face a lot of risk to their properties becoming useless and worthless. Send Comments to: asic@savaryisland.ca 4. IP Boat Ramp Replacement Repairs to the IP Boat Ramp are now complete. Work on the IP Boat ramp took place on October 1 and 2. Patrick Devereaux, the qRD Manager of Operational Services, reported that costs of removing and disposing of the old ramp were going to be enormous. They were also going to be required to do an archaeological assessment/supervision contract and and environmental monitoring and permitting required by DFO. The existing ramp, while ugly in parts was still solid and useful as a supporting base for the top up. The Management Plan for the lease required the RD to maintain the current footprint. The costs is yet to be determined as some of the work in the estimated did not occur due the changes noted above. Your ASIC Directors, Bud, Doug, Joan, Catherine, Jennifer, and Wayne