Proponents of the Gabriola Commons rezoning application recognise that a few of the uses for which they are applying are controversial, but they believe this would be less likely if those uses were understood in context.

The application, which has been in the works for about three years, seeks to create a community-oriented commons on agriculturally-zoned lands close to the Village core on North Road. Although the ideas for the uses of the land grew out of wishes expressed by the community, and the proponents have gathered public input in a number of ways, the application is now being considered by the Local Trust Committee, and is about to begin its formal community consultation process.

At an informal Islands Trust-sponsored community information meeting about the application on Thursday, proponents recognised that the application for a community kitchen, accessory campground, and outdoor assembly has raised some concern in the community. In particular they noted that there is apprehension that these functions might be competing with existing island businesses. The Official Community Plan does not support increasing commercial opportunities through rezoning if there is not enough commerce to support existing businesses after doing so.

In response, proponent Judith Roux suggested that the Commons Foundation might consider having a process to ensure Commons functions were not impinging on community businesses.

Proponent Heide Brown clarified that the Commons is not proposing a campground, but only that camping be an accessory use to workshops and seminars held on the property, so that people who were attending those workshops could stay on the property. She said that the proposed use would not be competing with the current campground, because if people could not stay at the Commons they might not attend the workshops because they could not walk to the current campground.

Past trustee Susan Yates said that it was erroneous to assume that people would only come to Commons workshops if they could stay there. She noted that the distance to the current campgrounds is “walkable”. She noted that, although she agreed with the camping function, if everything is available at the Commons then the rest of the community doesn’t get the economic benefit brought by visitors.

Gabriolan Derek Kilbourn also suggested that competition is created by providing something to people for free for which businesses charge.

Asked about a concern that camping is difficult to enforce, Brown pointed out that she had already called to have people who were staying on the property removed by the RCMP, and that she would not hesitate to do the same if a camping use were being abused in the future.

As for the outdoor public assembly use, Brown said she couldn’t imagine the Commons if people were not allowed to gather there, and Commons member Dona Bradley noted that she did not know where a circus that performed on Gabriola last summer would have gone if not to the Commons.

Roux noted that the LTC has been tolerant of applicants going ahead with proposed uses once an application has been made. She was grateful for this because it has made it possible for community members to see what the Commons will actually be like.

Commons member Hans Van Kessel noted that there are 800 Commons members, between 150 to 200 active volunteers and 250 regular donors to the foundation. LTC Chair Louise Bell said that it is often difficult for people to share their concerns about an application when there is a great deal of support for it. She said that for that reason concerns that are expressed are given more weight than they might normally be given.

Applicants pointed out that they were working on a covenant to ensure that the Commons could not be used for any purposes but those granted by Trust, regardless of ownership, and trustees were clear that they could not rely on covenants, and had to make sure that the bylaws protected the land and can enforce the will of the community.

Information about the Commons can be found at: www.gabriolacommons.ca, and information about the Commons application can be found on the front page of the Gabriola LTC website at: www.islandstrust.bc.ca/ltc/gb/default.cfm, under applications.