Port Harvey Marine Industrial Zoning Hearing Report 7/2017

The decision meeting takes place next week in Port McNiell, and I will not be able to attend. Sure wish I could but just not able due to other commitments.

Sure hope someone can be there from the CBRAT community. Anyone going to be up on the northern edge of the Broughtons? The hearing building is just a short walk from the marina, but yes, it is all up hill.

The marine railway is a part of the planed additional service and it is not just a "tidal grid" way.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I just received an email report on the hearing at Port McNeil regarding the rezoning to industrial use for the neighboring property of Mike Buttle. The full email message is here:

“Hello Richard and Harvey,
Yesterday, the planning committee decided not to proceed with rezoning the Buttle property at the present time. They want to visit Port Harvey and they want more information on environmental controls, compatibility with existing uses and more details on their options. No one got up and said that they should proceed. It looks like all our work at the public hearing is bearing fruit.
Because BC law requires that if more information is received (eg a site visit) then another public hearing must be held. This means that there may be another public hearing around October/November. We will not get as many boaters to attend the hearing at this time of the year but we can hopefully get even more letters of protest. So, be prepared to send another letter and make a list of any friends who might also be inclined to submit a letter. I will keep you up-dated after the next meeting which will be on September 19.
Thanks so much for your support.

Peter (Stockdill)

PS: George was at the meeting yesterday as well and he reports that Buttle just continues to work on his shipyard.”
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At the meeting in July, there was an offer to the board of commissioners, by a gentleman who owns a water taxi and tow business in the area, to take the whole board out to Port Harvey so they could see what was going on there. Obviously those “Government Officials” don’t take their job very seriously, and so decided not to decide, putting off again, the decision that they need to make. In saying they need more information, they are only delaying and allowing Buttle to continue to operate without supervision and to continue to harass and endanger both the environment and the public.

The next meeting will be on Sept 19 and then there will be an announcement for another public hearing. At that time, there will be a need for more public input, (read that as emails and letters and even personal visits) to the board, and a date for their acceptance will be announced. I will keep that updated here.

In the meantime, anyone who has been up to Port Harvey could sure help by collecting and writing any supporting statements to be sent in when the time comes.

Thanks for your concern and your input.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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Curious, anyone here remotely interested in attending a meeting at Port McNiel about this. It would be the third Tues in either Oct or Nov. Won't know for sure for a while.

I am planning on going, and if the weather is decent, and it is in October, will probably go up on the bike. Might be a fun ride. Or carpool if there are takers.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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AstoriaDave":37i1oidy said:
My Canadian buddies tell me that aggressive criticism from the US is often counterproductive ... you all understand the history for that.

Better to channel support, in words or funds, through a Canadian pressure group.
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hardee":37i1oidy said:
Curious, anyone here remotely interested in attending a meeting at Port McNiel about this.
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Harvey, I might be interested, depending on whether I can get the time off work—but first I would like to hear some more discussion about Astoria Dave's observation that it may not be productive to have people from the U.S. weighing in, directly.

I would be particularly interested in hearing from some of our Canadian C-Brats brethren on this matter.
 
Bob Austin said: (in part)
“…. Since none of us lives there our opinions don't carry any weight..”
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Larry H said: (in part)
“…. For sure, the only weight we can swing is the weight of foreign tourist dollars. Tourist dollars do mean something in that area, but is that enough?”
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Astoria Dave said: (in part)
“….My Canadian buddies tell me that aggressive criticism from the US is often counterproductive ... you all understand the history for that.

Better to channel support, in words or funds, through a Canadian pressure group.”
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Andy said: (in part)
".... I would be particularly interested in hearing from some of our Canadian C-Brats brethren on this matter."
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When I was up at the meeting July 18, (recapped here):
“There were 28 representatives of the public, and 10 of government officials there. There were 3 in support of the Buttle Organization (Pacificus), 2 of which were in his employment, (a Director of Operation and a Biologist), and the room was full, actually packed. There were, among others, 2 physicians, one planning on building a retirement home across the bay, on Misty Island, from what was becoming Mike Buttle's demolition yard; a retired Geologist, with concerns about the environmental status resulting from the pollution of a demolition yard; a retired RCMP officer with concerns about the track record of the Buttle industry; several recreational boaters from the US with concerns about coming in to the marina and having to deal with the noise and the loss of anchoring space; one with a concern and example of the Buttle approach to visiting recreational boaters, (harassing to the point of endangerment); and then the owners, (George and Gail Cambridge), of Port Harvey Marine Resort, with concern for both their business future and the value of their property changing from rural resort level to industrial neighbors.”

“There were 65 written statements provided to the board directors, plus the statements of the 25 public representatives, who each had a chance to speak at least twice, or a third time if wanted. The meeting lasted nearly 3 hours, which may have been close to a record as was the public response demonstrated by attendance. There was also a reporter from a local paper, the Eagle, the North Island news paper representing Port McNeill and Port Hardy.”
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There were several folks from the US there, and it was made known to us that they appreciated that we took an interest in the proceedings, and the future of the marine Resort. There were several comments to us as individuals and as a group to support our being there and our input. I think our voice counts, as do our dollars because this is a marine community and they realize the importance of the impact of both cruise and fishing dollars to their community.

Being there shows significant interest and dedication, and if you can’t be there, write. I will have addresses and email address when available. As noted in the meeting report, there were 65 written documents. And I was also told that the commissioners appreciated the written comments because they can study them, better than the in person ones. Who knows?

Dave, I would be interested in hearing more on your thoughts as to why your friend thinks just sending money would do more good? I realize, money can’t hurt, and a US dollar has more clout than a Canadian dollar by about 25%, last time I checked. (July 1, 2017). So, they may have a point, in at least sending US dollars. I don’t know any particular interest groups to send money to but I can probably find some of that info and post here

Thanks for the input and comments. It’s good to see that someone else has some interest. And in the long run, whether you have been to Port Harvey or have a possibility of going in the future, your voice can count, one at a time, each in their own unique way, it counts, IF you use it.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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Thanks for the update Harvey. I did write one lengthy e-mail to the commission. I can easily write another. I wonder if there would be some time given for Buttle to "Sanitize" his operations before the visit.

I am a little surprised we are not hearing from C Brats who live on Vancouver Island. Wish we were closer--and I would attend.
 
hardee":150lautb said:
... I don’t know any particular interest groups to send money to but I can probably find some of that info and post here.
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Please let us know what you can find out, Harvey. If there is an organized group fighting this odious project, it would be good to know what range of assistance they might want.
 
thataway":2cd099kd said:
... I wonder if there would be some time given for Buttle to "Sanitize" his operations before the visit.
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Smart observation, Bob. From everything I've read here to date, the project has the odor of being a done deal.
 
thataway":1zc6m08i said:
Thanks for the update Harvey. I did write one lengthy e-mail to the commission. I can easily write another. I wonder if there would be some time given for Buttle to "Sanitize" his operations before the visit.

I am a little surprised we are not hearing from C Brats who live on Vancouver Island. Wish we were closer--and I would attend.
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I am sure that writing another email would not hurt, even bringing up the fact that now he (Buttle) knows a visit is impending, he would have time to "sanitize" alnog with anything else that might or could help.

As soon as I get any new info (like dates or adresses) I will post here.

And Yes, I'm am curious too why there hasn't been anything more from the BC BRATS. Good point there , too, Bob.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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The next meeting is scheduled for Sept 19. I don't know what time yet. It should be a public comment and letter acceptance meeting. Please write or consider coming up to Port McNeil. This is a case of little David up against an environmental Goliath and David is running out of stones.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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Hi all. Some of the BC Brats have likely sent in emails or calls to the Regional District link Harvey provided. I have voiced my concern with them and it all counts. Our US friends can surely chime in as cruising people bring tourist dollars and word of mouth to others. Don't be shy to send a note in support. The whole area is under pressure in not only this instance but the wild salmon /caged salmon issue. Lots of Industry pressures to some wild BC waters. Thanks for the concern everyone.
George
 
Harvey sent me an Aug. 18 article in the Port Hardy weekly, the North Island Eagle. Here's a link to it.

And here are some select quotes from the article:
  • “I have real fear in this situation, because I think it’s going to escalate. “I have real distress in holding things up for too long. I believe the RCMP should already be involved in this,” [emphasis added] said Malcolm Island
    (Area A) Director Heidi Soltau. “This is a lose, lose situation,” Soltau added.

    “This is huge. There are so many pros and cons. I personally would like to go out there and see what we are talking about,” said Port Alice Mayor Jan Allen.

    “I’m not comfortable voting for this at all (today),” said Port Hardy Councillor Pat Corbett-Labatt.
Are my eyes deceiving me, or is one of the board members saying she thinks there may be criminal activity involved in this matter?
 
Harvey sent me an Aug. 18 article in the Port Hardy weekly, the North Island Eagle. Here's a link to it.

And here are some select quotes from the article:
  • — “I have real fear in this situation, because I think it’s going to escalate. “I have real distress in holding things up for too long. I believe the RCMP should already be involved in this,” [emphasis added] said Malcolm Island
    (Area A) Director Heidi Soltau. “This is a lose, lose situation,” Soltau added.

    — “This is huge. There are so many pros and cons. I personally would like to go out there and see what we are talking about,” said Port Alice Mayor Jan Allen.

    — “I’m not comfortable voting for this at all (today),” said Port Hardy Councillor Pat Corbett-Labatt.
Are my eyes deceiving me, or is one of the board members saying she thinks there may be criminal activity involved in this matter?
 
ghone":3of0pobu said:
Hi all. Some of the BC Brats have likely sent in emails or calls to the Regional District link Harvey provided. I have voiced my concern with them and it all counts. Our US friends can surely chime in as cruising people bring tourist dollars and word of mouth to others. Don't be shy to send a note in support. The whole area is under pressure in not only this instance but the wild salmon /caged salmon issue. Lots of Industry pressures to some wild BC waters. Thanks for the concern everyone.
George
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George, Thanks for the update. I have been wondering why there hasn't been much word from the northern area. Maybe it is just not here. 65 written objections had to come from somewhere, and has to weigh some with the commission.

With the meeting in Sept looming, it would sure be nice to surprise them and show up with a room full of support for Port Harvey Marine Resort. I am planning on coming up and maybe carpool again, from Nanaimo or Campbell River. Hoping for a plenty good room full.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
ghone":2qngwf0x said:
Hi all. Some of the BC Brats have likely sent in emails or calls to the Regional District link Harvey provided. I have voiced my concern with them and it all counts. Our US friends can surely chime in as cruising people bring tourist dollars and word of mouth to others. Don't be shy to send a note in support. The whole area is under pressure in not only this instance but the wild salmon /caged salmon issue. Lots of Industry pressures to some wild BC waters. Thanks for the concern everyone.
George
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George, Not sure if you heard, but there was an Atlantic Salmon fish farm off Cypress Island near Anacortes that ruptured last week. Well over 100,000 nearly mature fish discharged into Salish Sea waters. There are a couole of recent links on C-BRATS site.

My interest in the Port Harvey thing is to try and prevent another scolgical disaster, and preserve the peace and quite of the area there.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
This is a small remote marina with a rare walkable area. Situated next to a beautiful estuary it has flat areas with the bush back aways. The forest typically comes into the sea so this is a rare spot that has amenities and a walkable foreshore. I may be in the Broughtons mid Sept so will see about attending. I'm in Antigua Guatemala traveling with family at the moment. Back end of August. Heavy industry doesn't belong in the area.
George
 
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