Envision the Cape

Bowen Islanders feel passionately about this community, its lush natural world and caring neighbours. Residents bring this love to every discussion about change, and often face paradoxes that lead to social conflict. How do we preserve habitat for nature, while building the things we want and need? How do we ensure that people who live here don’t have to leave due to a lack of housing that meets their needs? And how can we have these conversations calmly and peacefully? This ...Ethelo project (cape-roger.ethelo.net) is an attempt to find out if a new approach at the Cape would address these questions, in a community-spirited way. We are asking you to rate two options from a number of perspectives, such as traffic, preservation, trust and public access. You can rate the options and you can indicate how much each aspect matters to you - each will affect how your choices influence the overall results. The Ethelo enagement platform is designed for fairness, and has great flexibility in matching the needs of each unique inquiry. In this case, it will present several important topics and allow everyone to rate two options: to leave the 10-acre zoning as it is, or to seek a rezoning along the lines of a draft plan. You will also be able to indicate how much each issue matters to you. In this way, the system gives people more weight on topics they care most about individually. This survey is hosted, calculated and validated by Ethelo Decisions, Inc. It is sponsored, and the information was provided by, Cape on Bowen Ltd. Although you may vote as a guest, we encourage you to register as that allows you to return to the survey later. You can change your answers if you feel the need to do so. You don't have to do it all in one sitting. We will post the results of the survey publicly, so that we can all have clarity. Your voice matters and will directly influence our decision to submit or not submit a rezoning application. We will not bring about change unless there is a clear, resounding welcome of the draft plan - close to 70% approval. If it's more like 50/50, that only causes anxiety and division. Even if it is 60/40, we don't feel that degree of support would justify the impacts. With our greatest conscious effort, we have presented the benefits and impacts of both the draft plan and of the current zoning, as comprehensively as possible to avoid bias. Please be assured that we are not seeking support for any option in particular. We realize that the status quo of the current zoning is not ideal. There could be another option, which I also present in the introduction of the survey. I'm actively paving the way for that "some other way", but the success of realizing the third option is not in the control of the Cape group by itself, thus we are unable to offer it as an option to vote on.

For anyone wondering about access into the Cape, we have been looking at a number of options, in addition to the one that our planner proposed within the draft plan, but also many others. I finally received a new technically feasible option (Option C in the Webster Engineering drawing) or (#8 in Road Access Concepts drawing) for a Thompson alignment. Option C still has considerable grade challenges requiring extensive cut and fill, but is doable at a cost of $4.2 million (an...Continue reading

Find out more about who our Planner, Edward Porter of MODUS, in this video. We have isolated his comments for brevity. Edward comes from an extensive Conservancy background and launched his career with The Nature Conservancy on preservation projects in Chile, and has also worked with groups like the Patagonia Foundation. I've worked with him since 2006, first on the Cape, and later on the conservation, preservation and landscape experience of an aging in place masterplanne...d community. Over the years, I have found him to be humble, respectful, thoughtful, down to earth, and he cares deeply about the planet. We encourage anyone to contact us for a personal description of the plan and full discussion about your thoughts about it. My email is [email protected] https://vimeo.com/484511442

Hi everyone, here is a video walkthrough of our draft plan by our Planner, Edward Porter, Principal of MODUS, extracted from a November 2020 zoom session with community members. Hope you'll give it a watch/listen on your own time and give us your thoughts in a 5-minute survey! https://vimeo.com/484498430 https://envisionthecape.ca/draft-plan-survey/... We commit to listening. We are reading all comments and as they come in, and giving deep thought and consideration to any new insights, ideas and concerns. It is our intention to serve the needs and desires of as many as possible, and if that means no rezoning application because the Conservancy Park is enough, I understand, honor and respect that. I'm available for zoom calls and when restrictions are lifted when safe, I'm always more than happy to come and walk at the Cape with you. Please just write to let me know if you'd like to discuss and explore: [email protected]

No matter what time of the year, the Cape is divine and magical. I have been spending time there, listening to and connecting with the spirit of the lands. I invite you to experience the trails, or even better, simply sit in deep stillness. What are the dreams of these lands, for Mother Earth, and for all of creation?

Today, the Conservancy removed subjects. It's done, and so it is. For Christmas, we deliver to the Conservancy and the public 32 acres of southern waterfront park, with features such as an eagle's nest, sea otters' cave, and sweeping views from Downtown Vancouver across the southern Gulf islands to Vancouver Island. Instead of private 10-acre estates for 3 families, there will be public access for all the world to enjoy, with active management to protect nature. (Ooooooooo. M...mmmmmmm. Ggggggggg!!!!!! This truly is a very emotional moment for me.) I sincerely thank the generous, anonymous philanthropists who donated large funds for the acquisition, and the Bowen Island Conservancy and the Cape shareholders for coming together for the greater good. Again, to the donors: Thank you Thank you Thank you I don't know who the donors are and really hope they're reading this, or will receive our gratitude through their circles. The path is open for deliverance of what we believe to be further legacy through our masterplan. I will continue in devotion to acting with absolute integrity for the highest, balanced good of all people. We submit our rezoning application in a few months. Of 350 acres of lands that we had reserved for a masterplan, 32 acres will be this Conservancy park. Including this park, there can be 67% green space, diverse attainable housing forms (including my passion, aging in place), a Cortona (Italy)-inspired village, secondary school, daycare, ecospiritual waterfront campsite, regenerative farm and conscious leadership retreat. I hope that Bowen Island residents will take these coming months to give input: share your ideas for adjustments and mitigating measures for development impacts, contribute to setting form and character...participate in co-creating your future with a sense of pride and hope. Please join the conversation. I am here, eager to listen and empower the collective.

With a heart bursting of joy and gratitude, I announce that the Conservancy and the Cape on Bowen are bringing forward to the public a forever legacy: a 32-acre southern waterfront park on some of the most stunning lands at the Cape. Please enjoy the photos, all taken on these lands! This is a historical momentous milestone that involved many parties. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank the donors for their generosity of $8.8 million for this acquisition, as well as the...Continue reading

Hi all, As summer is here, I am very happy to see that many people are coming out to enjoy the Cape! In an effort to protect each other, and to protect Cape Roger Curtis, I gently remind everyone to kindly honor 2m social distancing, and to please not setup fire pits.... It is getting very busy out on the beaches and trails. Cars are lined all along the laneways. If there is ever a forest fire, it would be very difficult for fire trucks to get through or turn around. Hence my worry about anything that could potentially cause a fire! In past summers, we have had campers there, leaving garbage and beer cans. I certainly don't think they are Bowen residents, but rather visitors. We do our best to clean it all up regularly, but if anyone sees litter and is inclined to support our efforts towards environmental stewardship, your generosity of spirit would be so greatly appreciated! Thank you and have glorious times at the Cape! Candy

Hi everyone, In an effort to keep all of you informed, I'm pleased to provide an update here regarding lots 20 to 22. We have listened to the public and recognize the value of a publicly accessible scenic park.... With support from the Cape's shareholders, I reached out to the Conservancy on February 24th to officially invite an offer. On March 4th, the Cape and the Conservancy agreed to begin the formal process. The Conservancy said that they estimate they will be able to get back to us in about a month, after first meeting again with the donor family to gain a firm understanding of their desires, and then working with their legal team. While there are still details and mechanisms yet to be worked out, I feel hopeful that in working with the Conservancy, the Cape can deliver in perpetuity a significant park legacy that we can all be proud of. Warmly and respectfully, Candy CEO, The Cape on Bowen Community Development

Regarding Lots 20-22 Philanthropic Donation We were surprised by a report that suggested a deal was pending to sell lots at the Cape to a conservation buyer. There was a discussion about this in the fall, but unfortunately it didn’t come together. We’re sorry if there was a misunderstanding about it. People must feel very disappointed to hear that this park opportunity has not materialized. We truly appreciate the generous donor's interest and intentions. We are always open... to more discussion with them, and other philanthropists or organizations that share a passion for the same cause. At the time of the suggestion, we had not yet begun formal planning with environmental and other professionals. What we had learned by then, through conversations with islanders, was that we should try to create a large, contiguous preserved area to include red-listed habitat and recreational parks. In order to make this possible, we need to look at the area as a whole, and come up with a range of ideas in search of a viable one. For this reason we had taken the lots off the market before the potential buyers contacted us. Since then, I've had talks with BC Parks and Metro Parks. I've also been working with our environmental consultant (Diamond Head Consulting), who has just completed a preliminary field study. This will help us map out the most important areas for preservation. It is my goal to provide public access to the shoreline along lots 20-30 for views and recreation, and to protect over 100 acres of environmentally significant lands through a combination of public access designations and conservation capital. The team needs to balance water resources, infrastructure costs, best locations for diverse housing and gathering places, land values, market absorption and other factors to achieve this. Our public consultation is still happening. I eagerly look forward to having a sketch plan that the team believes is reasonably workable, as a basis of discussion and exploration with the community. Once we come to a plan that we are confident is viable and well liked, we’ll submit an application to the Municipality. Even after the application is submitted, I do plan to stay very much connected and engaged with anyone who wishes to be an active part of the process. It’s a work in progress but don’t worry, the dream of a large park is very much alive.

We're happy to let you know that three additional coastal lots at the Cape will be included in a rezoning proposal coming some time in 2020. These had been left out of the planning area so they could be sold to provide income for the owners. It quickly became apparent that this was an area of key importance to the community. So they've decided to take them off the market until a rezoning can be considered by the community. We welcome you to come visit this area and see the incredible views. Find out more at https://envisionthecape.ca.