THURSDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2013
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200 ATTEND MEETING IN QUALICUM BEACH
Forward for Pheasant Glen Council votes to start process for
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160-unit resort development JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
It’s a long way from issuing a building permit, but Qualicum Beach town council voted Monday to narrow the focus and take a step toward approval of a 160-unit residential resort development at Pheasant Glen. During a committee of the whole meeting at the civic centre that drew about 200 people, council and the public heard about contrary legal opinions, regional growth strategy processes and details of the proposed development itself. In the end, council passed a motion (with only Coun. Scott Tanner opposed) directing staff to develop a timeline and budget by January 13 for a limited-scope official community plan review that will be required if the development is to reach any kind of zoning and bylawchange readings. Technically, as this was a committee of the whole meeting, council will have to pass the same motion at its next regular meeting Monday, Dec. 2. See WORK THROUGH IT, page A21
Avoiding closures LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
Although school closures are an option, trustees say they are still trying to avoid them at all costs. At a school board meeting Tuesday, trustees passed a motion directing acting superintendent Rollie Koop to prepare a report with recommendations whether to close schools, consolidate or reconfigure classes, to be presented in January. But trustee Ross Milligan had one stipulation. “I just want to make sure the report shows all reasonable options other than closing schools so the public knows we looked at every possibility,” he said. “Because that’s what we promised we would do when we were elected, that no school would be closed until we were absolutely convinced that there was no other options to meet the budget deficit.” See ENROLMENT, page A9
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PETER MCCULLY PHOTO
RECORD NUMBERS: More than 1,600 people came to Tigh-Na-Mara Resort and Spa Wednesday morning for the fifth annual Toy Drive Breakfast and they donated more than 1,800 toys — both record numbers. The toys — and a large amount of cash and gift cards that was still being counted at press time — were turned over to the Society of Organized Services and will be distributed to needy children and families for Christmas. Those who attended Wednesday and donated a toy were treated to a hot breakfast by Tigh-Na-Mara. Above, in front of a wall of donated toys and holding a breakfast, are Tigh-Na-Mara general manager Paul Drummond and SOS executive director Renate Sutherland. See Tuesday’s edition of The NEWS for more details about the event and see our Facebook page (www. facebook.com/PQBNews) for more photos.
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