One more day left of public hearings on urban sprawl in the Juan de Fuca forests: unless we the people still have more to say.

Last night the auditorium at Edward Milne Community School was packed to the brims. Hundreds of people came out to have their say about the proposed 260 vacation home Marine Trail Resort. The room was so full, that at some points there was 40 people waiting outside to get in.

The opposition to the project has been vocal and overwhelming. Over 70 people spoke last night, and just three spoke in favour of the project - and one of them was the developer. Many issues were covered - from the impact the project would have on the Juan de Fuca trail experience, from the burden on local services, the risk of fires, the fragmentation of wildlife corridors, and the precedent it would set. You can read a backgrounder here.

At one point, a speaker asked everyone who had not spoken to stand up. Over 325 people stood up. She then asked us to sit down if we want this reckless development stopped. The air whooshes as every single person sat down. The sound that made was the sound of public opposition.

The public hearing on the controversial Marine Trail Resort proposal will continue tomorrow at 5:00 at Edward Milne Community School (6218 Sooke Road). And according to the local government act, the meeting must continue as long as there are speakers on the list.

Meetings like this have gone on for days before, sometimes longer then a week. And this project has so many people concerned, and so many reasons why it doesn't make sense that something similar is possible - if people like you come out and have a say.

So if you have time, please come out and register to speak. If you can't make it out, please send me a comment and someone will read it out loud and make sure it gets counted as part of the public record. We need comments by 4:00 today

Carpools are available, please email at tria@wildernesscommittee.org to confirm. We will be meeting at 3:30 at Centennial Square. 

-Tria Donaldson
Pacific Coast Campaigner