Denman trustees advance heritage protections for Komas Ranch properties
The Local Trust Committee requested draft heritage-area bylaws, further archaeological information and a possible restrictive covenant for the rezoning application.
The Denman Firestarter · Published 2026-09-18
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The Denman Island Local Trust Committee requested draft bylaw language for a site-specific Heritage Conservation Area covering three properties in the Komas Ranch rezoning application. [1] It also endorsed terms of reference seeking additional information, with a final deadline of December 31, 2025, and requested staff develop a draft restrictive covenant. [1]
Staff said the preliminary field reconnaissance would address gaps in cultural and archaeological heritage information and help inform the proposed heritage conservation area. [1] The staff report said the applicant supported protecting cultural heritage values but questioned the need for the reconnaissance. [1]
A K’ómoks First Nation archeologist said there had been no significant or extensive excavations on the property and that archaeological material had been identified outside the registered site boundary. [2] The archeologist said the reconnaissance would document surface information and unpermitted work, without being intrusive. [2]
The property owner’s representative said three extensive archaeological digs had already taken place and that the ownership group questioned why another reconnaissance was required and why it should pay for it. [2] The minutes record that the representative said the rezoning resulted from a transfer of authority and that property owners should not be responsible for providing further archaeological information. [1]
The committee also approved a cost-recovery agreement, if necessary, allowing Islands Trust legal counsel to review a draft restrictive covenant for the application. [1] Staff described the covenant as a different tool from the Heritage Conservation Area, intended for environmental protection. [2]
The same meeting advanced a bylaw amendment allowing one secondary dwelling unit per lot in specified residential and resource zones, and gave the amended bylaw first reading. [1] Trustees said housing agreements could be used to achieve affordability, but resources were not in place to administer a high number of agreements; they also said properties with a second residence could not be subdivided and short-term vacation rentals were not allowed. [1]
Sources
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Denman Island DRAFT Local Trust Committee Minutes, January 21, 2025
that Denman Island Local Trust Committee request staff to prepare draft bylaw language to amend the Denman Island Official Community Plan, 2008 (OCP), to introduce a new site-specific Heritage Conservation Area for the subject properties at PIDs 000-211-338, 000-211-320, and 023-096-438, application DE-RZ-2023.1 (Komas Ranch Ltd.) including draft objectives, exemptions, and guidelines.
link checked · passage found in the document we hold
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Transcript of the meeting recording (250121D)
There have been no significant excavations that have occurred on the property.
link checked · passage found in the document we hold
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