ISLANDERS' SECURE LAND ASSOCIATION (ISLA)

Report on meeting with Denman Lands Project Team - 21 March 2007

Present: North Denman: Henning Neilsen, Bente Neilsen, Joanne Harrison, Tony Quin

ISLA: Michael McNamara, Erin O'Brien, Bill Engleson, Tony Law

This meeting was convened so that North Denman Lands could provide information to ISLA with respect to the current status of the project and the anticipated process.

The following information was provided:

2,374 acres are owned by North Denman Lands Inc. (NDLI) 156 acres have been transferred to Denman Conservancy Association and conservation covenants have been registered on a further 176 acres of sensitive land. NDLI carried out assessments of the area's ecology, agriculture and forestry capabilities, hydrology, slope stability and other features.

Before proceeding with a rezoning application, NDLI presented three options for community consideration:

Option1 involves retaining the status quo of current zoning. No land would be available for community purposes.

Option 2 involves adding 48 new lots and the donation of 800 acres of land for conservation and/or community use (plus and endowment for their management) and community control of the gravel pit which generates $30,000 revenue a year.

Option 3 involves adding 63 new lots and the donation of 1,200 cares (with endowment and the gravel pit).

NDLI held 16 neighbourhood meetings to explain the options.

A community questionnaire resulted in a 38% response with 26% favouring Option 1, 16% favouring Option 2 and 58% favouring Option 3.

An application will be submitted to the Islands Trust in April.

If a land donation results from a succesful application process, the land will likely be held by an inteim owner (such as the Islands Trust Council) while community planning takes place for these lands. The $350,000 endowment fund would be available for the execution of a management plan and financial plan. Ongoing income from the gravel pit could help support management of these lands.NDLI are willing to hire a community coodinator and other resource people to work with community organizations.

Uneasiness was expressed both by members of the project team and ISLA about the appropriateness of beginning the community planning process before the political decisions have been made. ISLA members stated that ISLA will want to remain neutral during the political process.

Tony Law - 22 March 2007