After 14 years, 3L developments has decided it will not pursue another rezoning application for the land near Stotan Falls.
The company said in a press release Tuesday, that it “will not be involved in any further application for rezoning and subdivision.”
3L first started the process in 2006, with hopes to build a subdivision within the 500 acres of land near the Duncan Bay Main bridge crossing the Puntledge River and along parts of the river’s course, which is also home to Stotan Falls, a popular swimming area in the Comox Valley.
In November of 2020, the Comox Valley Regional District declined the application to rezone the land in exchange for the parkland.
In the press release, 3L says they are “aware of a group of Comox Valley residents who are trying to save this land for park purposes. We applaud these residents and wish them success in their efforts to have the property annexed into the City of Courtenay and developed in accordance with the Regional District’s Regional Growth Strategy; however, 3L will not be involved in any further application for rezoning and subdivision.”
The popular summer destination for swimmers, sun tanners and adventurers was closed off with barricades and had 3L employees stationed at the gates last year, sparking uproar from the community, who would like to see the land turned into a park or public land.
The company says it hopes that the Comox Valley Regional District, City of Courtenay or other public or private party is willing and able to find a way to purchase the property so the public can have its park and access to the falls, but in the meantime, since the property and riverbed is privately owned by 3L, public access cannot be allowed.
We have reached out to the Comox Valley Regional District for a comment and are waiting to hear back from them.
