Nelson council agreed at its Feb. 4 meeting to provide a letter of support for the efforts of the non-profit Cottonwood Lake Preservation Society.
The group is raising money in an attempt to buy two parcels of land at Cottonwood Lake and the Apex Ski area currently being logged by Sunshine Logging of Kaslo for the landowner, Nelson Land Corporation.
Society chair Paula Kiss, in a letter to council, stated that the support letter would help the group obtain grants, and would also help with advocacy to the provincial government for changes in legislation to place controls on private land logging.
Councillor Rik Logtenberg told council that the society organized an initial meeting in December attended by 400 people and that more recently a crowdfunding campaign raised over $50,000 in one month as seed money to help it apply for grants.
“We are beholden as a council,” Logtenberg said, “to listen to the community and to understand what they think is important and I think the Cottonwood Preservation Society embodies what the community wants, so I think as council we should support them, and a letter of support is the least we can do.”
The motion passed unanimously without discussion. The letter will be drafted by city management staff.
The directors of the Cottonwood Lake Preservation Society are Andrew McBurney, Paula Kiss, Bruce Morrison, Diana Garroway and Shayne Kasai.
Related:
• The logging plan no one wants to talk about
• RDCK negotiating with logging company about Cottonwood Lake forest
• Scientists and community groups support Cottonwood Lake preservation
• Meeting hears appeal for community group to buy Cottonwood Lake land