Comox mayoral candidate Tom Diamond has a strong vision for a vibrant town facing massive growth pressures — a future by design, not by default
Tom Diamond loves the Town of Comox. He’s lived there for eight years, and thinks it’s a well-run municipality. But he would like to see the town led toward a more vibrant future.
So Diamond is running for mayor in this fall’s election.
During a Saturday morning interview over coffee outside The Grind on Beaufort Avenue, Diamond talked about his strong vision for Comox, and why the town’s unavoidable growth pressures make it so important.
“Massive growth is upon us, the whole Comox Valley. We can’t escape it,” he told Decafnation. “But with a well-defined vision, we can plan for it and manage it.”
Diamond points to the town’s default residential zoning, which makes every development project a one-off discussion, or fight. Some projects are stalled for years as a result.
“That’s fine in a slow-growing environment,” Diamond said. “But we can’t afford that anymore.”
FURTHER READING: Tom Diamond for mayor
Diamond’s campaign platform is based on developing a clear community vision, and making zoning decisions ahead of time.
“The council doesn’t know what the right thing to do is without a community vision,” he said. “With a plan, we’ll know when the right development comes along, and we can choose wisely.”
Diamond sees the Oct. 20 municipal election as a referendum of sorts.
“Are the people of Comox interested in a plan for the future, one that creates a vibrant downtown, attracts 21st century jobs and housing with a range of styles and affordability?” he said.
“I think so.”
Background
Diamond has a masters in clinical psychology (counseling) and a Ph.D in organizational psychology (organizational development, human resources).
He’s worked for the U.S. Navy, several universities in administrative and teaching roles, a consulting group specializing in health care and as an independent psychologist.
Diamond was serving as Director of Academic Affairs for Walden University in Vancouver, when his family decided to seek a quieter lifestyle. They moved to Salt Spring Island, which proved to be too quiet.
FURTHER READING: Brain Fitness Center
The settled in Comox in 2008 as a happy medium. It offered a slow pace, yet had more opportunity for his family.
He’s gotten back into counseling since moving to the Valley, especially in the areas of biofeedback and neurofeedback to improve sleep and focus, reduce anxiety and recover from concussions.
His “brain fitness center” is called BrainiGo.
Vision for Comox
Diamond would use his experience in building strategic plans and forming collaborative teams to create a community vision that won’t get steamrolled by out-of-control growth.
He envisions a revitalized downtown core with a walking promenade from a more formalized seafood market on the docks up to Comox Avenue, lined with locally-owned shops and restaurants. He sees an expand marina, perhaps accessible by small cruise ships.
He sees a Granville Island-style public market, a community swimming pool and a safe network of pathways for non-vehicular traffic.
Diamond wants to encourage and attract technology jobs that will draw younger people to the town, and maximize recreational opportunities to keep them here.
“There are already a lot of younger, working families here that are underserved,” he said. “One priority will be to incentivize a wider variety of housing styles and price ranges.”
In Diamond’s vision, Comox not only keeps, but enhances the beauty of its coastline, and retains a small village feel within the downtown area.
The key, he says, is a “vision-led town council, rather than slowing everything down.”
Why mayor, not a council position?
Although he’s not held elected office before, Diamond says the mayor’s role is the right fit for his skill set and the motivation behind his campaign.
“I have a lot of big picture experience and that combined with my leadership and collaborative skills, makes me a better candidate for mayor,” he said. “I want to encourage people to get involved in shaping their town.”
He readily admits that his vision for Comox reaches high and will take time to achieve. But without that kind of thinking, he says the growth that is coming our way will bulldoze us.
“I believe the people want a future by design, not by default,” he said.
One more comment sent to me from a friend this am about loss of the Airpark……..The aesthetics are what speaks most people: the green-space almost in the heart of the city, the airfield/water-drome so unique unlike most, in being close to everything a fly-in visitor could wish for, a special place where not only technology as in airplanes/aviation co-exist in harmony with nature, and where people in the community (and visitors) likewise come to walk and appreciate together these diverse aspects of of our special place in the world. Please, let us not destroy that.
How about creating more interaction and purposeful decisions with the stakeholders (ratepayers)? Taxation and and benefits are disconnected. Have a vision for the community to share and celebrate the great geographical setting that the bureaucrats did not create. There is a great need for the government to show fiscal responsibility. Redefine what a public servant is. Enforce bylaw infractions and do not play political football with the residents. If the RCMP are not going to enforce, we should am
amalgamate and create our own police force. The RCMP are not town or city (urban) cops.
Wow, you sure covered the bases J! I like your big picture thinking and the links you draw between different issues. Citizen input to government decisions is critical. I want to hear from you now and after I’m elected. My door will always be open to Comox and I will ensure frequent public input through presentations, surveys, polls and voting mechanisms — all of which ensure timely and accurate communication with total transparency. Good information promptly collected doesn’t slow things down. The better the information, the sooner people can make good and lasting decisions. By the way, I’d like to lower taxes, improve our environment, increase bylaw enforcement and explore the potential of amalgamation.
Gee wis no one has commented on the Airpark and the importance of all the jobs it provides, all the tourists visiting via aircraft, its commitment to keeping it the green space it is and what it would become if it were to disappear and turn into something other than an Airpark. With a road and bridge going right thru the Estuary so close to the airpark. After the Watershed and Airpark community just breached the Airpark Lagoon giving all the rearing of salmon smolts a better place to grow and now The City of Courtenay’s Plan B of putting a road thru the next planned breach to allow the old channel thru the Kus Kus Sum site into the north east side of the Estuary. I wonder if it would become an election issue since the Comox Valley’s Paper “The Record Poll of May 28, 2015” shows
6.3 % of respondents think the Airpark should move and 93.7 say the Airpark should stay.
I think the Courtenay candidates running for election would definitely have to have an opinion. Lots of votes here and yes lots of retired airforce families that love the airpark and the green space it provides. Oh yes and no cost to the taxpayer as its 100% maintained by volunteers and of course all the jobs it provides working on aircraft from Companies all over North America not just Harbour Air. I think most (opinion only) people of the valley feel highest and best use of both the Kus Kus Sum and the Airpark property stay as is.
Question to candidates do you support the Watershed Society as well as Airpark and their existence or not? Lets see who answers that question the best.
Which bylaw enforcements are lacking in your view?
One major problem facing the attractiveness of Comox-by-the-Sea is that over the years more and more buildings are blocking the view and sense and feel of the harbour and the bay bordering the town. We need a vision that preserves or enhances the waterfront. AND promotes that marvellous historical site as an attraction, which Comox can’t do without better co-operation and shared visioning with K’omoks. Comment please.
Good points Delores. We need shared vision from the whole community. I am seeking input right now from anyone interested in sharing their ideas about Comox. Then if elected, I will launch a formal visioning process to harness the rich talents of the Comox community. I am confident we will create a plan that will be an exciting blend of natural beauty, history, shopping, dining and other amenities for families and citizens of all ages. Please see more ideas on my website at http://www.mayortom.ca.
Delores, I like your emphasis on being able to see and feel the sense of living on a harbour inside a beautiful bay. We do need to enhance our views of and accessibility to the waterfront, while improving environmental health. I’d love to see our beaches once again produce safe shellfish, and see local marine life thrive because of the way we develop and manage Comox. Unchecked sprawl destroys, while well-planned growth helps people and the environment live well together.
Interesting! Been here 24 years and as a former management consultant the real reason there are few businesses in Comox is that we do not have the population to support many businesses and people from Comox travel to Courtenay to shop and people from Courtenay do not come to Comox for the same reason. The secret is to find something that is different than the run of the mill businesses. How do you feel about amalgamation? This will be one of the issues during this election.
Thanks for your comment Betty-Anne. We need much more vibrant shopping and dining offerings. We could create a fantastic experience for locals and tourists by making a walk-only promenade that stretches from Comox Ave down to the marina. This would also attract more tourists and residents, in a planned growth strategy that helps businesses thrive while maintaining a clean environment. Please see more idea in my website at http://www.mayortom.ca.
Betty-Anne, amalgamation is a very interesting idea with some great potential. But the devil is always in the details, isn’t it? I will have to see how plans develop before I take a stand. Comox is my top priority and I will work hard to make sure our Citizens get the environment, jobs, economy and amenities they want. Whatever happens, if we create and stand for a clear Comox vision, we will protect our quality of life now and build a brighter future.