There really is only one issue in the Comox municipal election this year, and it’s whether the Town Council’s current four-vote majority’s vision for the future matches the broader community’s vision.

There are other issues in this election, of course. Should Comox rejoin several regional initiatives that the Old Block deserted? Should they join the chorus of other municipalities protesting Bill 44? Should the town strengthen its tree protection bylaw?

How will the next council handle a 20 percent increase in policing costs when updated census data tips Comox over the 15,000 population threshold?

But as a strict differentiator between candidates, none of the other issues provides such a stark and obvious contrast among the candidates.

In the process of updating the town’s Official Community Plan, the Old Block – Ken Grant, Steve Blacklock, Chris Haslett and Maureen Swift – painted a clear picture of how they ideally want the town to grow. They envision tall buildings all along Comox Avenue and possibly even taller buildings at the marina and at the top of Comox Hill. Maybe even along the Point Holmes promenade, just like Nanaimo, according to one of them.

These four have operated in a near lockstep majority on almost all important issues in the last four years, often letting development override community concerns. That’s not surprising when a councillor has strong ties to developers.

Ken Grant, for example, was supported for the 2022-2026 term by the biggest names in the local development community. Eight of Grant’s nine campaign contributors for the 2022-2026 term were developers.

And when Cameron Contracting applied to build apartment blocks at 1533 Cedar Avenue, Grant did not recuse himself from voting. Given that Teresa Cameron is one of his financial contributors, he should have.

But residents who think of the town as “Comox By The Sea” disagree with the Old Block’s vision. They envision modest height buildings throughout downtown, and appropriate developments that complement and enhance residential neighborhoods.

Comox residents who share this vision came out in large numbers last year to the public hearings on the Official Community Plan and expressed their dissent to the OCP. Most of them felt that the block majority ultimately did not listen to their comments.

Four new highly-skilled candidates – Lisa Bourgeois, Jessica Wegg, Neil Ladell and Vivian Chislett – share that vision, as do incumbents Jonathan Kerr and Jenn Meilleur. They hope to break up the Old Block and provide a fresh approach to community planning. 

They envision community-based planning where all voices are heard and taken seriously. They see balanced growth evolving by the community and developers working together to create the Comox of the future, one that retains its current charm and does not include light- and view-blocking tall buildings sprouting up randomly without careful thought.

As always, Comox residents will have the last word at the ballot box. And the Town of Comox will get the future that voters choose.

Election Day is on Saturday, Oct. 17.