Salt Spring Island and the Southern Gulf Islands are very proactive and entrepreneurial places. This might be because they are unincorporated areas, adrift in the Strait of Georgia (I like the ancient title Salish Sea), under the control of the Provincial Government's Islands Trust. Created in the mid-1970s, with a mandate of "to preserve and protect" the environmental beauties of all the Gulf Islands, for the benefit of all B.C. residents, this Trust created strict zoning/density controls to prohibit growth. They designated Salt Spring Island as the Island to be the "hub" with all the amenites, including a hospital, schools, services -- basically all amenities required for a pleasing lifestyle, in the 21st Century -- and the other Islands have less available land for development, and less services. They might be seen as "summer places", then. Even Salt Spring has had its growth "capped", and we are already very close to what I term "the wall of no more". When you drive around Salt Spring, then, you're looking at it as it will be "forever". An artificial cap on growth, however, does create low inventory, always, no matter what market trend might be in play, at any given moment. Right now, then, with buyer's in control of the process of a purchase, it's a good time to consider a buy on a Gulf Island, including on Salt Spring Island (the one with the year round lifestyle). Good climate, rural/pastoral beauty, environmentally aware, ease of access and close to major centres, but wonderfully "apart"...it's a gem! Back to being entrepreneurial, though. One does have to create one's own way to be here...lots of opportunities, but not handed to one on a plate. More ideas? Call me! Looking for your special Island property? I look forward to helping you to connect to it.
liread33@gmail.com
www.liread.com
How may I help you to discover special Salt Spring Island & the Southern Gulf Islands? Call me!
