North Cowichan Couple Seeks Approval for Wedding Venue Expansion

Masika Allan and Randy Westlake are taking steps to establish their Oak & Vine Estate as a permanent wedding venue in North Cowichan. With over 20 years of experience in the wedding industry, Allan has hosted more than 500 weddings throughout the Cowichan Valley. The couple has submitted a zoning amendment application to the Municipality of North Cowichan to allow for up to 10 events annually, with a maximum of 80 attendees per event.

The couple purchased the 2.5-hectare property at 6380 Lakes Road in 2015, envisioning a venue that catered to the needs of couples seeking the perfect wedding experience. “I completely gutted a workshop building on the property to create the venue that I had envisioned for so many years,” Allan explained. After extensive renovations, which concluded in 2019, they successfully hosted four weddings that summer without any complaints. Allan emphasized that the venue was designed to minimize noise disturbances, with soundproofing measures in place.

Over the past few years, Allan and Westlake have organized various weddings and community events under temporary-use permits. To secure the future of their business, they are now pursuing a permanent solution through the zoning amendment. The North Cowichan Council is scheduled to vote on the application on January 21, 2024.

While some local residents have expressed concerns regarding noise and traffic, Allan reassured them about the venue’s soundproofing. She noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor events were necessary to comply with regulations, which may have contributed to noise complaints. Moving forward, all events will be held indoors, with venue doors closed by 21:00 to further reduce any potential noise after that hour. The events will conclude by 23:00.

In an effort to address community concerns, Allan and Westlake hosted an open house for neighbors to tour the venue and voice their opinions. More than 50 community members attended, and the couple gathered 1,600 signatures on a petition supporting the zoning amendment, including six from neighboring properties. Many of those opposing the venue are situated over 350 meters away.

To mitigate noise concerns, they have installed decibel-monitoring devices throughout the venue and along the property boundaries. Allan’s smartphone will alert her if noise levels exceed acceptable limits, allowing her to respond immediately. Additionally, they have expanded their parking lot to accommodate guests and commissioned a traffic study on Lakes Road, which indicated that the proposed events would not negatively impact local traffic conditions.

Allan highlighted the potential economic benefits of hosting weddings at their venue, estimating that the 10 events each year could generate a ripple effect of $1 million for the local economy. She stated, “A lot of livelihoods in the Cowichan Valley would benefit. There are only a limited number of wedding venues in the area, so many couples end up going to Victoria or other places.”

As North Cowichan prepares to make a decision on this application, the couple’s commitment to transparency and community engagement could play a crucial role in shaping the future of their wedding venue.