At their April 9 planning and development committee meeting Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) directors noted several concerns with a referral from the District of Sechelt for SSC Properties’ 162-hectare property off Sechelt Inlet Road formerly known as the Silverback site.
Among the concerns highlighted were a potential land use conflict with an adjacent crown land site zoned as industrial, the need for a water modelling study and the absence of transit in the area.
Directors also requested another referral in the future when a rezoning or subdivision application comes forward.
Currently the application is non-specific, staff noted.
“This is a proposal to amend the OCP to potentially set the table for future development applications,” said senior planner Andrew Allen. “What we have here is an amendment of the OCP. It doesn’t contain a specific development application, but it includes renaming the designation, it includes including it in the urban containment boundary and introducing a development permit area. So we have general comments at this time, but we don’t have specifics because we don’t know precisely what the demand will be on our water system or whether or not transit will service that area.”
Sechelt director Bruce Milne asked Allen if the “vague” proposal was unusual and he noted it was.
“Initially I looked for a little more detail,” Allen said, adding he would have expected a site plan to be included.
Despite the lack of information directors voted to send the District of Sechelt their concerns and comments, asking for another referral when more information is available.
Interfor burning
Interfor will not burn its wood waste in West Howe Sound, directors heard at the April 9 planning and development committee meeting.
Originally the company planned to burn up to 400 cubic metres of wood waste per month for up to 16 months at its property in the Twin Creeks area of West Howe Sound to rid the property of wood waste.
Interfor had to obtain a permit through the Environmental Management Act to start burning and the SCRD was forwarded the application as a referral.
Directors sent a long list of comments and concerns to the province regarding the proposed burning and staff said on April 9 that the permit was not granted based on those concerns.
Goldmoss
Directors heard that the Roberts Creek area planning commission (APC) wants to have another meeting to discuss the Goldmoss Gallery proposal after the first meeting became “almost a quasi public hearing,” Allen said.
Because of the volume of information shared at the last APC meeting no recommendations on the Goldmoss proposal were made to the board.
“It sounds like the APC wants to have a follow up meeting to come up with a thoughtful resolution,” Allen added.
While waiting for the APC motion to come forward Halfmoon Bay director Garry Nohr moved that directors arrange a tour of the Goldmoss property “before making any decisions.”
All were in favour.
Goldmoss is a gallery in a home in Roberts Creek that is seeking rezoning to allow for gallery activities on site. Currently the gallery is in an R-1 zone, which does not support the usage.
Strategic plan
The first SCRD board strategic planning session scheduled for April 22 has been cancelled. The first meeting will now be held on May 12 with the second meeting on June 2. A third and final meeting will be scheduled later in June.
