The District of Sechelt will have a detailed report with options for a new open air burning bylaw before them at the first committee of the whole meeting in October.
That report will include alternatives to allowing land clearing burns, information from the Clean Air Society and the possibility of storing land clearing debris at Construction Aggregates Ltd. The meeting will also likely have representatives from wood chipping and composting companies on hand as well as someone from Vancouver Coastal Health to answer any questions from council.
"If we're going to do this, let's make it meaningful," said director of corporate services Jo-Anne Frank at the July 6 council meeting, noting gathering the information and co-ordinating the representatives would take some time, including staff holidays and the September Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference, which will hamper the process further.
Council has been working on a new burning bylaw that could prohibit land clearing burns and backyard burning in an effort to improve air quality. It was suggested the new bylaw be introduced with a two-year grace period for residents to comply.
That two-year grace period had Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society member Heather Waddell worried when she appeared as a delegate last Wednesday.
"If land developers are allowed two years to comply with new regulations, we are very worried that big areas of forests and bush on the outskirts of the village will be cleared and burned within those two years," Waddell said.
Councillors were also worried the large areas that need to be cleared could pose a fire risk if not dealt with, as was brought up by Sechelt fire chief Bill Higgs at a previous meeting.
Coun. Keith Thirkell thought he might have the answer to that dilemma. He said the land clearing debris may be able to be stored at Construction Aggregates to be used for compost.
"They have 35 acres [14 hectares] of basically dust and I'm thinking as a short-term measure we might have the opportunity to truck and store at that site because they are looking for compost. I'd like a report on that," he told staff, noting if the pile did catch on fire, it would not pose a wildfire risk. "If it does burn, it's surrounded by dust and it's not going to take down the District."
Affordable housing
Council passed a recommendation to have staff seek out a non-profit group willing to operate and secure more affordable housing units in Sechelt.
The motion read, "That council request staff to seek expressions of interest for non-profit societies on the Coast to operate affordable housing units with the idea of creating a partnership with non-profit societies in the community who would present an economic plan on how we could develop multiple affordable housing units."
CSA housing
Council approved a housing agreement with CSA developments that secures one affordable housing suite at a maximum price of $200,000 or a maximum rent of $1,000 a month.
Planner Andre Boel said the development was too far along to wait for the affordable housing group to be set up, so staff took the lead on working out the details.
"Specifically this housing agreement does address concerns council had with the Pacific Spirit unit. The Pacific Spirit unit is very small and it is not that much below market price, it seems. This is quite a different unit," Boel said.
The unit is a one-bedroom adaptable space of 65 sq. metres in size. It includes medium to high-end finishes and appliances.
As the District's affordable housing group is not yet set up, the District will initiate a selection process for the suite four months before it is expected to be completed.
Boel expects the suite to be appealing to first time home owners and seniors, who were both identified as needing affordable housing options in the District's 2006 affordable housing study.
The CSA development is a project on Wharf Avenue that combines six commercial units and 24 residential units on three floors.
- Christine Wood
