Sechelt council gave first and second reading May 16 to a proposed bylaw to allow wineries on parcels of land that span two hectares or more and are designated RR-1 or RR-2.
A citizen approached the District wanting to convert the Dahlia Farm at the top of Selma Park Road into a winery; however, currently it's not a specifically allowed use.
The proposed bylaw will now be scheduled for a public hearing.
Logo
Sechelt will move forward with plans to develop a new logo and tagline for the District, hoping to have the new logo in place by October.
Council voted to move forward May 16 with a "comprehensive program" that will start with criteria for the new logo being established in June.
A competition will be developed and the public will be invited to submit their entries sometime in August or September. The District plans to choose the winner in October.
Only Coun. Alice Lutes spoke against the motion to move forward with the idea, noting at a committee meeting May 9 that she is against the entire process.
She feels the initiative is a waste of money as the District paid $20,000 last year to have their logo and tagline redone professionally.
Coun. Doug Hockley, who brought forward the motion for change, said the effort is necessary as the tagline "Naturally Spirited" currently belongs to someone else.
"I'm surprised we haven't been sued yet," he noted.
When the vote was called May 16, Lutes and Coun. Mike Shanks were against the motion; however, it passed with a majority vote.
Target Marine
Council gave second reading May 16 to the official community plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendment needed for Target Marine Hatcheries to process sturgeon for caviar on site.
The issue will now be scheduled for yet another public hearing.
The application has already been approved by council twice; however, legal challenges have caused the process to start over once again.
This time around council plans to invite residents in Tillicum Bay to comment on the proposal and a new line has been added to the bylaw. The line explains that only sturgeon grown at the fish hatchery, located at 7333 Sechelt Inlet Rd., can be processed there.
There have been concerns raised by area residents about the possibility of Target Marine Hatcheries processing fish from other hatcheries on site.
According to council, the new wording is hoped to calm those concerns.
Budget
Sechelt had a special council meeting May 9 to officially pass the five-year financial plan bylaw and tax rates bylaw for the upcoming year.
Sechelt residents will be faced with a 3.5 per cent tax increase on their next tax bill.
Pipeline
The District recently forwarded a draft resolution to the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) with conditions for any future application to extend the amount of oil transported by pipeline or oil tanker in B.C.
The resolution asks the National Energy Board, Port of Metro Vancouver and all appropriate federal ministers to ensure applications undergo the highest degree of environmental assessment and contain meaningful public consultation including engagement with municipalities, regional authorities and First Nations, and that a plan and infrastructure are in place to immediately deal with any environmental concerns.
