Harbour Area Economic Development
Gibsons is getting nearly $25,600 through the BC Rural Dividend to create a Harbour Area Economic Development Strategy.
CAO Emanuel Machado told councillors Nov. 15 that Town staff will be working with local economic development consultant Michael McLaughlin of Rural Futures as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Sunshine Coast Tourism.
The strategy will be based on data gathered through surveys of visitors, residents and every business in the Landing area.
Machado said councillors will also have a key role in engaging with the public and businesses and spreading the word about the project.
He said drafting the strategy will take about six months.
Sign Bylaw
Gibsons’ new sign bylaw has cleared second and third readings.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s vote, Town planner Andre Boel said staff were recommending some amendments in response to feedback. One of the amendments was a special notation about neon signs. “These days neon signage has a different perception, because it’s more vintage and very specialized,” he said. Neon signs could be allowed through a development permit, or a variance.
A ban on backlit box-style signs will remain in the bylaw and so will a ban on animated signs, which has been in place since the ’90s.
Most councillors said they felt the changes were good, but also wanted to give the Gibsons and District Chamber of Commerce another chance for input before the bylaw is adopted.
“It’s 10,000 times better than our previous sign bylaw. I’m pretty happy with it,” Coun. Stafford Lumley said.
Microbrewery Zoning
Council voted unanimously Nov. 15 to adopt zoning amendments that would add microbreweries as an allowed use in commercial zones. Under the old zoning rules, brewing was considered an industrial activity and could only be done on industrial properties.
Under the new rules, brewing will be allowed on site, as long as the brewery part of the business takes up less than 50 per cent of the floor area.
The changes were prompted by an application for a microbrewery/tasting lounge in Gibsons Landing. Town staff suggested a broad zoning change instead of considering spot zoning.
The province is still considering liquor licence applications from the brewery proponents, and for a brewery/distillery in upper Gibsons.
