A community information meeting and public hearing are set for next Wednesday, April 10 to receive input on a proposed land-use bylaw for smaller islands in the Gambier Island Local Trust Area.
The Gambier Associated Islands Land Use Bylaw 120 would apply to islands in West Howe Sound, excluding Gambier and Keats, and north to Halfmoon Bay.
It would replace the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) land-use bylaw inherited when the Islands Trust was established and bring regulations into conformity with the official community plan for smaller islands adopted in 2010.
In his report at the March 21 planning and development committee, SCRD senior planner David Rafael identified one minor issue with the new bylaw, saying it was unclear if the sale of produce would be permitted from the same parcel that it's grown on.
Other than seeking clarification on that one item, "there are no conflicts with SCRD interests and SCRD staff have no concerns regarding Bylaw 120," Rafael said.
In fact, the SCRD might want to consider borrowing one section during its own land-use bylaw review, he said.
"The bylaw includes a provision to permit solar collectors, micro hydro generating stations and wind turbines (limited to no more than 50 kW) in any land zone for the purposes of supplying power to the lot on which the structure is located. For sites adjacent to the foreshore geothermal equipment is permitted to serve the lot on which it is located," Rafael said.
"This is an interesting policy and can contribute to providing small-scale green power."
The community information meeting will be held at West Vancouver Seniors Centre, 695 21 St., from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m., and will be followed by the public hearing.
