Fire protection
West Howe Sound director Ian Winn has asked Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) staff to prepare a study on expanding the boundaries of fire protection districts.
Winn got unanimous backing for a motion at the Sept. 8 meeting of the planning and community development committee.
Winn said the motion was drafted “in light of what happened at the Dunham Road fire [in Port Mellon] in August, and the devastating loss – in front of their eyes – of a family’s home.” The fire happened in the early morning hours of Aug. 16.
Dunham Road is outside the West Howe Sound Fire Protection District, along with all of West Howe Sound beyond YMCA Road.
Winn’s motion calls for staff to look into “how regional district fire service boundary changes can occur” with an emphasis on regional or provincial legislative requirements, financial impacts, and impacts on volunteer resources.
The report is expected to come back to the committee no later than the fourth quarter of 2016.
AG zoning
SCRD directors adopted the new Agriculture (AG) zoning bylaw at the Sept. 8 board meeting.
The new (AG) zone replaces the existing RU3 (Rural Use 3), and the SCRD said it’s designed to encourage agriculture and bring local zoning in line with Agricultural Land Reserve regulations.
The bylaw does not deal with beekeeping. SCRD planning staff are going to bring forward bylaw amendments on beekeeping as part of a zoning review for agriculture in the rural and residential zones. CAO Janette Loveys said a report on those amendments is due in the fall.
The new AG zone also includes the North Road property of Persephone Brewing. The company is still waiting for the Agricultural Land Commission to rule on certain non-farm uses at their property.
Granthams Hall
Area F director Ian Winn told his fellow directors that there’s been “very good, positive progress” on the Granthams Hall project.
Winn made the comments in his director’s report at the Sept. 8 board meeting, which came the day after a meeting of the Granthams Hall renovation steering committee.
“Decisions were made as to the changes and scope of the renovation,” Winn said. “And we’re looking forward to bringing those [ideas] to a broader community meeting on [Sept. 22].”
Granthams Hall has been closed since May 2015 because of structural problems with the roof and foundation. It was hoped that renovation work could be completed this summer.
