Public hearing for ferry zoning
A public hearing has been scheduled for a proposed bylaw amendment for the BC Ferries terminal at Langdale. The hearing will take place on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at Eric Cardinal Hall in West Howe Sound.
The bylaw will allow four lots at the ferry terminal to be amalgamated, which makes it possible for marine vessels to be stored, emergency float plane and helicopter services, a transportation centre for foot passengers, retail and food services including food trucks, parking and a park area. It also places a height restriction of 25 metres on structures and 20 metres on buildings.
The proposed amendment removes “vessel personnel accommodation” from the bylaw, requires that BC Ferries and the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) form an agreement to resolve access to the Langdale Well as well as parking in the area where the well is situated. The amended bylaw also removes the lease area containing overflow parking from the zoning, because the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure owns it and remains interested in the land.
Emergency preparedness
The SCRD board approved staff to apply for a grant seeking approximately $23,000 to “provide valuable and urgent emergency telecommunications equipment and repairs to the Sunshine Coast Emergency Program Emergency Operations Centres.”
According to the staff report, the Community Emergency Preparedness fund “is intended to enhance the resiliency of local governments and residents in responding to emergencies.” The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) administers the funds.
At the committee meeting, Janette Loveys, chief administrative officer, announced that another UBCM community emergency preparedness fund grant was successful.
Resolutions to AVICC
Town of Gibsons director Jeremy Valeriote asked that funding for improving bike infrastructure be added to the list of resolutions to the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC).
“Every time I see a cycle tourist on the highway, I’m reminded of this… There is the potential here for a very simple ask, which is to increase the amount of the BikeBC fund,” Valeriote said.
Other resolutions include the request that the Ministry of Health modify its Travel Assistance Program to ensure patients from ferry-dependent communities requiring significant medical procedures get guaranteed spots on the ferry, and that UBCM advocates for providing “water purveyors with greater control over the watersheds that provide drinking water to their communities,” while recognizing Indigenous water rights.
