Pender OCP public hearing
Pender Harbour’s Official Community Plan (OCP) is heading toward second reading at the board and a public hearing on Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Pender Harbour Community Hall.
A draft of the OCP received first reading in April 2017. The revised version presented at committee July 12 received favourable feedback from Pender Harbour/Egmont director Frank Mauro, who said it contained “good, clear and concise language.” He also said the Pender Harbour Dock Management Plan was not included in the OCP since as a provincial plan it falls within a “different regulatory regime.” The latest revisions to the OCP include support for redevelopment on brownfield sites, buffering residential developments in proximity to Agricultural Land Reserve, support for social hubs and community connectedness, and the addition of a section on densification strategies to support affordable housing.
Moorage at Plowden
SCRD directors gave their support to AJB Investments’ application to the province to build a private residential moorage in Plowden Bay, next to property under review to be rezoned to allow for a tourist accommodation called Plowden Eco-Lodge. The moorage site can also be accessed by forest service road and will be used by three dwellings, which are being developed in the area, separate from the eco-lodge.
During discussions, West Howe Sound director Ian Winn said he supported the application pending conditions outlined in the report, such as preserving water quality, identifying and protecting eelgrass beds, and preserving public access along the foreshore. “I’m very pleased to see … that the moorage facility could be used as a community facility,” Winn said, noting the province would have to provide details on access. He also requested that another condition be added: that the “applicant is encouraged to not use polystyrene in any components of the moorage facility.” The motion was passed and approved by the board.
SAR to expand its Field Road building
The amount of land the Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue Association leases from the SCRD on its 1975 Field Road property in Wilson Creek could be increased, allowing the association to expand its hall.
The current lease between the SCRD and the association is registered for the purpose of a community building, specifically for the storage of equipment and a search and rescue vehicle. The new lease would see that definition expanded to include meetings and training, with any further uses requiring SCRD approval. The amended lease would have a term of 10 years with four 10-year renewal options for a possible total of 50 years, which is the same as the building’s projected lifespan. The lease will be amended pending board approval.
