At the Sept. 1 Sechelt council meeting, staff were asked to report back on options to provide the Gibsons Paddle Club space on municipal land with access to Sechelt Inlet. That group is looking for a permanent storage spot for two club canoes that have been used in Sechelt since 2002. Promoting his sport as one that has low-cost implications for local government, Ed Hill, club founding member, told council: “Our community sport takes a small land footprint and our gymnasium requires no upkeep. It flushes itself twice daily.” He asked council to consider providing the paddlers with about 200 sq. metres of land adjacent to Porpoise Bay. Hill said the group would maintain and provide its own insurance on any site provided. He suggested that an appropriate location would also need to have parking for about 10 vehicles available nearby.
Coun. Matt McLean suggested that the Kon Tiki Road beach access point, where Sechelt is planning to create a hand launch site for small watercraft, may have space to meet the club’s request.
In his presentation, Hill said the club has about 120 members, with at least 25 living in Sechelt.
Capital projects
Meghan Lee, manager of development engineering and sustainability, reported that the final lift of pavement on Trail Avenue is to be complete by the end of this month, in a capital project update received at the meeting.
Lee also noted that construction on the Wharf Avenue sidewalk improvement project is to start this fall with completion expected by March 2022. Mayor Darnelda Siegers commented that the intersection at Highway 101 and Wharf has been the site of frequent traffic backups throughout this summer. She said that in discussions with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff she has been advised that the ministry is looking at adding dual turning lanes at that location within five years.
Everbrite Ventures subdivision
First reading of a rezoning bylaw for the Everbrite Ventures residential subdivision on 5556 and 5558 Nickerson Rd. in West Sechelt was provided at the Sept. 1 meeting. The existing lots are zoned for up to two residences each and the requested change would create a dozen single-family residential parcels with minimum lot sizes reduced to 500 sq. metres. Council referred the bylaw to stakeholder groups and agencies and the Advisory Planning Commission for comment.
Planner Ian Holl told council that the developer would be responsible for building public road access and sewer collection infrastructure for the newly created lots, which could also benefit neighbouring properties. He said staff and the applicant would be negotiating a community amenity contribution payable to the municipality, which he estimated would be in the $35,000 range.
ICSP progress report
The absence of progress reports on implementation of Sechelt’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) was noted at the meeting. Director of planning Andrew Allen committed to having one before council within a month. Coun. Alton Toth noted that the 20-page ICSP endorsed in January 2019 was to receive annual reviews. Sechelt’s ICSP sets out seven goals to guide future decisions on the environment, economy and other aspects of community life for sustainability, with multiple sub-goals and actions.
Discussion of ICSP progress reports was sparked by a letter sent to all Coast local governments by area resident John Talbot. His letter requests that a regional structure and process for citizen engagement to help address climate change be developed. Council recommended that staff invite Talbot to appear as a delegation at a future committee-of-the-whole meeting to have a more in-depth conversation on his suggestions.
Meeting schedule
Sechelt council’s Sept. 1 meeting came after a break from meetings during the month of August. Its second meeting this month is scheduled for the evening of Sept. 8 (past Coast Reporter deadline) rather than during the third week of the month. The schedule adjustment was made to allow council members to participate in the 2021 Union of BC Municipalities convention slated for Sept. 14 to 17. The council meetings and the convention are being held virtually following COVID-19 safety protocols.
