The following are briefs from the July 30 regular meeting of District of Sechelt council.
Communications policy changes deferred
District of Sechelt council voted to defer a decision on its communications policy until its next committee of the whole meeting, scheduled for September.
It was decided last May, Sechelt council could no longer communicate directly with district staff – with the exception of the chief administrative officer (CAO) – following a new policy adopted at its May 1 regular meeting.
The temporary policy meant council has since had to send electronic or written communications to the CAO and acting mayor (or their designate) who then passes on the communication to staff and coordinates responses, as well as arrange in-person meetings.
The policy was introduced last year, while council was awaiting the results of the Cuff Report governance audit of internal processes, aimed at improving efficiency. The 176-page audit was released unredacted at the July 30 meeting.
A staff report included in the May 1 meeting agenda stated there had been recent concerns over the “consistency and effectiveness” of communication between council and district staff.
The policy also states that all communication from staff must be sent to all council members and that the acting mayor will respond to a council member’s request no later than the end of the next business day.
The policy was to be discussed July 30, 2025 with options to rescind it; review and amend it; or amended at an updated review date and be adopted as amended.
Patios progress
Sechelt council voted to support an application from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 140 to create a new street patio at its location at 5546 Inlet Avenue.
As part of the application process, the provincial Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB), requested the district collect public input from nearby residents.
During the July 30 meeting, one local business owner spoke against the proposal citing noise concerns. Staff also received a letter of support detailing the importance of the Legion to the community.
In February, the Legion successfully applied to the LCRB to increase its liquor licence capacity from 60 to 100 people.
It was the same situation with an application from Fred’s restaurant, located within the Sechelt Inn (formerly the Driftwood Inn) to add a street-level patio to the Boulevard, which if approved by the province will include six, two-person tables.
One woman spoke against the proposal at the meeting, while another wrote in support of the patio, suggesting it could be “another draw to our waterfront.”
With the addition of the patio, the Sechelt Inn, located at 5454 Trail Ave., would have a liquor licence allowing a capacity for up to 174.
As with the Legion, it will now be up to the province to make the final decision on Fred’s.
Mills Road development permit
Council conditionally approved a development permit for a proposed small-lot subdivision with multiplex units at 5476 Mills Rd., subject to the issuance of the preliminary layout.
According to a staff report, following a Feb. 19 council meeting, the applicants had proactively amended the proposal by reducing the number of proposed parcels from eight to seven and decreasing the parcel coverage.
Lot coverage would increase from 50 per cent to 60, instead of the previously proposed 70 per cent. As well, setbacks would be reduced from three metres to 1.5 metres.
A staff report summary presented July 30 states the application addresses the objectives and guidelines of Development Permit Area No. 8. The subdivision application review continues and revised preliminary servicing plans are required before the preliminary layout review letter can be issued.
It added, both the development permit and development variance permit could be considered for approval subject to the issuance of the preliminary layout review. No major changes are anticipated as a result of updating the servicing plans from the previous eight-lot proposal to the current seven-lot proposal, the report said.
The development variance permit was also approved, allowing the developer to reduce the width of the lane right-of-way from seven to six metres, subject to the issuance of the preliminary layout review letter for the subdivision application.
The development permit was approved by council with Coun. Dianne McLauchlan opposed. The development variance permit was also approved, with councillors Darren Inkster and McLauchlan opposed.
