The issue of allowing Target Marine Hatcheries to process sturgeon for caviar will go to referendum, following an "unprecedented" decision by council June 1.
"I think many people know that referendums are generally based on large council initiatives and/or money matters, so this is very unprecedented to go to a [referendum] on a zoning issue," Sechelt Mayor Darren Inkster said at Wednesday night's council meeting.
Originally Target Marine Hatcheries expected to have second reading given to their zoning amendment bylaw, but Coun. Fred Taylor introduced a new motion that passed in a four-to-three vote, effectively halting any further readings on the bylaw.
The motion was that "the District of Sechelt authorize a referendum to be held at the same time as municipal elections this year to determine the electorate's wishes in terms of the zoning bylaw and accompanying official community plan amendment regarding Target Marine."
"This will put some time and some distance between this and, as you know, we inherited this issue from the previous council in some ways because the courts found the process previously done was illegal. So by and large, we were faced with this matter coming back in front of us," Taylor said. "I don't understand all the details of that, but I do know enough that taking the time now with a process that's probably four years, five years, will probably hold us in good stead and make sure we know. The community who are interested in this issue will certainly make their views known and have a ballot to do that."
Some councillors saw the move as a way to avoid making a decision.
"I hate to think it's an effort to weasel out of making a decision toavoid having either side mad at you," said Coun. Ann Kershaw. "That choice would backfire, because you would lose the respect of both sides, and ducking your responsibilities as a councillor is really not being a go-getter. Anyone who runs for a council position knows that making tough decisions is part of the job. You all applied for the job, you got the job, so do the job."
Inkster agreed.
"I think this is an abdication of our responsibilities as an elected council. And it's not about the issue, it's about governance, it's about fairness to the community and fairness to the proponent," he said.
Coun. Alice Lutes said council has heard the public's views at public hearing and also pushed to have council make a decision rather than send the issue to referendum.
But the voices of Kershaw, Inkster and Lutes against the motion were not enough to win the argument against Taylor and councillors Alice Janisch, Warren Allan and Keith Thirkell, who acted as the swing vote, having supported Target's zoning bylaw amendment at the previous council meeting.
He made reference to feeling as if the fate of Target's application was in his hands.
"I'm pretty much convinced that the application as it stands, the building itself, will have very little impact on the surrounding neighbourhood; however, the emails I've got over the last month, I've been swamped, and to have a decision of this magnitude that does set precedents, that does divide a community rest on the shoulders of one individual member of council, to me is not democratic," Thirkell said. "I will decide and make the decision to err on the side of democracy."
While the public will have the chance to cast a vote on the issue in November, the results of that referendum will be non-binding, meaning the council of the day can legally do whatever they want with the application, no matter the outcome of the referendum.
In an interview with Target's general manager Justin Henry on Thursday morning, Henry said the move by council could effectively close down Target's operation.
"It's a year delay. They know we can't be delayed another year. They are trying to kill our business," he said, noting the referendum is in six months, but the results will have to go to a new public hearing, and the entire application will then go back to first reading, starting the process all over again.
