After much debate and public feedback, the Town of Gibsons is nearing completion on a new bylaw that will ban body-gripping traps.
The bylaw would see leg-hold, Conibear and snare traps banned within Town limits, a move ban advocates have been pressing for. Many advocates feel the previous drafts of the bylaw not only lacked restrictions, but its fine of $50 was insufficient.
Councillors at the July 19 council meeting agreed to amend the previous draft by raising the fine to up to $1,000.
Mayor Barry Janyk said he has no problem with raising the fine and feels the increase shows the seriousness with which council is treating the issue.
One caveat with the amended bylaw includes the ability for conservation officers to use the traps if an issue of public safety arises. Under provincial law, the Town is unable to interfere with that aspect, but conservation officers will be asked to inform the Town on trap locations as well as an alert when an animal is caught. Trap warning signage will also be posted in an effort to maintain public safety
Council and staff have worked to expedite the bylaw after a cat was recently caught in a Conibear trap on a residential property in Lower Gibsons, an incident Janyk labeled as very unusual and something the Town has not experienced before.
Final adoption of the amended bylaw was forwarded to the newly scheduled council meeting on Aug. 2.
Public hearing
The gallery was packed during Tuesday's pubic hearing on a proposed multi-family development proposed for Shaw Road.
Attendees, many spilling out into the hall's foyer, came to the hearing to provide feedback on the 20-unit project being facilitated by Longman Developments.
The project would require an amendment to the Town's official community plan and a discharge of the current covenant that limits the number of dwellings on the site.
A number of citizens presented their views, speaking both for and against the project.
Those against the project cited concerns such as increases in traffic and noise as well as potential parking issues that come along with multi-unit developments. Some worried about the project's density causing loss of privacy on their properties.
Alternatively, those who support the project said it would create jobs and provide lower cost housing, which, they argued, are needed in the Town.
Several citizens said they did not oppose the development but would like to see a lower density project.
Traffic on Shaw Road has been an ongoing contentious issue due to its potential use as an entrance and exit for development in the draft Gospel Rock neighbourhood plan, which is still being finalized by the Town.
Due to the hearing's large turnout and lack of time allotted, council scheduled a second public hearing on Aug. 2 to facilitate further feedback and review all the associated correspondence.
