Stillwater lots
Powell River Regional District directors who sit on the planning committee have supported a proposed six-lot subdivision in the Stillwater area.
Island Timberlands has resubmitted an application to subdivide about 50 hectares that it owns upland of Stillwater Bay, property that encompasses the Stillwater dry land sort. The six lots vary in size from about two to 20 hectares.
The application first came before the board in 2006. The proposal was revised in order to establish public access to the beach.
In January 2007 the regional board voted to support the application, if access to the beach, required under the Land Title Act, was reasonable, preferably going through an adjacent lot owned by Island Timberlands and following a draw down to the beach.
The company proposed a different access, which the government did not approve, because it ran into the face of a large rock knoll.
The company changed the access to the foreshore in a revised subdivision plan. However, the new proposed access to the foreshore still ran into the face of the rock knoll, “making it a non-viable option for the construction of a road or trail to the foreshore,” according to a regional district staff report.
In October 2007, the regional district board passed a motion to not support the subdivision because “the proposed dedication to the foreshore has severe topographic constraints which would limit or preclude access to the foreshore.”
The motion stated that the board would be prepared to consider a revised proposal subject to “good access to the small beach area located on the remainder of District Lot 3040,” which is also owned by the company.
As well, the board wanted the company to: establish a restrictive covenant for the protection of watercourses in accordance with the Riparian Areas Regulation; establish a restrictive covenant to maintain a wind firm noise and visual buffer along the boundary between the new lots and the dry land sort operation; and formalize driveway access from Loubert Road to two adjacent properties.
Preliminary layout approval was issued by the provincial government in May 2008, but expired in May 2011. Island Timberlands submitted a new application in June 2012 using the same subdivision plan that had been given preliminary approval.
Directors considered the new application at the August 14 planning committee meeting. After a lengthy discussion, they passed a motion recommending the board advise the ministry of transportation and infrastructure that the regional district supports the proposed subdivision application subject to: approval being granted by the Agricultural Land Commission, as some of the land is in the agricultural land reserve; the establishment of a restrictive covenant to protect watercourses in accordance with the Riparian Areas Regulation; the establishment of a restrictive covenant to maintain a wind firm noise and visual buffer along the common boundary between some of the proposed lots; the inclusion of a beach access trail in the proposed buffer; and to either formalize driveway access from Scotch Fir Point Road to two adjacent properties or ensure an access road is built to those lots via the road dedication.
The motion is expected to be on the agenda for the August 23 regional board meeting, which will be held at Lang Bay Community Hall starting at 7:30 pm.
Ferry contract
BC’s government has awarded a contract for the coastal ferries community engagement program to a Vancouver company with ties to the BC Liberals.
The ministry of transportation and infrastructure awarded a $594,000 contract to Kirk and Co. Consulting Ltd., a firm headed by Judy Kirk, who served as the Liberal caucus’s executive director between 1994 and 1996.
Kirk and Co. Consulting was one of nine companies that responded to a request for proposals issued in June. The company has similar consultation experience on many major projects.
The consultation process, which will include both online and “in-person engagement activities,” will begin later this summer and is expected to conclude before the end of the year, according to the government.
