City of Powell River Council is seeking bylaw enforcement capability on lands previously owned by Catalyst Paper Corporation, Powell River division.
A request for partial removal of Section 21 of the Powell River Incorporation Act was introduced at the Thursday, September 4, council meeting.
“As far as the city having power over bylaws within the mill lands, we don’t,” Mayor Dave Formosa said. “It’s under this act that they have these special powers. Having said that, we have purchased some lands in partnership with the city, and the first nation, and the mill, and they have been taken away from mill use. There is no more reason to have the Section 21 on these lands.”
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said the initiative to permit city bylaws on the former mill lands has been a long time coming.
Mac Fraser, chief administrative officer, said if council approved the motion, BC Assessment Authority would amend the property title for the land in question and it will no longer have a caveat that it fall under Section 21.
The motion passed by council indicates that a portion of the land in the mill site area is no longer under the ownership of Catalyst; these lands are unoccupied; the city owns or co-owns these lands with Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation; and the two owners would like to see these lands developed for the economic progress of city and first nation. The motion further states the continuous identification of these lands as part of the mill site area has proven to be a disincentive to attract businesses and investors to utilize these lands.
In a report to council from Carlos Felip, director of planning services, Catalyst representatives have indicated that while the company is not prepared to support a full removal of Section 21, it does not object to an amendment to the boundaries of Section 21, so that the Section 21 area does not include lands not currently owned by Catalyst.
The motion directs the city to request the provincial government modify the description of the proposed boundaries of the mill site area so that the lands no longer owned or used by Catalyst are excluded from the mill site area.
