Powell River Regional District directors dealt with two issues pertaining to the Myrtle Pond water system at a recent board meeting.
The first issue involved Myrtle Creek Estates, a 31-lot development adjacent to the water system. In 2007, the regional district entered into a water system extension agreement that required the completion of specific actions by the developer before the regional district would consider expanding the water system service area.
Mac Fraser, regional district chief administrative officer, reported all of the conditions have been met. “Particularly, there is no financial obligation for the existing ratepayers. The new ratepayers joining the service area will be solely responsible for the debt associated with the original infrastructure construction, as well as the additions to the actual water system, which, quite frankly, is providing quite a high level of water treatment,” he said. “It’s good for the whole system.”
As required by legislation, the property owners have now formally petitioned the regional district to join the Myrtle Pond water system.
The board gave three readings to an amendment to the Myrtle Pond service area bylaw that expands the boundaries to include the 31 properties.
Next, directors dealt with the Myrtle Pond zoning bylaw, which includes the new properties. The zoning bylaw was given first and second reading on March 24 and a public hearing was held on April 20. As a result of input received at the public hearing, the draft bylaw was revised.
Changes include: amended provisions contained in the commercial recreation zone to reflect the current number of units used for tourist or guest accommodation at Oceanside Resort and Cabins and recognizing existing long-term rental units on the same property, including two duplexes; the definition of commercial recreation was amended to permit an accessory residential use to the concession outlet; the section detailing permitted uses in the multi-family residential three (MFR3) zone was amended by adding rental dwellings as a permitted use; and the section on density was amended to read “one residential dwelling shall be permitted per parcel plus one or more rental dwelling(s), provided the overall density does not exceed one dwelling unit per 0.123 hectare in the MFR3 zone.”
The board rescinded the second reading of the bylaw and passed a motion to give the bylaw, as amended, second reading.
Because the changes are substantive, a second public hearing will be held.
