After hearing a presentation by Western Forest Products, directors at the Powell River Regional District planning committee on July 17 voted to recommend that the board advise the company that the district has no objections to TFL [Tree Farm Licence] 39 Draft Timber Supply Analysis.
Land use
Pertaining to a three-lot strata subdivision proposed near Emmonds Road, the planning committee was in support of waiving the 10 per cent frontage requirement but had concerns regarding the five per cent park dedication suggested by the applicant. It was resolved that the board would direct staff to either continue working with the applicant to locate a more appropriate site for the park dedication or accept cash in lieu.
Waste-to-energy initiatives
At the July 19 committee-of-the-whole, directors amended and passed a motion that, based on the regional district’s own solid waste management plan, would direct staff to monitor the Metro Vancouver solid waste management planning process and the plans of any proponent considering establishing a waste-to-energy incinerator in the Powell River region.
Emergency executive committee
Directors accepted terms of reference for a regional emergency executive committee to be formed at a later date as a consolidated replacement to two separate emergency executive committees that were dissolved last year. The proposed committee would be comprised of two elected officials each from the regional district, City of Powell River and Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation as appointed by the chair of the board, along with three chief administrative officers, Powell River Fire Rescue chief and one emergency program coordinator.
Campground registration
The board passed a motion to direct staff to investigate the registration and reservation options available for campgrounds within the regional district. Several of the suggested options were self-registration, check-in by electronic means, as well as a larger window of time in which campers can register or reserve a site.
Columbarium
Directors agreed to direct staff to investigate placing a columbarium at Woodlands Cemetery on Texada Island with findings to be presented at the committee-of-the-whole meeting on August 9.
Board adopts procedure bylaw
Directors adopted a board procedure bylaw, without comment. The bylaw allows directors to participate in board meetings through electronic means, as long as they are in the regional district. Because of a provincial government regulation, directors are not allowed to participate electronically in committee meetings.
Road support
Directors passed a motion to provide a letter of support, in principle, for the Third Crossing Society’s proposed road to be constructed between Powell River and the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Colin Palmer, board chair and Electoral Area C director, removed himself from the discussion and vote because he is a director of the society.
Coast Guard station
Directors agreed to send a letter to the federal government objecting to the closure of Canadian Coast Guard stations on the BC coast. While there is no proposal to close the Powell River station, the federal government is proposing to move the Marine Communications and Traffic Services centres in Comox and Ucluelet to Prince Rupert and the Vancouver centre to Victoria.
Water licence
Directors had no objections to an application for a water licence to extract 7.25 cubic metres of water from Barrowclough (Wednesday) Lake for domestic and power generating purposes as long as certain conditions are met.
Bylaws
Directors adopted the Myrtle Pond zoning bylaw. They also gave third reading to an amending bylaw for the Lund official community plan that establishes greenhouse gas reduction targets and policies.
Financial statements
Directors accepted the 2011 audited financial statement prepared by BDO Dunwoody and the associated management report.
