Residents who will be incorporated into the proposed Myrtle Pond zoning bylaw had a second opportunity to express concerns and raise questions with Powell River Regional District at a recent public meeting.
Six people attended the meeting to go over the amended bylaw that will establish land use regulations for properties within the Myrtle Pond water service area. This is the second such meeting over the bylaw, the first being held back in April. The bylaw has existed in draft form since 2008.
Ron Radons, owner of Oceanside Resort and Cabins, had concerns that within the bylaw proposal he will end up paying fees for water usage despite the fact he is not on the system. Oceanside Resort uses its own well system for water and has not been on the Myrtle Pond water system for over two years.
“When we read the bylaw it’s all about water and I definitely don’t use any of your water,” said Radons. “I don’t propose to use any of your water and I don’t like to have your water and I don’t want to have anything to do with the water system. Being that way I should be left alone.”
Don Turner, regional district senior planner, explained that aside from a few costs associated with paperwork and sealing off the connection there would be little financial impact excluding Radons from the water system. Stan Gisborne, meeting chair and Area B director, commented that perhaps the boundaries should be changed to remove Radons’ property from the zoning bylaw.
Resident Gary Jackson voiced his concern that with the restrictions the bylaw brings in, including a limit to the number of dwellings on a property, property values will reduce.
“You’re putting a constraint on the resale of the property,” said Jackson. “This bylaw is going to cost money to anybody that’s inside it.”
Directors agreed there is potential the bylaw will affect property values but said that the board is not in a position to say what the impact will be.
The bylaw will now go back to the regional district for any changes it decides to make based on what was heard at the public meeting.
