Approximately 30 members of the public attended the City of Powell River council meeting on Thursday, March 6, to see what would become of the sustainable official community plan (SOCP).
The agenda included the third reading of the plan and a last chance for council to make changes. A public hearing took place mid-February as the final chance for the public to voice opinion on the document.
There had been two areas of concern for the public relating to the SOCP. The first related to a stretch of forest land behind Powell River Historic Museum and Archives and Putters Mini-Golf, and east up to Harvie Avenue. Currently, there is a stand of timber in the location that was identified as being active habitat for the great blue heron. The draft SOCP proposed the land designation be changed from parks, schools and greenspace to urban residential medium density.
At the public hearing Powell River resident Wes Bingham told council he objected to the removal of parkland that is within the vicinity of the museum. “There is already ample land in the town that is zoned for multi-use housing that is not being sold, not being developed, that has beautiful views, and is close to the park and amenities of the town.”
At the council meeting on Thursday, he spoke about the issue in a roundabout way. “We all differ in matters of opinion,” he said. “It’s important that we do not have blinders on when approaching the issues that face us.”
The second issue related to the inclusion of provision for co-treatment/consolidated liquid waste management within the proposed SOCP. At the public hearing, Ellen Gould brought the subject to the public’s attention, saying: “Including joint treatment in the vision of SOCP makes a mockery of public process.”
In response, councillor Russell Brewer spoke to the issue at the council meeting Thursday, as he presented and amended the recommendation proposed in the meeting agenda for acceptance of the SOCP.
He proposed an amended recommendation to read: “that, in response to input received at the public hearing on Bylaw 2370, sustainable official community plan bylaw 2370, 2014 is amended by striking out section 7.10.2(g) in schedule A.” He also recommended that schedule B be amended to show the revision of the parcel of land between the museum and Putters and east to Harvie Avenue designation be changed back to parks, schools and greenspace.
Council voted on the recommendation and only councillor Chris McNaughton voted against. The SOCP bylaw has now been read a third time and adopted.
It is a guiding document that will stand for five years before being reviewed.
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