A public hearing into a proposed zoning amendment bylaw for the planned resource-recovery centre at the old incinerator site near Willingdon Beach drew support and opposition.
At the hearing on Thursday, November 7, acting mayor George Doubt said proposed bylaw 2588 is to amend the City of Powell River zoning bylaw, 2100, 2006 by replacing the definition of civic use that will permit a solid waste processing and disposal facility only, specifically over those lands leased to qathet Regional District by the city to operate a resource-recovery centre.
Deputy corporate officer Malonie Shaffer reported that 15 pieces of correspondence had been received in support of this bylaw.
Resident Mark Hassett said he was opposed to the bylaw amendment because of the cost of the project. He said the cost of the facility is in the neighbourhood of $13 to $15 million to build. He said qathet Regional District had received a grant of $6 million to mitigate the former incinerator site lands.
“The regional district is going to kick in, if I recall right, between $2.5 and $3 million and the city is on the hook for another $6 million if it comes in at that price,” said Hassett. “A lot of taxpayers can’t afford what it’s going to cost to pay back that $6 million, never mind what it’s going to cost to operate this site.”
Hassett said it has been stated that the new facility would employ 15 to 20 people.
“It’s great for the town, don’t get me wrong, but somebody has to pay that payroll,” said Hassett. “That payroll will be more than $1 million a year if you’ve got 15 people there. A million dollars a year is about a seven per cent increase in municipal taxes just to cover it.
“As a city, I know you guys have a job to do, and you’ve got to look out for us and do it right, but I think the amount of money this is going to cost, to what we are going to get out of it, and the shape of what we are going to put the town in, I think is bad. It’s putting a terrible burden on the people of the city and the regional district.”
Hassett said he thinks the whole matter should be re-examined to see what the cost is before it goes ahead.
Residents Elizabeth Kolbuch and Inga Norris said they agreed with Hassett. Norris said she was not clear on the costs and would like it to be crystal clear. She added that she would not be pleased with a seven per cent raise in her taxes.
Karen Skadsheim said she was in support of this rezoning. She said the item before council was not about the operation or what was going to happen at the resource-recovery centre, it was simply to rezone the property to allow it to happen.
“All those things are already in motion,” said Skadsheim. “I support the bylaw amendment because that’s all we are doing here. There are other questions that should be looked at another time but this is not about whether the project goes forward. It is just the rezoning. I support the rezoning.”
Charles Latimer said he was brand new here, having lived in Powell River for less than a year. One of the first things he ever saw, he said, was a presentation regarding the resource-recovery centre.
“It made me really kind of happy about moving here,” he said. “They have their stuff together and they are looking toward the future.”
Latimer said he agrees that way more has to be done regarding recycling and sending everything to landfill can no longer be afforded.
“For me, this is crucial, we need to move forward on this, so obviously I’m in support,” he added.
Ronnie Uhlmann said this has been in process for years. There have been open houses and there has been lots of information out to the community so this is not a new thing for the town.
“We need to move on this and I think Powell River tends to be behind,” she said. “If you go over to the island you see Comox has been dealing with solid waste for years. Sometimes, here, it seems like we are inventing the wheel. We need this.”
Brian Drezet said he supports the project and the rezoning.
“Having watched this project since its inception, it's been a long time and a lot of investment in people’s time to get it to this point,” said Drezet. “Council should do everything in its power to expedite this as opposed to putting obstacles in its way.
“The design and cost issues are things that need to be brought up and I believe there will be an opportunity for the community to be part of that conversation, but I feel the way things are working now, is poor, and it’s only going to get worse. We, as a community, need to look toward the future and this resource-recovery centre. The designs I’ve seen are really cutting edge and give us an opportunity to do something in our town that’s kind of exemplary.”
The matter will now be going to city council for consideration for final adoption.
