The following are briefs from the March 11 council meeting:
Now try hitting the fast forward:
Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation and Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing (BIRCH) will have to wait for up to 90 days to hear if they will get leases on their preferred Lot 3 properties. Council voted to wait (“pause”) until the Mayor’s Standing Committee on Community Lands had reported back with a recommendation before entering into lease agreements with the organizations.
They gave the committee, which has met once, 90 days.
A similar resolution came before council on February 19, when council gave the committee 30 days to report back on the health centre and BIRCH properties, however Mayor Gary Ander said Monday that wasn’t enough time for the committee to do its work.
Representatives from both organizations said Monday that this delay is a hindrance to their respective projects.
Council stated through resolution that it was still committed to leasing land to both BIRCH and the health centre at a nominal rate.
A real multi-use facility:
A Land Use Bylaw amendment for Eddie’s pit on Buchanan Road passed first reading Monday.
“The applicant [Eddie Weismiller and Donna Pringle] would like to use a portion of his property for a vehicle impound facility, to temporarily store and sort green waste and scrap metal, and to carry out wood chipping,” said the staff report to council.
Though councillors raised concerns about the noise, the hours of operation and the state of the road, the amendment passed unanimously and will now go to a public open house, to municipal committees for recommendations and for technical studies.
Bowen’s own Sea to Sky gondola:
Owners of a property at Hood Pt. want to put in a tramway between their house and the sea. The tramway would be within the 30-metre ocean setback all around Bowen, meaning the property owners need a variance.
Councillor Sue Ellen Fast said that similar tramways have started popping up on other islands that she’s concerned about the visual impact of such a structure.
Ander noted that this wouldn’t be the first tramway on Bowen (there’s apparently one out at Captain’s Way).
“I like the idea of a tram for old people,” he said. “Maybe they could paint it green or something.”
The recommendation that came before council was to notify neighbours that council would be considering the variance. The motion passed with only Fast against.
Rough seas for ferry lineup bylaw:
Council deferred giving second and third readings to the ferry lineup bylaw that’s roused some controversy.
The proposed bylaw states that:
- All vehicles in the ferry line-up must pull up within 0.6 metres (24 inches) of the vehicle next ahead in the ferry line-up or at the start of a hatched area; and only enter the ferry lineup for the purpose of waiting to board the next available sailing.
- All ferry traffic must enter the ferry line-up behind the last vehicle in the ferry line
- No person shall park overnight in the ferry lane. No person shall stop in the ferry lane other than to wait for the next available ferry.
Councillor Michael Kaile called the bylaw as it’s written “cack handed and ill-conceived” and said that “it’s turned into a ghastly topsy of a mess.”
Councillors Maureen Nicholson, David Hocking and Fast defended the bylaw but noted it needed a few changes.
Council sent the bylaw back for revisions, asking staff to take into consideration the myriad of public comments such as taking into account the double lanes up by the community school, the possibility that people might abandon lineup spaces and the practicalities of enforcement.
What’s Boris up to these days?:
As the Island Trustees meet this week to discuss the 2019 budget, council unanimously decided to ask that the Islands Trust review Bowen’s contribution “to reflect an equitable contribution for Bowen Island and its taxpayers.”
Councillor Alison Morse, a former Islands Trustee, noted that this will have no impact on this year’s requisition.
Bowen’s proposed 2019 contribution is $329,609 (it has gone down from $332,658.)
Muni Morsels: trying to get you to eat your carrots since 2018.
