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Village of Pemberton Council preview for Tuesday, Sept. 9

First look: Daycare building application; OCP amendment for Sunstone Ridge expansion; 2018 Annual Report Daycare building applicationOCP Amendment 2018 Annual Report
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Photo by Clare Ogilvie

Here's a quick look at what you can expect at the Tuesday, Sept. 10 Village of Pemberton (VOP) regular council meeting.

The meeting kicks off 5:30 p.m. at Council Chambers (7400 Prospect Street).

Daycare grant funding

The Village of Pemberton (VOP) is looking to take action on Pemberton's daycare problem.

VOP staff is seeking council's approval to apply for a $3 million grant for an additional building that would be constructed on the same lot as the Pemberton Children's Centre and be used to expand the number of spaces it offers.

Staff is also requesting up to $10,000 for the development of a conceptual drawings for the building.

The drawings are required by the province in order to apply for the funding.

If successful, the VOP would be the owner of the building, and the Pemberton Children's Centre would be the operator/lessee.

A recent report on Pemberton's daycare situation—presented to council by Lisa McIntosh of Sea to Sky Community Services this summer—calls on the VOP to commit to support the creation of an additional 46 licensed childcare spaces for Pemberton by 2023, increasing the number of spaces from 73 to 119 spaces.

The report found that there are currently only 12.5 spaces for every 100 children (0-12), which is well below the provincial average of 18.4 spaces for every 100 kids.

The report also found that 50 per cent of children were on a waiting list for care.

According to VOP staff, the province is currently looking to leverage existing facilities—such as school grounds, churches, and other public spaces—to support the creation of 22,000 new licensed childcare spaces.

Funding, added staff in the council package briefing document, will be given to communities with the greatest need, including rural and remote communities.

OCP amendment

VOP staff is looking to move forward on an amendment to the VOP's Official Community Plan that would allow Sunstone Ridge Developments Ltd. to expand its development.

The amendments would enable the reconfiguration of two lots, and the creation of nine, 2,000 square metre "estate lots."

The land in question, 4.47 hectares in total, are currently designated "Hillside Special Study Area" in anticipation of future OCP-level planning work and additional rezoning application work, reads the staff report.

The application would involve a minor amendment of the OCP, and therefore trigger a need for "early and ongoing consultation."

Staff is recommending an application referral to various stakeholders—including Lil'wat Nation and the Squamish–Lillooet Regional District—and that the project proponent be required to organize, advertise and host a public information meeting with respect to the proposed land.

2018 Annual Report

Council will also receive the VOP's annual report during its Sept. 10 regular council meeting.

Put together by staff, the 2018 Annual Report catalogues the VOP's strategic priorities and what was achieved over the past year.

In a letter included in the report, VOP Chief Administrative Officer Nikki Gilmore highlighted the Community Forest Partnership Agreement with Lil'wat Nation, the construction of the Friendship Trail Bridge, and the VOP's new comprehensive zoning bylaw as highlights for 2018.

(Work on the exit of the Friendship Trail Bridge is ongoing, expected to be finished in 2019.)

Gilmore also highlights advancement to high-speed internet access.

"As the way that people receive information is increasingly online, the Village is proud to have facilitated an agreement with TELUS to provide high-speed internet to our residents," wrote Gilmore.

"Pemberton's contribution towards the infrastructure was made possible through generous contributions from Pemberton's development community, specifically Alpi Group, Alture Properties (Crestline), The Ridge at Pemberton ... Sunstone Ridge Development Ltd., and Tiyata Village at Pemberton."