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slrd update

Public hearing set for Area A/B zoning bylaw The residents of electoral areas A and B are invited to attend two public hearings to discuss proposed zoning bylaws for the areas.

Public hearing set for Area A/B zoning bylaw The residents of electoral areas A and B are invited to attend two public hearings to discuss proposed zoning bylaws for the areas. Feedback from the meeting will be considered by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District board when third reading of the bylaw is brought forward at the March 27 meeting. Amended second reading was given to the bylaw at the meeting on Feb. 28. The commercial section of the bylaw was amended to allow auxiliary dwelling units to be located in a building other than a commercial building. The meetings will he held in Gold Bridge (Hydro House) on March 13 at 7 p.m. and in Lillooet at the Ma Murray Room in the Rec Centre, on March 14 at 7 p.m. All members of the public are welcome to attend. Copies of the draft bylaw may be viewed at the Lillooet Library, Gold Bridge Library, District of Lillooet office or the SLRD office in Pemberton. Area D OCP Public Hearings A public hearing date has been set for Area D Official Community Plan, which received amended second reading at the Feb. 28 board meeting. The bylaw was amended to delete reference to specific population targets in Furry Creek, Britannia and Porteau Cove, and replaced with wording recognizing the significant development potential of these areas. Recent open houses in Area D provided public input that was mainly opposed to accelerated growth in these areas of Howe Sound East. The Public Hearings will be held in the Garibaldi Room, Howe Sound Inn (Squamish), on March 20 at 7 p.m. All members of the public are welcome to attend. Contact the SLRD office for copies of the draft bylaw. Fish Protection Act: Streamside Protection legislation discussed The SLRD Board discussed proposed provincial legislation which would require local government to enforce provincial regulations aimed at protecting fish habitat. The board agreed that the intent of the Streamside Protection Regulation was good, however, there are serious flaws in the proposed regulation, such as: Pre-existing polluters will be grandfathered under the proposed regulation. The draft result is silent about how to deal with potential conflict with other community needs such as flood protection. This is particularly a concern in the Pemberton and Squamish valleys. Variance process is weighted in favour of senior governments. Many activities, such as those regulated under the Mines Act and the Right to Farm Act, will be excluded from the regulation. Staff capacity at local government, property owners tax relief, and liability for the enforcement of the legislation are additional issues the SLRD is dealing with. Building blocks In January, few building permits are issued and if you are planning on building this summer, now is the time to apply for that permit — before the spring rush begins. Three permits were issued in January for a value of work of $458,380 and permit fees of $5,035. It is a small increase from January, 1999. A grant in the amount of $6,000 was given to the Bridge River Valley Economic Development Society to maintain their community resource building in Gold Bridge, and a grant in the amount of $1,000 was given to the Pemberton Emergency Social Services group, with a letter to the Village of Pemberton asking them to contribute to this new initiative. The next Board Meeting for the SLRD is March 27. Spring meetings are scheduled for April 27 and May 26.