{"videoId":"Lcn5vGG-fdw","source":"serpapi","segments":[{"t":0,"text":"It's 7 o'clock and it's time for our August the 24th regular council meeting which I'm calling to order at this"},{"t":7,"text":"moment. We acknowledge meeting in the traditional territories of the Lquangan totten and hope meeting speaking Fisher"},{"t":15,"text":"nations with whom we are committed to building stronger working relationships."},{"t":20,"text":"Tonight's meeting is being livereamed and recorded enhancing transparency, inclusiveness, accountability, and efficiency."},{"t":28,"text":"[sighs]"},{"t":28,"text":"Members of the public can watch live or view the recording through our meeting portal under tonight's agenda page or on the District of Highlands YouTube channel."},{"t":38,"text":"Information and links to access the meeting were provided on tonight's agenda."},{"t":42,"text":"All right. Members of the public are welcome to share their comments during the petitions and delegations portions of the meeting, either in person or"},{"t":50,"text":"electronically. to speak at the meeting and receive the Zoom information the public was asked to request to speak through the meeting portal. Two written"},{"t":59,"text":"submissions were received after agenda publication and will be attached to the agenda following the meeting. They related to item 6.1 community bulletin"},{"t":68,"text":"boards and item 8.1 regenerative development zone. Also, we have Dune Watson has registered to speak this"},{"t":75,"text":"evening. Is there anyone else in person who hasn't registered but wishes to speak? Please raise your hand."},{"t":82,"text":"We have I believe uh yep, Libby McMman. Any other speakers?"},{"t":92,"text":"All right. With those additions, I look for approval of the agenda."},{"t":96,"text":"Move by councelor Rossings, a second by councelor Mlan. Discussion. Seeing none."},{"t":101,"text":"All those in favor? Opposed? Not opposed. That carries. Great."},{"t":108,"text":"So, at this point, I would like to invite uh Dune Watson to come up, press the button on the speaker and uh"},{"t":116,"text":"[clears throat]"},{"t":118,"text":"continue. There we go. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Thanks for the opportunity to speak to the bulletin boards. Um my"},{"t":126,"text":"name is Dune Watson, [clears throat] 4178 Mun, and as the chair, I'm speaking on behalf of the HDCA."},{"t":134,"text":"And uh you have before you in today's agenda, you have a report and recommendations that reflect um much of"},{"t":142,"text":"the conversation, a very long conversation that Sarah Jones and I had um about the bulletin boards. And most of that I think is very complete."},{"t":153,"text":"There's just a few things that I wanted to point out today before you make any um decisions."},{"t":161,"text":"uh the background of the boards is described in the report. it actually kind of neglects some important information"},{"t":169,"text":"and that was that the building and the installation of the boards was actually an HDCA initiative led by Bob McMman"},{"t":178,"text":"around 2006 and he designed and arranged the installation and this was something that was done by"},{"t":187,"text":"many volunteers um and a lot of personal attachment to some of those um bulletin boards."},{"t":195,"text":"I think some people even named their bulletin boards and um then because the cost was getting excessive, it was initially covered by Bob personally."},{"t":206,"text":"Then the HDCA tried to pay for some of it um but and through grants and finally the HDCA covered most of the costs of"},{"t":215,"text":"those bulletin boards and uh since that time the HDCA has used the boards to"},{"t":222,"text":"advertise all of our events. The boards are divided into two. One of them is used for um the public use for any kind"},{"t":232,"text":"of businesses. It does have the instructions to they only can they should be dated and they should be taken"},{"t":239,"text":"down. Um that never happens because there's actually nobody that polices the um bulletin boards. And um the other"},{"t":249,"text":"half is reserved for official community notices. And we do manage those sides because every time we put up a notice on"},{"t":258,"text":"the community side or on the official side, we tear down anything that's old and we remove things that aren't. Um I might point out that there are a few"},{"t":266,"text":"bulletin boards that are very well looked after. Um especially the one near Buan. It's always very tidy. It's been"},{"t":275,"text":"cleaned up and there's obviously somebody that's looking after that board. and there are others in the district that are very well taken care"},{"t":283,"text":"of and then there's a bunch that are a mess. Um, and one of the reasons the"},{"t":289,"text":"boards became a really important um or became important for communications was that the postal service changed"},{"t":298,"text":"their regulations and they wouldn't split routes anymore. So in order to have something sent out to the entire"},{"t":305,"text":"Highlands district, it had to also be sent out to people on routes that were adjacent and it just became an excessive"},{"t":313,"text":"cost. So the HDCA stopped sending out their newsletter because of that. Um the complaints [clears throat] about the"},{"t":321,"text":"boards that are in your report are definitely valid. I agree that they can get really messy and that there can be"},{"t":328,"text":"tax and stuff blowing underneath, but that's not the only place that garbage is coming from. A lot of that garbage is"},{"t":336,"text":"coming from people that go to their mailboxes and decide they don't want half of what's in their mailbox. the"},{"t":342,"text":"little plastic containers that we place the um district newsletter in four times a year um seem to be seen as a garbage can by some people."},{"t":354,"text":"Not sure about that. Um and uh so there"},{"t":361,"text":"was some comments about the um danger of where some of the bulletin boards were pointing out that they were on uh blind"},{"t":370,"text":"corners or in places that there's not enough room to pull out. I hate to say it, but those are all mailboxes, so it's"},{"t":379,"text":"not going to stop people from having to use those pull outs. Um, I personally have one on the blind corner on Mun and"},{"t":386,"text":"I'm terrified every time I stop to get my mail that I'm going to be hit as I pull out. So, that is a danger, but"},{"t":395,"text":"nobody's stopping to just look at the bulletin board. People only look at the bulletin board when they stop to get their mail."},{"t":402,"text":"Um, and uh, so those complaints, it would be interesting to know if they're specific"},{"t":411,"text":"to just one or two locations. And when people are complaining, are they asking that the bulletin boards be removed or"},{"t":419,"text":"are they just asking that they be tidied up?"},{"t":422,"text":"Um there is a strong historical and personal attachment that I've mentioned to those bulletin boards, but the report"},{"t":431,"text":"is very clear that there are problems with maintaining and servicing them. Um when the five bulletin boards were taken"},{"t":440,"text":"down, um we made a request the HDCA in February, it outlined that there are two"},{"t":448,"text":"really important times that the HDCA advertises. One is in April because we have the community cleanup, we have the"},{"t":456,"text":"Easter egg hunt, we have the broom bash and we have the summer markets. The other time that's really important is in"},{"t":463,"text":"September because the fling and this year the all candidates meeting. So we had asked that the boards be replaced by"},{"t":471,"text":"April 1st um or if that couldn't work at least by August 15th. and uh August 15th"},{"t":479,"text":"came and went and we still didn't have bulletin boards. So that was kind of the"},{"t":486,"text":"trigger that um I approached staff again. They were already in the process of putting together a very extensive um"},{"t":495,"text":"report about what to do with the bulletin boards. And after we talked about it for a while, I thought this is"},{"t":503,"text":"a much bigger problem than just bulletin boards. this is a problem of communication."},{"t":509,"text":"And um so Bob when I approached him about some some of this I he very wisely"},{"t":518,"text":"said to me uh wrote me a letter, \"The boards are attractive. They give identity to the district. They help spread news of upcoming events, but the"},{"t":527,"text":"time may have come for HDCA to bow out and let council decide on the future of the bulletin boards.\" And I thought that"},{"t":534,"text":"comment was really timely just as we're going into an election and maybe it should be the new council that makes"},{"t":541,"text":"that decision rather than rush through in whatever month we have [laughter] left. Um, so I think the community"},{"t":550,"text":"should have a say in how they receive news, but the cost of the bulletin boards has to be spelled out. If we're"},{"t":559,"text":"going to vote as a as the residents that we want those bulletin boards, we better make sure that we know what it's going"},{"t":567,"text":"to do to um the cost of them. And um it's becoming increasingly more"},{"t":575,"text":"difficult. We've talked about this numerous times to get volunteers for HDCA and to get people to go out and do"},{"t":583,"text":"the actual work involving the the bulletin boards. It falls on usually three or four people and I can't ask my"},{"t":593,"text":"board to keep doing that. So, um that that should be discussed as well. And um"},{"t":601,"text":"[clears throat] even though we do have a strong attachment to them, we would need additional volunteers and funding if we were going to actually take over that responsibility."},{"t":611,"text":"So for these reasons, I HDCA support in the meantime while we're waiting to sort this out, we need"},{"t":620,"text":"something to post community messages um at the five locations where the boards were removed. And the reason for that is"},{"t":628,"text":"they actually supply about 20% of the Highlands with information. And to take that away right before an all candidates"},{"t":636,"text":"meeting and right before the fling, I don't think is fair to the community."},{"t":641,"text":"Um, once the elections are over, I think we have to really focus on communication"},{"t":647,"text":"and if it takes a town hall, if it takes a similar meeting to brainstorm how we're going to communicate, determine"},{"t":656,"text":"whether the bulletin boards are still viable. And I think that should include council staff, HDCA,"},{"t":664,"text":"um all the other community uh volunteer groups, the Highland um Heritage Park Society, the Garden Society, and the residents."},{"t":674,"text":"And I also suggested there is one person in the Highlands who has managed to communicate probably better than anybody"},{"t":683,"text":"else and that's Michelle Cooper with her community Facebook page. If I talk to"},{"t":689,"text":"most people in the Highlands, they are all checking Michelle's Facebook page."},{"t":696,"text":"And I think we have to respect what she's done there and learn from her and"},{"t":702,"text":"brainstorm ideas to make hers her site maybe accessible to everybody. So that's those are just things that I think are"},{"t":711,"text":"important enough. Let's sort out the communication before we make a final decision on the bulletin boards."},{"t":718,"text":"Thank you. Any questions? Thank you."},{"t":723,"text":"Libby McMmin"},{"t":725,"text":"[clears throat]"},{"t":731,"text":"499 Milstream Lake Road."},{"t":734,"text":"Good evening, Mayor and Council. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on the item uh 8.1, the draft zoning amendment bylaw."},{"t":743,"text":"As you're well aware, the community has been dealing with this land use issue in the in the South Highlands for many many years, and I appreciate all the work"},{"t":751,"text":"that staff has done throughout that time on this issue. There has been a lot of positive movement and creativity in"},{"t":759,"text":"coming to the designation of regenerative development."},{"t":763,"text":"However, I'm concerned that the present bylaw amendment does not adequately capture and ensure the community vision"},{"t":771,"text":"of future oriented net positive land use. I [snorts] attended the open house and was disappointed to see that while"},{"t":778,"text":"the new RD zone encourages regenerative development and regenerative practices and provides increased land protection,"},{"t":787,"text":"there is nothing that ensures net positive outcomes."},{"t":792,"text":"The ingenuity and creativity that we need to see in future development will come only when it's required."},{"t":801,"text":"And right now I don't see that we have the tools in place that will bring that change."},{"t":807,"text":"If the land is zoned without without some assessment mechanism in place, we will have lost the ability to shape"},{"t":815,"text":"future development to reflect the community's vision and to meet the ecological crisis that's all around us."},{"t":825,"text":"My second area of concern relates to the pressure to recoup the cost of remediation of this land."},{"t":832,"text":"that work was done and the cost incurred uh as a result of previous inappropriate"},{"t":839,"text":"land use. I understand the desire to recoup costs through the sale of the land. However, we need to ensure that"},{"t":848,"text":"the sunk costs do not drive the outcome of this zoning amendment by either allowing uses we do not want or by"},{"t":855,"text":"rushing the process to conclusion before we have the necessary assessment tools in place. Our land decisions need to be"},{"t":865,"text":"forward-looking despite the time it takes and even if they do not result in the highest possible price."},{"t":873,"text":"Thank you to all of council and to staff for your work on this and continuing to do what Highlands is known for,"},{"t":882,"text":"recognizing the essential nature of land use decisions in ensuring the well-being of people and all beings now and into the future."},{"t":893,"text":"I hope that on this issue you will ensure that future zoning in all regenerative development [clears throat] areas includes a mean of assessing"},{"t":902,"text":"whether potential projects meet the criteria of net positive economic, social and ecological [clears throat] outcomes. Thank you."},{"t":912,"text":"Thank you."},{"t":913,"text":"I also wanted to say I'm happy to answer questions related to item 8.2 to the permissive exemption for WATH."},{"t":922,"text":"Thanks."},{"t":923,"text":"All right, that brings us to item three on the agenda, which is adoption of the minutes of the July 6th, 2026 regular council meeting."},{"t":933,"text":"Second move by councelor Ring, seconded by councelor Anderson. Discussion seeing none, I'll call the question. All those in favor? Opposed? None opposed. That"},{"t":942,"text":"carries. Item four is reports of committees and commissions and uh we didn't get a notification of this one so"},{"t":951,"text":"uh because of the summer break. That being said, are there any council members that would like to provide a verbal report this evening? Council Sing."},{"t":966,"text":"Thank you. I I think it ought to be publicly noted that Bill Vogel, who was on our first three councils and has has"},{"t":974,"text":"been a great supporter of the Highlands, was was acting mayor for a few short months and uh and provided popcorn for"},{"t":983,"text":"the fling uh at his own expense and his family still does uh in his honor. Uh I think it should be an honor that he passed in mid July."},{"t":995,"text":"Yeah, thank you for that. Yeah, we uh the sadness we send uh all of council sends their condolences to the family of Bill Bogo. Um he like you say, he served"},{"t":1004,"text":"on our very first council and was known for his upbeat and polite attitude. He showed up at every fling to make popcorn. I'm sure everybody's had"},{"t":1013,"text":"popcorn served by Bill and it's uh uh we wish him, you know, uh that he rest in peace."},{"t":1020,"text":"Thank you, Bill, for the great popcorn and a great service to the Highlands. All right."},{"t":1028,"text":"Any other speakers on the uh and I I have a few items that heard"},{"t":1035,"text":"during the summer. On July the 8th, we had a CRD board meeting and basically uh we heard about the CRD arts development"},{"t":1043,"text":"2025 impact report and this is a crucial impact of the arts development grant funding and AC from across Canada,"},{"t":1051,"text":"Victoria uh has include which includes all municipalities in the CD ranked number one in the country. It's a remarkable economic and social vibrancy"},{"t":1060,"text":"of the region's arts ecosystem. So congratulations for that."},{"t":1065,"text":"And then uh greater Victoria drinking water quality. Uh that's the 2025 annual report and uh the board approved the"},{"t":1073,"text":"drinking water quality and uh so we're very pleased to hear about that and the also supports the medical health"},{"t":1080,"text":"officers oversight role inspective system performance and reinforces public confidence in the safety reliability of"},{"t":1088,"text":"this essential public service. All right. And that also we had a few items like on the regional growth strategy"},{"t":1095,"text":"which they're going to start to update the regional growth strategy in early 202."},{"t":1101,"text":"So the RGS is a long-term framework developed by the CRD and local municipalities to guide how the region grows and coordinate land use"},{"t":1109,"text":"infrastructure and services. So the current uh the current RGS was adopted in 2018 and amended in 2021. And uh so"},{"t":1118,"text":"the regional contact statement aligning local planning uh the current RGS planning horizon only extends to 2038."},{"t":1126,"text":"And so uh this is what's going to come up pretty soon. It's another discussion on that."},{"t":1132,"text":"Also uh the Sage Peninsula Recreation Services loan authoration bylaw was passed and that was a a facility in"},{"t":1140,"text":"Central Sage seeking approval for reduced loan amount of up to $9 million."},{"t":1145,"text":"And uh and finally uh the C the CEO Ted Robbins gave his quarterly progress report and on corporate activities and"},{"t":1153,"text":"initiatives and he gave all the capital operating budget variances and you can look that up online and very interesting report."},{"t":1162,"text":"That brings us to July 22nd where there was a CRD a parks meeting and it was about Elk Beaver Lake Regional Park and"},{"t":1171,"text":"about the wetland creation project where they're trying to recreate uh wetlands"},{"t":1178,"text":"around the lakes and and uh at Elk Beaver and the Hallebertton Brookershed."},{"t":1185,"text":"Also on Elk Lake there we had a bit of an update on the oxygenation system. So that's helps purify or add more oxygen"},{"t":1193,"text":"to the water and and creates a better environment for for all the critters and plant life that live there. And then"},{"t":1201,"text":"finally the off leash dogs in the Governor General Are Beaver Lake Regional Park. [clears throat] So it was recommended that they continue the off"},{"t":1208,"text":"leash dog park that is there. Right. On July 28th we had a uh a squyimal"},{"t":1215,"text":"command. Captain Kevin Whiteside was changed in command to Captain Douglas Leighton following the ceremony held at"},{"t":1223,"text":"the base on that Tuesday. Uh Leighton assumes the command of the CFS CFBsold after completing his studies at the United States Naval War College and"},{"t":1232,"text":"brings extensive experience including serving as executive officer of the HMCS build Quebec, commanding officer of the"},{"t":1240,"text":"HMCS Winnipeg. And it's great to see uh Captain uh Leighton come in, but it's also I got to give kudos to Captain"},{"t":1247,"text":"Kevin Whiteside. He's we've had him for three years. He's been one of the better better communicators at the Canadian Forces Base and has really done an"},{"t":1256,"text":"astoundingly good job of uh of of integrating into the region and effectively becoming the 14th mayor."},{"t":1266,"text":"Have a few other little items here too."},{"t":1269,"text":"One of them is that at Olympic V. Oh yeah. I wanted to first of all thank council for attending the uh for"},{"t":1276,"text":"attending the um lawn bowling. We had a competition in lawn bowling between the all the westshore committee uh communities. We had view royal Langford"},{"t":1285,"text":"uh Highlands and Mitchosen and View and uh and Cwood. And uh we had a competition on the lawn bowling and the Highlands although the smallest"},{"t":1293,"text":"municipality had the largest attendance and was the best dressed as well. And uh we came in right in the middle of the pack and we all had a great time. But the first competition was won by Cwood."},{"t":1305,"text":"But uh in future times I'm I'm sure that we'll even do better than the third place we received."},{"t":1312,"text":"And that brings me to uh also uh we had the cops for cancer golf tournament and I joined Marie Trice Little and Scott"},{"t":1320,"text":"Goodmanson and we chosen CEO Bob Payette on a team that participated to raise raise funds for the cops for cancer at the Olympic View Golf Course."},{"t":1331,"text":"And I think that uh pretty much does it for me and I'll go on to the uh next item here"},{"t":1340,"text":"which is there are no late items and the community bullet bulletin board 6.1 and uh our building official Chris Lake is"},{"t":1348,"text":"available for questions from council and uh I don't know if uh staff has anything more to say before we ask for council questions but now's the time. No. Okay."},{"t":1357,"text":"Council council got you going here."},{"t":1364,"text":"Thank you. I appreciate staff's attention to this and and uh I would like to move the recommendation"},{"t":1371,"text":"uh of consultation and [clears throat] the purchase of sandwich boards for a temporary measure."},{"t":1378,"text":"Moved by council, second by councelor Stanton. Discussion. Councelor Mcclelay."},{"t":1384,"text":"Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have a question through the chair to staff. Um just in respect to um the potential five"},{"t":1390,"text":"sandwich boards, do does staff have any idea what the costs might be, the range of costs might be for said boards? Thank"},{"t":1400,"text":"you. [clears throat] We have an estimate of $300 each and there's five of them, so approximately $1,500."},{"t":1412,"text":"Council Gord Barrett."},{"t":1414,"text":"Yep. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um my question actually sort of revolves a little bit around uh the discussion around the litter around the boxes and"},{"t":1422,"text":"stuff like that and and perhaps this is not so much a question but maybe um something that staff could come back and"},{"t":1428,"text":"comment comment comment on later. Uh, with regards to the littering, knowing that some of it is from the board, but a"},{"t":1436,"text":"lot of it is from people throwing bits and pieces away of junk mail, and I'm assuming that probably our roads contractor is involved in doing some of"},{"t":1443,"text":"the tidy up sometimes. Would that be a correct statement?"},{"t":1448,"text":"Yes, that's correct. And uh, particularly around the mailboxes, there seems to be a fair bit of um, wasted paper. So, I'm thinking that if we're"},{"t":1456,"text":"looking at this, maybe one of the other suggestions that the group that could comment on or perhaps might see the efficiencies of this is perhaps having a"},{"t":1463,"text":"garbage or recycling can by each of the mailboxes to keep it so when RLC is going around doing the contracting that they're not having to spend as much"},{"t":1472,"text":"time. It might be a lot quicker and a little bit more effective at keeping that tidy and it will probably if we move forward with bulletin boards, it"},{"t":1480,"text":"might uh be a nice addition. It has worked at Eagles Lake."},{"t":1491,"text":"All right."},{"t":1493,"text":"Do we have uh any more comments? And I will call the question. All those in favor? Opposed? None opposed? That carries."},{"t":1503,"text":"Next item is 6.2, which is the Twinflower Park Control Enhancement Project phase one. and our director of"},{"t":1512,"text":"finance, Lori Smith, is available for questions from council. And this is about a basically a funds transfer. You have anything further to add to that?"},{"t":1523,"text":"Questions? Councelor Gourd Bar."},{"t":1526,"text":"Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, and I think this question might first go to the planner. Uh so my understanding is"},{"t":1533,"text":"that with the the boards that um we've got a savings of about $20,000 because of the work that's going through rural"},{"t":1540,"text":"roads which I think is great. And the one thing that I'm wondering about is that um if the if the deliverable from"},{"t":1548,"text":"rural roads will be sort of complete ready to go or whether we might need to maintain a little bit of budget set aside afterward to enhance the"},{"t":1556,"text":"framework. Would there would there be any need afterwards to update the framework we get from railroads?"},{"t":1562,"text":"So, through the mayor, it's my understanding that I think there's still $5,000 held back. Um, and I'm sure that"},{"t":1569,"text":"that will be enough and it we're nearing the end of the year. Um, so should as this progresses, um, I'm hoping the item"},{"t":1579,"text":"will be coming back to council in the fall sometime. Um, but work on it may not happen until next budget round. So,"},{"t":1587,"text":"I'm I'm confident that that's the that everything will be fine there."},{"t":1593,"text":"Council, thank you. And I appreciate staff's attention to this, too. Uh, we did a tour and it was I thought it was"},{"t":1601,"text":"spectacular. What great work. Um, while we were touring, I heard some of the kids saying, \"Oh, there's a trail down there. I'm going to ride down there.\""},{"t":1609,"text":"So, I'm wondering how we're going to prevent um uh use of the trail closer to the wet land that's already there."},{"t":1617,"text":"[snorts]"},{"t":1620,"text":"Through the mayor, we've taken our first phase of uh trying to discourage that with some of the split rail fencing and"},{"t":1627,"text":"then the shrubbery that's going in might make it less attractive for uh for bicycles as well as some hydro seating."},{"t":1636,"text":"But it's uh no doubt um it may be a problem that we might have to continue to address."},{"t":1641,"text":"Thanks very much. And uh I'm happy to move the option one."},{"t":1647,"text":"Thank you. Moved by councelor Ring, seconded by councelor Bar. Discussion on the motion."},{"t":1654,"text":"Seeing none, I'll call the question. All those in favor? Opposed? Not opposed."},{"t":1658,"text":"That carries. That brings us to correspondence. We have an elect respect pledge at 7.1."},{"t":1671,"text":"All right. Discussion. Council Clay."},{"t":1675,"text":"Thank Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, actually I would like that one um pulled out and um I would like um I support um the town"},{"t":1684,"text":"of uh uh Lake Couch and um with this initiative and their pledge and I'd like"},{"t":1692,"text":"to move that council um support and sign such a pledge and um"},{"t":1699,"text":"direct staff to send uh a letter uh to the town of Lake Cow and indicating"},{"t":1707,"text":"that we plan to do so [sighs and gasps] and um copy our letter as well as the"},{"t":1715,"text":"author has recommended to AVC UBCM and FCM."},{"t":1722,"text":"So I'm moving that. Do I have a second there?"},{"t":1730,"text":"Yeah. Yes, there is. No. Was it seconded? Yeah."},{"t":1736,"text":"Oh, I didn't hear that. Sorry, I didn't hear that at all."},{"t":1739,"text":"Yeah. Okay. And then we'll call us a motion rising. So, let's go with the motion to receive. All those in favor?"},{"t":1745,"text":"None. That carries. Motion arising. Uh, we had councelor Mlan state it. Was there do we have a second? We have councelor st. All right. Discussion."},{"t":1757,"text":"Seeing none, I'll call the question. All those in favor? Opposed? None opposed."},{"t":1761,"text":"That carries on to 7.2 2 and veins of lake of lake watershed society public"},{"t":1768,"text":"watershed archive and we have an email from the life wershed society I think it's mostly an awareness kind of an email"},{"t":1777,"text":"right all those in favor opposed none opposed that carries and finally invitation to become a disability alliance BC member we have a letter from"},{"t":1785,"text":"the uh the disability alliance BC so let's see move by council Gord Bar"},{"t":1793,"text":"received seconded by councelor And discussion see none I'll call the question in favor that carries all right we're on to"},{"t":1801,"text":"bylaws and now u we're going to talk about the uh 8.1 and we have uh online I"},{"t":1809,"text":"believe we have Peter Kickham is that correct from the CRD and also in house we have Mr. Quinn Dailyaly to answer"},{"t":1817,"text":"questions if there's other questions to be asked. And I don't know if staff would like to introduce and make some comments."},{"t":1826,"text":"Thank you, mayor. The purpose of this report is to report back to council from its July 6, 2026 meeting regarding"},{"t":1834,"text":"resoning application RZ0215 at 1965 Milstream Road, also known as Milstream Meadows, and a potential"},{"t":1842,"text":"zoning bylaw that could implement aspects of the South Highlands Local Area Plan portion of the official community plan as directed by council."},{"t":1850,"text":"An open house was held late in July."},{"t":1852,"text":"Nine members of the public attended. Um an import an input form was available at the h at the open house and online."},{"t":1860,"text":"Eight forms were submitted. Appendix one to the report summarizes the input. Um"},{"t":1866,"text":"staff regarding appendix two to the report is uh draft bylaw 488."},{"t":1873,"text":"Staff have provided council um just tonight with an amended version of bylaw 488 that um would change it in in six ways."},{"t":1885,"text":"in regards to sighting. Um so overall bylaw 488 first amends the zoning bylaw"},{"t":1893,"text":"by adding two new zones that are consistent with the official community the new um regenerative development"},{"t":1901,"text":"uh official community plan land use designation. Um so these two zones are called general industrial"},{"t":1908,"text":"nope general commercial and industrial regenerative development. That one's"},{"t":1915,"text":"where with the number M1 M1RD and then the second one is medium commercial industrial regenerative development."},{"t":1927,"text":"That one would go by M2RD."},{"t":1930,"text":"Um Um"},{"t":1940,"text":"my apologies. Um and so the it's consistent with the regenerative development official community planned land use designation."},{"t":1952,"text":"The purpose is that they would provide a broad range of commercial and industrial uses appropriate for circular economy activities while introducing"},{"t":1960,"text":"performance-based standards for site design and environmental function. And so I just want to talk very briefly"},{"t":1967,"text":"about the six changes that staff um no readings have been given this. So the version staff provided to council and"},{"t":1974,"text":"the corporate officer would be the version that would um is preferred for first and second"},{"t":1981,"text":"reading. So on page four of the bylaw"},{"t":1986,"text":"[snorts] um we have uh the new general commercial industrial"},{"t":1995,"text":"regenerative development zone and under item 11.44 44 for item four."},{"t":2003,"text":"Um the maximum or combined [clears throat] height of containers utilized for the purposes of storage shall not exceed the recommendation is 8"},{"t":2012,"text":"m or 26.2 ft. The reason for this is um these kinds of structures are typically"},{"t":2019,"text":"they're storage containers and so it makes sense that they would also be the same maximum height as accessory"},{"t":2028,"text":"buildings because that's how they are evaluated with respect to the building code. And so that same change is made in the M2RD."},{"t":2039,"text":"I'm going to draw you draw that to your attention right now because I think it's easier to to understand"},{"t":2045,"text":"in groups. And so on page nine of the bylaw 11.5.4"},{"t":2053,"text":"four item five and here the draft which matched what's currently in the M2 it the maximum or"},{"t":2062,"text":"combined height of containers utilized for the purposes of storage shall not exceed 25 m is what was there I'm again"},{"t":2071,"text":"also recommending it be eight which is the same as the M1RD and is the same as what an accessory building would be in"},{"t":2078,"text":"this zone um the other change which wasn't uh there's a couple"},{"t":2087,"text":"of errors and so actually if you stay on page 9 immediately"},{"t":2095,"text":"immediately after uh 11.5.45 uh there was an error 7.5 m is not 2.6"},{"t":2105,"text":"ft so 24.6 six, our BO would default to the metric measurement. It just"},{"t":2113,"text":"is just a thing to do, correct thing to do. And then um if you go down to uh"},{"t":2120,"text":"item seven on that same page, talks about sideyards, no building or structure shall be cited within 3 m of a"},{"t":2128,"text":"side lot line. And then B, sorry, is uh no building or structure shall be cited within says 1.5 m and then 16.4 4 ft. So"},{"t":2138,"text":"5 m is in fact 16.4t or 8 I'm so sorry 5 m is 16.4 ft."},{"t":2149,"text":"So no building or structure shall be cited within 5 m of a side lot line that abuts a highway. Um it's a little bit"},{"t":2157,"text":"more distance but it will allow for turning radiuses."},{"t":2162,"text":"And I and then the last change that stay on that page"},{"t":2169,"text":"item eight, no building or structure shall be cited. So this is the rear lot line. Um"},{"t":2177,"text":"what's in both the M1 and M2 the current zones now is does actually say 1.5 m and 8.2 ft. That's not a correct conversion."},{"t":2188,"text":"Um it's a rear lot line. And so part of part of this uh"},{"t":2194,"text":"this zone um was to make it more more socially"},{"t":2203,"text":"improvements for social um for social reasons. And so having a greater distance, it's only a meter, but that"},{"t":2210,"text":"still allows bit more of a buffer on the rear lot lines. So that's staff is recommending that that 2.5 m be the rear lot line."},{"t":2222,"text":"And so the same carries over if you go back to page four of the document 11.4.4 item seven."},{"t":2233,"text":"You'll see the same error there. And so staff have also put there at 2.5."},{"t":2240,"text":"Uh so the recommendation on the report is that Highland zoning bylaw 100 1998"},{"t":2248,"text":"amendment number 49 M1 RD M2RD 1965"},{"t":2254,"text":"Milstream Road bylaw 488 2026 be given first and second readings."},{"t":2261,"text":"Thank you planner. Our first uh questionnaire is councelor Mlan."},{"t":2268,"text":"Thank you Mr. Mayor, the question [clears throat] through the chair to staff. Um, so I'm on schedule A."},{"t":2276,"text":"Um so we have so just to confirm there's no new permitted uses"},{"t":2284,"text":"um other than I assume applying regenerative development"},{"t":2292,"text":"policies objectives and goals um within the zoning for these for these"},{"t":2301,"text":"uses. So there's nothing new in the permitted uses for right for 1965 milstream road"},{"t":2308,"text":"through the mayor. That's correct. No new uses in the sun."},{"t":2312,"text":"Okay. And um so I was wondering with with the information that's the province uh"},{"t":2322,"text":"wrote uh wrote up or had written up on the um certificate of compliance for 1965 Milstream Road. Um, does does any"},{"t":2331,"text":"of that form um a formal part of the potential future zones such as uh terms"},{"t":2339,"text":"or conditions within a highland bylaw or the DPA?"},{"t":2346,"text":"So through the chair the and and I'm happy for CRD to to add anything. The"},{"t":2353,"text":"certificate of compliance is is separate from the zoning and it's it's provincial jurisdiction. So, it's not directly"},{"t":2362,"text":"related, but it limits the land um in addition to whatever other regulations exist."},{"t":2371,"text":"Um okay. So, uh thank you for that. So, um I do have some I don't know at what point I have some um questions to staff"},{"t":2380,"text":"regarding M2, but I don't want to be jumping back and forth here. But so"},{"t":2387,"text":"anyway, while I'm on schedule A for general commercial industrial regenerative development M1-RD,"},{"t":2396,"text":"which is for 1965 milstream road, although I do understand that recycling"},{"t":2404,"text":"depot is an existing permitted use um based on"},{"t":2411,"text":"uh from my perspective the fact that they've been around for a while and more has and learned about them and those"},{"t":2419,"text":"facilities. So, there's depots and facilities and I I did some research as I indicated I would do at some past council meetings"},{"t":2428,"text":"and um I don't support recycling depots or facilities um due to their contamination aspects."},{"t":2439,"text":"Um so, I just wanted to make that comment while we were uh still on schedule A."},{"t":2446,"text":"um the contamination is re relevant to the workers's health"},{"t":2454,"text":"in those recycling depots as well as the environment. And so I do have to agree"},{"t":2462,"text":"with um what one of our speakers said uh this evening regarding the South"},{"t":2470,"text":"Highlands local area plan and the regenerative development uh zone area and the net positive."},{"t":2484,"text":"And so I I in reading this I don't I don't I don't see where"},{"t":2490,"text":"um that is ne necessarily being incorporated uh into this. I mean at essence it just kind of looks like the same zoning."},{"t":2503,"text":"Um and so I have a a concern with that."},{"t":2508,"text":"Um so anyway, I wanted to to express that. So my other questions are towards the um the M2 the proposed M2 which is"},{"t":2518,"text":"schedule B. So I I'll leave that for now and give someone else a chance. Thank you."},{"t":2525,"text":"Thank you, Councelor Garrett."},{"t":2527,"text":"Yeah, thank you Mr. Mayor. Um I think that [sighs and gasps] this is a this is a new thing and we're"},{"t":2534,"text":"all uh trying to understand how we apply a tool to this and I am each time we"},{"t":2542,"text":"approach this I'm garnering new information from staff and from the discussions but I I think for me I'm hoping to have"},{"t":2550,"text":"just maybe a final set of clarity and perhaps it might also provide clarity for the community as well. So um with"},{"t":2559,"text":"regards to the uh the schlap and the the discussion about the net zero positive tool and it's a near-term deliverable"},{"t":2567,"text":"and we heard tonight that world roads is working on it and my understanding I I know in an earlier council meeting I had"},{"t":2575,"text":"I was less concerned with the uses and more interested in just having it performance based but I understand that that wasn't allowed under provincial legislation for zoning."},{"t":2586,"text":"Um, and so I guess what I'm I guess I need either correction or clarity."},{"t":2593,"text":"So with the zone that's before us, uh, it doesn't have necessarily a reference to net zero or positive because my"},{"t":2601,"text":"understanding is that provincial legislation wouldn't allow it. Is that correct?"},{"t":2607,"text":"So through the chair. Um, so zoning can do a bunch of things. A municipality can"},{"t":2614,"text":"only do what it is expressly permitted and so I I do not know how to"},{"t":2625,"text":"how to like a zone is you say what it is. So you can't say if you if you do if"},{"t":2633,"text":"you meet this then you can do this. It's can't like we had these conversations previously. So it's here's what you're allowed to do. here's what you are"},{"t":2641,"text":"prohibited from doing, here's your setbacks. Um, so it's it's not it it"},{"t":2648,"text":"isn't a thing, if you will. Um, and so the the net positive evaluation tool um"},{"t":2658,"text":"is intended to inform an application because we talked about council's ultimate power is in approving or"},{"t":2667,"text":"denying a reszoning application. And so it's at that point where you decide okay yeah this falls in line with what is"},{"t":2676,"text":"considered regenerative development or no this isn't."},{"t":2680,"text":"So going through the list of uses um the landscaping"},{"t":2687,"text":"um of the existing M1 and M2 and I'm going to detract just for a minute. It"},{"t":2696,"text":"it became and and as I worked through it and I I I had assistance, it became clear that"},{"t":2704,"text":"there was elements in it that are already regenerative development. Like the industrial use definition"},{"t":2713,"text":"is general and broad enough so that you're going to capture existing and other regenerative development uses that"},{"t":2722,"text":"you haven't thought of yet. And I believe this was the conversation at the July 6th meeting."},{"t":2728,"text":"So getting back to this evaluation tool, it's not part of development permit area 4"},{"t":2736,"text":"because development permit area 4 is also here's your guidelines, here's what you may do. And so,"},{"t":2745,"text":"um, inherent in both the new zones and development permit area 4 is a"},{"t":2751,"text":"requirement for additional permeable areas. Um, and I I believe one of the comments was about rewing. Well, there's"},{"t":2759,"text":"no reing. And so, um, in the zone, the requirement is for a 70"},{"t":2768,"text":"only 70% of the lot area may be covered in impermeable material."},{"t":2773,"text":"There's also our development permit areas which will restrict development from the water and"},{"t":2780,"text":"riparian areas. So in 19 on 1965 milstream road there are a lot of these areas. So there's just going to be a lot"},{"t":2789,"text":"of the property that is going to have to stay wild in this instance."},{"t":2795,"text":"Um does that answer it? does and it sort of is my next question was that hence the reason for the creation of the DPA was to basically"},{"t":2804,"text":"earmark us towards the the reference uh for the to the tool but that's not necessarily the case. Um so that helped"},{"t":2811,"text":"answer that question and so the assessment tool that we're looking at is not necessarily a zoning tool but would you say that it is a a tool that we use as to what happens after zoning tool?"},{"t":2823,"text":"Not a zoning tool but it's a what happens after zoning tool. So through the mayor, no, I think it's what you it it's an application tool. It's an"},{"t":2831,"text":"application assessment tool. So you you right now have um a policy about here's"},{"t":2839,"text":"what applicants have to submit. I think that will become a new um you'll you'll"},{"t":2845,"text":"a technically you would be amending your resoning application to say and you must submit this and here's the here's the"},{"t":2854,"text":"form and so and sort of a final followup with that is um"},{"t":2862,"text":"in the way that I see and I think that probably with sort of the nature that this has come forward to the council table uh I see that we were looking at"},{"t":2873,"text":"an application but we haven't got the tool yet and I think one of the letters that we've got was wondering about was"},{"t":2879,"text":"wondering about the impacts of that and if we were to do something it's going to"},{"t":2887,"text":"be a year out or so until we actually have an assessment tool for looking at any future applications I would imagine"},{"t":2894,"text":"give or take um so through the mayor it it may not it may not be that long, but it and it's"},{"t":2903,"text":"it's going to be like I'm sorry to interrupt. Okay."},{"t":2906,"text":"It's going to be like your existing sustainability appraisal form. Okay."},{"t":2913,"text":"Perfect. And so with that in the in the meantime term, so we've got a a zoning that we're looking at without necessarily a tool to apply to that"},{"t":2920,"text":"application. And this is perhaps an oddball question, but could council look at um in in the short term and uh"},{"t":2930,"text":"putting some sort of like a 219 covenant on title suggesting that we have like a net positive demonstration obligation"},{"t":2937,"text":"tied to the covenant. It sounds like a crazy idea, but I'm just wondering that for the community's comfort level, putting something there that gives the"},{"t":2944,"text":"community some comfort level that we're going to be looking towards or ensuring somehow that we've got uh a net positive pathway forward."},{"t":2956,"text":"Um it's not something I would recommend to be frank. Um"},{"t":2963,"text":"this resoning is unique in that it it was initiated by council Um,"},{"t":2971,"text":"I think I've tried to explain in my previous reports that the the district is a part owner of the property as well."},{"t":2977,"text":"And so it this this resoning is unique. Um,"},{"t":2985,"text":"I don't know if that I don't know if that helps, but it does. Thank you very much."},{"t":2991,"text":"[clears throat]"},{"t":2993,"text":"Yes."},{"t":2993,"text":"I'm sorry. I'm Yes. come then enlighten us. Uh yeah, so Mr. Mayor, um I just want to"},{"t":3002,"text":"say any covenant is is going to be more uh complicated than on a normal piece of land. This is a sponsored crown grant."},{"t":3012,"text":"So CD does not own it in a the way that you normally own a simple property. So, anything that was going to be put on"},{"t":3020,"text":"title would need the province's uh approval in advance, and I'm not sure how inclined they would be to to approve that."},{"t":3029,"text":"I appreciate that. That was just a thought, but I I thank you very much."},{"t":3034,"text":"All right. Uh, Councelor Mlan, thank you, Mr. Mayor."},{"t":3041,"text":"Okay. First time, councelor Singh. Thank you. Thank you. Two staff, please."},{"t":3045,"text":"Through the mayor. Um, so this reszones the property. Uh, and so would the owner"},{"t":3053,"text":"uh need what further steps would the owner need to take since the property is already zoned?"},{"t":3062,"text":"So, so the per um, so through the mayor, so the zoning, this bylaw 488 would create the zone and then change the"},{"t":3070,"text":"zoning of 1965 Milstream Road. And so then that allows these uses, these"},{"t":3078,"text":"setbacks, and this is how 1965 would have to be developed."},{"t":3083,"text":"Um, and so it's my does that answer your question? Um, more or less."},{"t":3090,"text":"Is there anything else that would be required to come before council be um from the owners? Um so through the mayor"},{"t":3097,"text":"that so this property is within uh the regenerative development development permit area which means any earthworks"},{"t":3105,"text":"any um any buildings that all has to come to council. Okay, great. That answers my question."},{"t":3112,"text":"Thank you very much."},{"t":3116,"text":"Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So I'm I'm going to go on to schedule B because um"},{"t":3123,"text":"they're both part of this bylaw. So it's out of my control. So that's the medium commercial industrial-g generative development M2-RD."},{"t":3135,"text":"So permitted uses. So for clarity through the chair to staff just to confirm what is new potentially being"},{"t":3144,"text":"proposed um as permitted use new permitted uses is a asphalt and cement manufacturing"},{"t":3152,"text":"and recycling. Is that correct? No, that's existing."},{"t":3155,"text":"Yes. So that's an existing use in the M2ZA."},{"t":3158,"text":"Okay. Um so then D uh is new proposed cell in vessel. Sorry. In vessel aerobic composting. That one's new."},{"t":3169,"text":"Correct."},{"t":3170,"text":"Okay. So then um a question I have then what what would we get into the details"},{"t":3178,"text":"uh as to what would be composted? Is it might it be food? Might it be bioolids? What any direction here?"},{"t":3187,"text":"So uh so through the chair so composting is actually regulated through the CRD."},{"t":3192,"text":"Um that applies to all the regions. So whatever composting facility"},{"t":3199,"text":"is is if a composting facility is constructed um the first step is a land use so it would be permitted um but then"},{"t":3208,"text":"the next step is regulations from the CRD so they have an a bylaw about it and then there's also provincial regulations."},{"t":3218,"text":"Thank you. And um sorry, I'm just jotting this down so I don't forget. Um so again,"},{"t":3226,"text":"I realize this is potentially going to go to public hearing, but just in case it doesn't, I'm just going to say that I'm don't support uh [clears throat]"},{"t":3234,"text":"DE at this time. I did some research on the weekend and today, and um I I don't"},{"t":3242,"text":"think it would enhance the uh livability for the residents. um down there. But"},{"t":3249,"text":"I'll keep somewhat an open mind if I can be convinced otherwise. Sorry, you wish to ask me something or I I just wanted to state that it's"},{"t":3258,"text":"imperative that there is a supporting bylaw as to what are the regulations around composting. So if the CRD didn't"},{"t":3265,"text":"have one, um the district it somehow we'd have to have this regulated. So, um I just wanted to point that out."},{"t":3278,"text":"Okay. Thank you. And so, and I and I I can't speak more to it than that, but Okay. for composting."},{"t":3287,"text":"Okay. So, then this um schedule B also has recycling depot and recycling facilities and uh concerns about that."},{"t":3296,"text":"So, a question um I have uh through the chair to staff is on schedule B for the prohibited uses."},{"t":3307,"text":"Um the M1 proposed zone has existing um"},{"t":3315,"text":"sorry has existing uh clause in there which is identified"},{"t":3322,"text":"under prohibited uses as um clause E which does not show in schedule B but it's in schedule A and it states"},{"t":3332,"text":"industrial uses within this zone shall exclude clude wrecking and salvaging operations."},{"t":3340,"text":"So I'm curious to know um uh why uh E as"},{"t":3346,"text":"in M1 is not provided in M2 through the chair. Um M2RD is a more"},{"t":3356,"text":"intensive zone than the M1 RD. And so they they were modeled off of the"},{"t":3362,"text":"existing M1 and M2. And so that is the wording as you point out that's in the existing M1 and it's missing from the"},{"t":3371,"text":"existing M2 for the reason that it's it's a more intensive zone."},{"t":3377,"text":"So it would be allowed uh likely. Okay."},{"t":3382,"text":"Yeah. I can't I so I have some concerns about that as well [laughter] because um"},{"t":3390,"text":"for those of us who are around and had site visits and worked with the uh developer representative"},{"t":3398,"text":"um we were made aware that um and it's known that uh a former"},{"t":3406,"text":"autorecking operation I believe at uh 2015 15 Milstream Road had exceeded"},{"t":3414,"text":"the northern boundary of that property at 2015 Milstream Road and had their"},{"t":3422,"text":"vehicles actually on the crown land north of the boundary. and that"},{"t":3429,"text":"property, that soil was contaminated from those vehicles that have been sitting there"},{"t":3436,"text":"for many years from, you know, solvents and and batteries and and so forth. So,"},{"t":3443,"text":"um, maybe we would maybe council might want to consider at some point before this, I guess, goes to public"},{"t":3451,"text":"hearing if if in M1, uh, we the community would really like to have um, a wrecking and salvaging operation."},{"t":3465,"text":"I don't know how to approach it."},{"t":3468,"text":"Okay. And so it sounds like you may be suggesting you want um that same phrase included as a prohibited use in the draft M2RD."},{"t":3480,"text":"Yes. Okay. And so that so certainly that um be a council decision. Yeah."},{"t":3487,"text":"Okay. So one could do a motion for that at the appropriate time."},{"t":3496,"text":"How else would we do it? I I um I think a motion at the appropriate time that I think it would be something"},{"t":3504,"text":"um that would it be a motion? Sorry."},{"t":3511,"text":"If um the bylaw is going to be amended, it would be a motion. it would be best to do it before it goes to public hearing"},{"t":3517,"text":"or so the the bylaw has no readings and so could would it need a motion or just"},{"t":3526,"text":"the draft is a like because there's nothing well council would have to vote on that okay but it would be amending I would give"},{"t":3532,"text":"first reading and then amend the first reading is amended okay okay thank you I'll give someone"},{"t":3539,"text":"else an opportunity councelor and"},{"t":3545,"text":"Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I'm going to I I've been thinking about this through a higher level and how it aligns with our"},{"t":3554,"text":"our uh South Highlands local area plan, our ICSP and uh"},{"t":3563,"text":"and how we are going to actually achieve net positive. That is my my higher level idea is how how can we do that with this"},{"t":3572,"text":"framework and I'm having a hard time seeing a pathway forward because"},{"t":3578,"text":"if I understand correctly if we reszone this and it goes through the process and council does grant this"},{"t":3586,"text":"resoning the next time that a council would see this is when uh a future land"},{"t":3593,"text":"owner would come to council and seek development a development permit. And that's when council would see DPA4."},{"t":3603,"text":"And I'm assuming that's also the same time that council would see this new uh yet to be completed tool by Royal Roads"},{"t":3613,"text":"that is a net pol a net positive evaluation tool similar to the sustainability appraisal form. Is that"},{"t":3620,"text":"correct? Uh so through the chair I I believe the net positive evaluation"},{"t":3628,"text":"tool would only be for reasonzoning. So it wouldn't be because you can't um the zone the permitted uses are already"},{"t":3637,"text":"established and so it would be how the development occurs with the items in development permit area 4."},{"t":3648,"text":"So then as a followup then if council moves this forward and it is granted"},{"t":3655,"text":"then that's pretty much the end of net positive development for this particular"},{"t":3662,"text":"parcel in all the capitals as the uh South Island's local area plan had"},{"t":3670,"text":"designated for this land. It has it would have it in name but not in function."},{"t":3677,"text":"It would be regenerative commercial industrial but would not actually be regenerative because there's no"},{"t":3685,"text":"mechanism for a net positive outcome. Correct? Are you asking me?"},{"t":3691,"text":"Yes. So I would say that there's no evaluation tool for it and there's no evaluation carried out for it. I can't"},{"t":3699,"text":"say whether it is in fact regenerative development or not because we we don't know what's going to happen on the land."},{"t":3709,"text":"So it was my understanding that council uh wished to create a process and an"},{"t":3718,"text":"outcome that ensured net positive land use like not optional but mandatory."},{"t":3729,"text":"So it seems that we're going down a pathway that does not achieve what council and schlap and community and"},{"t":3738,"text":"five years of of process had got us to this state. So um I'm having a"},{"t":3745,"text":"hard time wrapping my head around this one. So [clears throat] thanks."},{"t":3754,"text":"All right. So any for councelor Anderson."},{"t":3760,"text":"Uh thank you Mr. Mayor and thanks to my colleagues for your thoughts so far and to staff for continuing to struggle with this and bring it forward. I appreciate"},{"t":3768,"text":"your work. Um I'm echoing essentially councelor Anne Baird's um thoughts I think here but I just want to put"},{"t":3775,"text":"forward my own concerns and ask one question. Um, so yeah, my concern is that in the absence of having that mechanism in place to do what we've"},{"t":3784,"text":"intended it to do, we are essentially letting one slip ahead of the of what we had hoped our process would be. Um, so"},{"t":3791,"text":"I'm concerned about that and I'm not sure I'm able to support that. But I also have a question related to let's just say we're in the ideal world and we have our assessment tool in our hands."},{"t":3802,"text":"Um, in this circumstance, assuming that we're still um, as I think we mostly are identifying CRD as the land owner,"},{"t":3811,"text":"recognizing it's more complicated than that, would it be their responsibility then to bring this forward as part of the proposed resoning? Who actually"},{"t":3820,"text":"holds the pen on filling in this form on this complicated property?"},{"t":3824,"text":"Um so if council can imagine um so through the mayor"},{"t":3831,"text":"so so CR the applicant who the who are ourselves"},{"t":3837,"text":"with with the CRD and the province um we have put forward a zone that's an"},{"t":3845,"text":"existing zone in Highlands that rightly or wrongly um and so to to try"},{"t":3853,"text":"to make that um regenerative development staff looked into well what are typical regenerative"},{"t":3861,"text":"uses and so um and that was a fun exercise um because"},{"t":3869,"text":"nurseries is one of the permitted uses well what do we do about them using groundwater um but that's an existing use in M1 and"},{"t":3878,"text":"M2 now but you're growing stuff so um vertical agriculture."},{"t":3885,"text":"It's another groundwater question. Um and so it's in staff's view and I I can"},{"t":3893,"text":"appreciate um this is what I've put forward to you."},{"t":3898,"text":"It's not perfect at all. It was it was what staff thought was most appropriate"},{"t":3906,"text":"for the district because it was based on two existing zones. The main difference being that there's you cannot develop"},{"t":3914,"text":"all of it. 30% of it must remain permeable. And so it I don't know if"},{"t":3922,"text":"that sounds easy or not. It's my understanding it's not going to be easy for this particular property. It is"},{"t":3929,"text":"likely going to happen because of all the water there. And so that's sort of the regenerative development aspect"},{"t":3939,"text":"to to these two new zones is that it's you can't pave the whole thing. I don't"},{"t":3945,"text":"know if so I I don't think I think Highlands has been given an"},{"t":3952,"text":"opportunity to create something and so this this was what staff could put forward. Um and I and I I there's no"},{"t":3961,"text":"offense taken because I at all. Um so I don't"},{"t":3968,"text":"it's not like um a private a um someone else coming forward and saying I"},{"t":3978,"text":"want some very specific uses so I'm going to reszone this industrial land."},{"t":3983,"text":"And that may be what happens that someone may come along and on this M1RD want to put a closed cell in"},{"t":3993,"text":"vessel composting facility and so then they would reapply and then we would do the evaluation of it. Um, but this was"},{"t":4002,"text":"the most generic zone thought of and and that was I guess"},{"t":4012,"text":"uh sorry, a goal um to that it be very generic."},{"t":4021,"text":"Does that answer your question?"},{"t":4023,"text":"Uh I think so. Thank you. I know it's not a straightforward story to tell sometimes and I and I appreciate that. I also realize and not"},{"t":4032,"text":"in a huge level of detail, but I do realize the complexity not just with the ownership structure, but the the land itself has some uh interesting"},{"t":4041,"text":"constraints that it places on any kind of development. So, I'm just feeling a little bit caught in between sort of recognizing that practically for this"},{"t":4049,"text":"particular piece of land, having our um yet to be determined assessment tool in hand may or may not make a huge"},{"t":4057,"text":"difference in what the outcome is for this particular zone on this particular parcel. But it's difficult to communicate that to um you know to the"},{"t":4066,"text":"interested parties of our citizens and the schlap people who are you know put a lot of time and effort into this to sort of say wait a minute we were looking for"},{"t":4074,"text":"something in particular and I don't understand how that arises from what we're doing now and the alternative possibly is to wait for that tool to be"},{"t":4083,"text":"in hand even though I recognize if I understand correctly um it in and of itself might not make a a really"},{"t":4091,"text":"significant ificant difference from this particular piece in the South Island local area collection of properties. But I'm I'm"},{"t":4098,"text":"just sort of acknowledging that I'm kind of also caught up in the middle of that um set of understandings and and hoping"},{"t":4106,"text":"to maybe get some clar if somebody clarifies things for me, maybe it'll help me push one way or the other, but I'm unclear where to land at this point."},{"t":4113,"text":"So, thanks."},{"t":4116,"text":"One thing I would add about about this tool, um, it's like any tool. It might it"},{"t":4124,"text":"might be useful, it might not be. We don't know. We cannot guarantee"},{"t":4131,"text":"an outcome. We can say, \"Here's your uses. Here's your setbacks. Here's our development permit area. Here's what you"},{"t":4138,"text":"may not do on this property.\" someone as we've seen might still go and do whatever the heck they want and ruin the land. Fortunately, land does regenerate."},{"t":4149,"text":"Um there so I I offer that as this there's only so much one can do."},{"t":4161,"text":"And so I I think I and I just don't want that to get lost in the if everyone's [snorts] holding all pinning all their"},{"t":4169,"text":"hopes onto this net positive tool. I I would I I would caution you like you"},{"t":4179,"text":"you've we've taken it pretty as far as we can and I think that was talked about during the schlap during all of those"},{"t":4187,"text":"years. Um"},{"t":4196,"text":"yeah, I think at this time I have a few comments I'd like to make and one of them is that you know the CRD did not cause the contamination."},{"t":4207,"text":"This was caused by a private poller."},{"t":4212,"text":"The province conveyed the land to the CRD by way of a sponsored crown grant."},{"t":4218,"text":"Okay. The property was identified as contaminated site in the 1990s and in 2005 CRD entered into a cost"},{"t":4226,"text":"share agreement with the province to remediate the property. Right. With the CRD bearing 61% of the remediation cost and the province bearing 39%."},{"t":4237,"text":"The remediation was completed at 2025 at a total cost of 15.3 million. The CRD share is 9.4 $4 million."},{"t":4249,"text":"The remed remediation was funded by the CRD municipalities in the JDF electoral area, right, through a loan"},{"t":4257,"text":"authorization bylaw. So modern-day contaminated site regulations include a a provision that exempts local"},{"t":4264,"text":"government from responsibility from contaminated sites within their boundaries."},{"t":4269,"text":"So what happened at Milstream Meadows and the shifting of provincial responsibility of the CRD would not be permitted today."},{"t":4278,"text":"The understanding that CRD had with the province once remediation was complete the property would be sold for commercial or industrial use and the"},{"t":4287,"text":"proceeds of sale would be enough to recuperate the remediation costs."},{"t":4291,"text":"An appraisal [clears throat] was conducted on the property in 2024. The appraised value at the time was $19.1 million. That appraisal was considered"},{"t":4300,"text":"the highest and best use of the property, which at the time would have permitted a reszoning to commercial use under the former Highlands Industrial"},{"t":4309,"text":"Park OCP designation. Under the current regenerative development, a designation is much more restrictive"},{"t":4318,"text":"and has fewer options for commercial or industrial air uses. an appraisal from February 2026 yield an appraisal value of 6.1 million."},{"t":4327,"text":"Okay. The reduction in value is applicable to the limitations and uncertainty around potential uses allowed under the regenerative"},{"t":4335,"text":"development designation. So basically uh the the value of the property has been inconsiderable through"},{"t":4344,"text":"these extra regulations and you want to really control what happens on that land. So your dream of this, the dream"},{"t":4352,"text":"of controlling exactly what occurs there is maybe not the dream of the property owners. It's the dream of of of council and and other parties."},{"t":4364,"text":"But uh what is happening here is that the value is being restricted by regulation"},{"t":4372,"text":"and there was a there's and this and then we got to go back to the fact that the CRD completely unified a unanimous"},{"t":4380,"text":"vote to provide this funding to to provide the funding to do the remediation. It was agreed that when you manageable unan unanimously among all"},{"t":4390,"text":"the municipalities and think about this if you you're from another municipality you spent this money for remediation because you had the responsibility to"},{"t":4397,"text":"clean up this mess mandated by the province and you were promised yeah I can get some of that money back at"},{"t":4404,"text":"someday. That was the deal made by governments that was voted on back then."},{"t":4409,"text":"I guess we can just say forget about that, you know, and uh then we can wear that forever."},{"t":4416,"text":"So what I'm saying here is that based on the cost share agreement with the province, you know, we need the the"},{"t":4424,"text":"the loss for the CRD taxpayers and those include Highlands taxpayers is pretty big."},{"t":4431,"text":"So now the other thing I want to say is the province may acquire the land for any usage. the first right, right?"},{"t":4440,"text":"Including for treaty settlement purposes. Land that is treaty land is not subject to local land use restriction and is exempt from local taxation."},{"t":4450,"text":"So that's something to consider. The province has it until October of this year to indicate if it wishes to proceed, but it can exercise that right sooner."},{"t":4460,"text":"The CRD will not retain the property for regional parks purposes, and it's not ecologically suitable for this use. It's it's allowing more commercial industrial"},{"t":4468,"text":"uses in the property would allow highest and best use of the property and increase the commercial tax base. It would be a very large financial"},{"t":4478,"text":"improvement for all our member municipalities who were so generously donated to remediate the place and it"},{"t":4484,"text":"would be a great uh windfall also for the district of highlands to get the highest and best value of this property."},{"t":4492,"text":"So I caution you know trying to overregulate things at this point. We have excellent environmental laws"},{"t":4501,"text":"as the uh planner has pointed out. We have all the laws and tools necessary to do this in a very fine and proper way."},{"t":4510,"text":"But um I think to make a uh to try to and it's been tried for"},{"t":4517,"text":"four years now to you want to like do something that I don't think was agreed upon by a whole whole lot of"},{"t":4525,"text":"people in the past. And I I think I think the regulations that we have in place are there and are good enough to handle those environmental situations. I"},{"t":4534,"text":"think what we should do is is get the zoning done. Councelor Mlan."},{"t":4542,"text":"Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so I despite just what you've said, I going"},{"t":4551,"text":"back to some comments that councelor Anne Bear mentioned and um I agree with"},{"t":4558,"text":"her comments regarding net zero net positive and the South Islands local area plan and what the community I will"},{"t":4566,"text":"just add what the community wrote in the South Islands local area plan survey comments which I read all of them. in"},{"t":4573,"text":"the rear lot and council's decision by resolution uh on regarding net zero and net"},{"t":4580,"text":"positive and I I too feel and believe that there is something significant missing here uh for consideration."},{"t":4590,"text":"Um I also just comment on um the district of highlands being the applicant. We were asked to be the applicant."},{"t":4599,"text":"Um, I don't know if that's I don't know if that's the best plan, frankly, but we're down that path way too far now. So, just"},{"t":4609,"text":"based on what the the mayor commented on here."},{"t":4614,"text":"Um, so a 9.4 million for the CRD portion. I"},{"t":4622,"text":"don't know if that money seems e extremely high for only 32 acres and a"},{"t":4630,"text":"good portion according to staff 30% being wetland."},{"t":4634,"text":"I'd love to get 30 for 32 acres to get $9.4 million."},{"t":4640,"text":"So I just made some notes. So in 2024 when that 19 million appraisal was done"},{"t":4647,"text":"that was prior to the certificate of compliance which the province sent to the CRD and the District of Highlands"},{"t":4654,"text":"etc uh dated July 2025 and perhaps it's the provincial restrictions and limitations and terms"},{"t":4663,"text":"and conditions which one might a reasonable person might logically have uh that there would be a financial impact from that."},{"t":4674,"text":"So, so I just have a query through either to the CRD staff person who's with us this evening, Mr. Quinn Daly, or"},{"t":4681,"text":"the mayor based on what he said. if um whatever money perhaps is um uh achieved through the sale of 1965 Milstream Road."},{"t":4693,"text":"[gasps] Um is is our mayor correct that you know a portion of of that uh money"},{"t":4702,"text":"would go to each individual municipality who contributed to the remediation cost or would it go into the CRD budget?"},{"t":4713,"text":"Um I sorry I can't answer that question myself. I can talk to the re the real estate valuation part but I will okay step back on that one."},{"t":4722,"text":"Do you want to answer your your your point or make a point about your I think it would go to the CRD pardon go to the CRD."},{"t":4730,"text":"Well then how do you know it's going to go to individual municipalities owners of it? They're all Yeah. But the CR if it goes in the CRD"},{"t":4738,"text":"general budget they can spend it on anything. Okay. So you wanted to address my comment on assessment."},{"t":4744,"text":"Yeah. On appraisal. Yeah. The appraisal in 2024 did contemplate a"},{"t":4751,"text":"uh the impacts of doing the um environmental remediation and the limitations that we received are the"},{"t":4759,"text":"expected limitations for doing uh a risk based um remediation project to a commercial standard. So there was no"},{"t":4767,"text":"surprises there. So the 19.4 24 valu million dollar valuation. The difference between that valuation and the 2026"},{"t":4776,"text":"valuation was a 70% markdown for uncertainty on development um ability due to the uh OCP designation."},{"t":4788,"text":"Thank you."},{"t":4791,"text":"All right. Uh next to my list is Council Rousing."},{"t":4796,"text":"Thank you. just uh I don't think has council braid spoken already. Have you spoken?"},{"t":4804,"text":"Oh, you're playing with the button, I guess."},{"t":4809,"text":"Yeah, put it back on. Just just a couple of quick points to respond to the mayor."},{"t":4814,"text":"Um uh it it's it's not just a few people that wanted that uh worked on SLAP and"},{"t":4821,"text":"and approved SLAP. It was una uni if I'm not mistaken a uni unanimous decision of"},{"t":4829,"text":"council and with input from a significant uh number of highlanders. Um"},{"t":4837,"text":"secondly and I think as a general principle um developers are always coming to us"},{"t":4845,"text":"and saying look at how much I've spent on this property. I deserve a reszoning for for for my expenses. And I've heard that I mean"},{"t":4855,"text":"if we if we thought that way uh the [clears throat] Gallant Todd would be 650 lots with houses on them and if we"},{"t":4862,"text":"thought that way uh Bare Mountain would be significantly developed. Um so"},{"t":4869,"text":"uh so I I don't think I don't think that's necessarily a valid argument that"},{"t":4876,"text":"council ought to consider. Um, I I'm I'm sorry, but uh to say I'm a little I'm still a little confused here."},{"t":4885,"text":"I'm I'm not sure what the right way to go about this is. Uh uh I I I appreciate"},{"t":4892,"text":"staff's assurance. Um but but I I I share that reservation"},{"t":4899,"text":"that that uh that we need assurance that this will be regenerative. Um,"},{"t":4908,"text":"so I'm I'm still I'm still confused. Uh, so I'll I'll wait to hear some more discussion."},{"t":4917,"text":"Yeah, I'm I'm not worried. I think that it will be regenerative. I think that the the laws and the environmental regulations in place now will pretty"},{"t":4926,"text":"much the building is is very close to net zero if it's not net zero already. And"},{"t":4933,"text":"um there there are we have a lot of control over the environment there. I think such a thing can be done in a"},{"t":4941,"text":"responsible fashion and and I think basically uh this was in the OCP for for"},{"t":4950,"text":"a very very long time that this could be an engine where we could really really"},{"t":4957,"text":"diversify our tax base whereas we're under extreme pressure now and we have costs rising at such such a rate that uh"},{"t":4965,"text":"or maybe the counselor could tell me how how he envisions creating the wealth to cover some of our uh bills that will be upcoming that we've been talking about over the last few months."},{"t":4978,"text":"Am I next?"},{"t":4983,"text":"Thank you. Um Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to comment on a couple of things as well. Um I think the mayor felt that [clears throat] recapping the history of"},{"t":4991,"text":"the expenditures on the property u might be useful. I don't find that it's particularly derain to to the discussion tonight. I certainly appreciate that"},{"t":5000,"text":"taxpayers from across the CRD um and you know to some extent the the province have chipped in to deal with some of the remediation on that property um which is"},{"t":5009,"text":"important and we recognize the CRD did not cause the contamination. There's nothing in this conversation that is intended to be punitive to the CRD or to"},{"t":5018,"text":"you know call out their behavior in any way. I think you know we appreciate the work that they've been doing as well. Um"},{"t":5025,"text":"but if the issue around concern about the de reduced assessment value for the"},{"t":5031,"text":"property is pinned on this notion of uncertainty, we will be addressing that like a zoning approach or something like"},{"t":5039,"text":"what is in front of us tonight. Whether or not this is exactly something that moves forward tonight, um it it I think goes quite a long ways and that's part"},{"t":5047,"text":"of the point of I think bringing this forward is to help try to address the uncertainty because contrary to the question or the accusation perhaps of"},{"t":5055,"text":"dreaming of controlling what happens on the property. Um in my view, I think we've taken quite a different approach, which is to say we're trying not to be incredibly restrictive about the uses."},{"t":5066,"text":"It's about the behavior of how those uses are implemented or other clumsy wording but I think you take my point which is it's not about controlling"},{"t":5075,"text":"every single aspect of what happens on that land. It's about trying to encourage those activities to happen in a way that respect um the regenerative"},{"t":5083,"text":"nature of what Schlab is about. So, it's really I I do appreciate that Highlands is kind of innovative in the way that we"},{"t":5092,"text":"have taken on some of these challenges in the past and I think it's because we've been a bit dogged with it um that we are able to kind of continue doing"},{"t":5100,"text":"that and I'm not personally feeling super pressured to um rush through this"},{"t":5107,"text":"in a way that causes us concern because I think we're on the right track. I'm just I have I I share council Rousing's sense of it just"},{"t":5115,"text":"a bit of still have some hesitance you know possibly one approach is to give it first reading and and um or and you know"},{"t":5122,"text":"go to a public hearing have a conversation about it that might help put on the table the proposed uh you know ideas of some of the uses and some"},{"t":5130,"text":"of this language and we can talk further about it but I I'm not personally sure yet that I fully appreciate how we've accomplished what we're intending to it"},{"t":5139,"text":"I think it may well be there and it might be my ability to have digested all of the pieces of the story so far, but um I'm going to guess that if that's the case, I'm not alone."},{"t":5149,"text":"Thank you. Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor."},{"t":5152,"text":"Um I think that the commentary has been good. I think we've had some good facts."},{"t":5156,"text":"I think the mayor presented some some appropriate facts and I think that councelor Mlan brought up some some interesting aspects about the COC, but I"},{"t":5164,"text":"also appreciate that Mr. Daily uh corrected about the the 2024"},{"t":5171,"text":"appraisal and I guess when I look at this and I I think that council's been given an opportunity to test our resolve"},{"t":5181,"text":"and um and it is a tough one because we do have a piece of property where"},{"t":5188,"text":"um this this property was certainly damaged long before and that property was uh was remediated."},{"t":5197,"text":"We being a part of it. I totally understand that and I think councelor Rosing and and other colleagues speak to the importance of the community input"},{"t":5205,"text":"that has gone into looking at at this and and and this probably goes back to my earlier conversation is that I"},{"t":5214,"text":"honestly think that this is a totally salailable idea"},{"t":5221,"text":"but we we need to sell it and if having if not being able to have a net zero"},{"t":5228,"text":"uh or net positive assessment tool is the case, then my only way that I would look at uh this type of a bylaw"},{"t":5236,"text":"structure and I appreciate what staff has done because staff was really given the direction from us to sort of move at this rather quickly"},{"t":5244,"text":"um before we had our assessment tool and that was a tough position to put staff in and I I'm feel bad about that"},{"t":5252,"text":"but that's the direction that we gave as a council and If we are a ways off our assessment tool and we've got a weird"},{"t":5261,"text":"piece of property then and we're trying to look at doing some sort of net zero"},{"t":5268,"text":"or net positive aspects to it. I mean we do have many existing tools and I take a look at the Cami Street corridor. I look"},{"t":5275,"text":"at the application that's coming later tonight which I think the stuff that Mlean has done with the with the wastewater recovery and the the rainwater recovery for use is an"},{"t":5284,"text":"excellent idea. Um, and I think that if we aren't able to have an assessment tool that perhaps we need to add some"},{"t":5292,"text":"additional tools that are being used by other jurisdictions that that spell it out in a bit more detail. And for me, I"},{"t":5299,"text":"guess um I I am at the I'm at a feeling where I think we need to probably send"},{"t":5307,"text":"this back to staff and see if if we can't do an assessment tool, if there are other aspects that we can add to it that aren't scary, that are being used"},{"t":5315,"text":"in Metro Vancouver in certain places um uh that help meet our goals in the"},{"t":5323,"text":"shorter term than waiting for an assessment tool in the long term. So those are a couple of my comments."},{"t":5331,"text":"Yeah, I think it's, you know, the work that was done is good in that we can do this environmentally friendly way. We"},{"t":5338,"text":"just got to get it out there and start engaging with the people who have the funds now to develop property like that"},{"t":5346,"text":"and and have those kind of ideas as they did in Vancouver. But we can't like sort of make such a narrow opening for that"},{"t":5355,"text":"in the beginning. I think this is something that that dialogue between"},{"t":5359,"text":"[laughter]"},{"t":5360,"text":"the developer later on once once they see the interest in the property and the property value goes up. We'll have that"},{"t":5367,"text":"at least we'll have this prezoning that it really enhances the value of that property. And then from then on we'll"},{"t":5374,"text":"get in these conversations with you know very ethical modern futuristic even thinking developers and that's what"},{"t":5382,"text":"that's what we're what but we're trying to attract those people to talk to and and uh that's what my hope you know I'm"},{"t":5390,"text":"hoping that we can come to a consensus on this because I think everyone has to agree we have to diversify the tax base because I still haven't heard a response"},{"t":5398,"text":"from council on how we're going to raise funds do all the nice things we want to do and the things that we don't have the funds to do right now, including some of our infrastructure."},{"t":5416,"text":"Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I have another question for staff through the mayor."},{"t":5422,"text":"Um, since we don't have this uh assessment tool, the net positive assessment tool,"},{"t":5431,"text":"would it it be appropriate to use the uh appraisal form that is normally used every time there's a reasonzoning?"},{"t":5441,"text":"Uh, so through the chair I um yes, that's that that is one opportunity"},{"t":5448,"text":"that that could be done. I'm I'm wondering if I don't know if the application already"},{"t":5457,"text":"had it done or not. It mean I can't remember. So certainly that that is something that could happen. Yeah. So my"},{"t":5466,"text":"followup is it's our policy that we use the appraisal form every time there is a reasonzoning and this is the first time"},{"t":5474,"text":"we're at this level of uh this is normally the place where we would use that appraisal form with the five"},{"t":5482,"text":"capitals and according to the schlap and regenerative development it has to be net positive from a baseline on every"},{"t":5491,"text":"single category of the five capital models that the district uses. And so that would that is impossible to do"},{"t":5500,"text":"right now because we don't have an actual application for a particular development"},{"t":5509,"text":"right now. And that's that's kind of the the tough spot we're in right now. We're doing a blanket resoning without an actual application for development."},{"t":5519,"text":"And that's where I'm struggling that I don't and we lose our"},{"t":5526,"text":"we lose our only place in order to actually use the appraisal form or the net positive evaluation tool if we"},{"t":5535,"text":"reszone before there's an application for development which is a different process than I've certainly ever seen on"},{"t":5543,"text":"12 years on council. I'm sure it's new to everybody else around here. So I think that's where part of our problem"},{"t":5550,"text":"is. So I'm not keen to move forward with this until we can give this the best chance of being the best it can"},{"t":5558,"text":"according to our SLAP document and the regenerative development because right now the way it stands is"},{"t":5566,"text":"it has the name regenerative development but there's actually nothing that ensures net positive anything. It's all"},{"t":5574,"text":"aspirational at this point. we have no tool and we have no way of motivating an applicant to work with them. So, um I"},{"t":5584,"text":"think we should get a motion on the floor."},{"t":5590,"text":"And my motion is going to be [laughter] to deny this application."},{"t":5613,"text":"No seconders."},{"t":5615,"text":"I don't hear a seconder. So um maybe time for motion and my motion is"},{"t":5622,"text":"that I would like to give the Highlands zoning bylaw number 100 1998 amendment"},{"t":5629,"text":"number 49 M1 RD M2RD 1965 miling room bylaw number 488 2026 be given first and second readings."},{"t":5648,"text":"I'm looking for a second there."},{"t":5654,"text":"Sorry, can't hear you there. Counc officer can help here. I don't think you"},{"t":5663,"text":"can have a seconder for two motions at one time. And I did indicate if we were going to have first reading, I would like it to do to do an amendment."},{"t":5676,"text":"So we need a moer and a seconder and then you can make an amendment. Do we have a seconder?"},{"t":5696,"text":"Seconded by councelor Mlan."},{"t":5702,"text":"All right. As the mover, I think I've already made some of my comments on this, so I'm willing to uh open the discussion. Do you have a seconder?"},{"t":5711,"text":"Customer, do you have something you wish to say? Thank you."},{"t":5718,"text":"Um, I'd like I'd like to make an amendment as I just said uh previously that um regarding prohibited uses."},{"t":5732,"text":"Uh, I would like to do an amendment to add into schedule B of bylaw 448,"},{"t":5743,"text":"medium commercial industrial regenerative development M2-RD"},{"t":5750,"text":"under prohibited uses 11.5.2 2 to add in E"},{"t":5758,"text":"which states in the M1 just to carry that over. It states I believe industrial uses within this"},{"t":5766,"text":"zone shall exclude wrecking and salvaging operations."},{"t":5774,"text":"So I'm moving that as an amendment."},{"t":5784,"text":"We have a seconder."},{"t":5789,"text":"All right. Seconded by councelor Gord Beard."},{"t":5795,"text":"Anything else to say? Councelor Mcclelay."},{"t":5798,"text":"No, perhaps Gourd Bear does as second I don't know."},{"t":5803,"text":"Yeah, thanks. Um, I'm think wrecking and salvaging probably uh"},{"t":5813,"text":"is a fine thing to put in there, but I I'm hoping that probably what will arise"},{"t":5819,"text":"out of tonight will make that a mute point. Uh, I'm hoping that we might be able to see some changes, some other"},{"t":5828,"text":"amendments or something like that. So, as it stands, I probably won't be supporting first and second reading. Um,"},{"t":5836,"text":"but uh I can support the amendment being in there just to move things forward here."},{"t":5843,"text":"All right. On the amendment, all those in favor? Opposed?"},{"t":5854,"text":"carries myself and council uh councelor we had"},{"t":5860,"text":"one other post I thought what is we see councelor Stanton"},{"t":5868,"text":"that takes us back to the motion one and two as amended"},{"t":5882,"text":"seeing no more discussion all Those in favor? Opposed?"},{"t":5891,"text":"Defeated."},{"t":5900,"text":"All right, [clears throat] counc."},{"t":5906,"text":"Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I do have a question to staff. uh with a first and second reading of a bylaw"},{"t":5914,"text":"um being defeated, uh what potential next steps or options would be available for council to"},{"t":5924,"text":"consider additional because I think that that pretty much nullifies the application."},{"t":5935,"text":"I believe that's correct. it would be we wouldn't have a public hearing and it would ended it's done."},{"t":5945,"text":"Thank you. Um and it's and to me that's it's kind of sad because I do think that we had something to work with but I don't think it was quite this and I"},{"t":5952,"text":"think we could have made some uh could afforded some other thoughts and discussions to perhaps address this gap."},{"t":5961,"text":"Uh certainly I feel confident that the the hours and the time that the community members spent on this um is"},{"t":5970,"text":"important and valid. Um but it also I recognize that this is we"},{"t":5978,"text":"are also partners with the CRD and so I um I think my alignment here is a little bit more towards the community input"},{"t":5987,"text":"that has gone into this discussion and I it has been a very hard discussion. I if there is a way that we can reook at this"},{"t":5995,"text":"in a different lens I would be quite happy to do that."},{"t":6000,"text":"Councor McLean."},{"t":6010,"text":"Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, I have a question through the chair to the corporate officer if I may. I'm just wondering if there's a possibility um at"},{"t":6018,"text":"this point in time to have the application as amended."},{"t":6023,"text":"Um, you know, if council could do a resolution um that it come be brought back to us once we receive the um"},{"t":6033,"text":"pending um net zero net positive evaluation material from"},{"t":6042,"text":"the organization that's preparing it. Is that a possibility?"},{"t":6061,"text":"I think your practice here is that the application would have to be there would have to be a new application."},{"t":6074,"text":"Yeah, I I think we we need to get some advice on what a next step would be if council wishes staff to do that because"},{"t":6084,"text":"I So I I think some kind of motion from council to find or or should we just I'm sorry I'm at a loss."},{"t":6094,"text":"I think we should come back to council on the ETH with more information."},{"t":6099,"text":"So maybe we could do maybe we could request some options and possibly moving forward."},{"t":6108,"text":"It's a shame to have um all this work um"},{"t":6116,"text":"not given the full attention it it needs. But thank you."},{"t":6123,"text":"Well, I think it should have uh passed first and second reading because that gives the public and council a lot of opportunity on the ETH to still get"},{"t":6132,"text":"their points in and make a decision, but that didn't happen today. Councelor Mlan, I mean, Dr. Councelor Bair."},{"t":6140,"text":"Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, from what I heard is that staff is looking for probably a motion to report back."},{"t":6145,"text":"No. Okay, I won't give a motion. I will I'll shut my mic up."},{"t":6152,"text":"All right. Well, I will uh move on to the next item, which is the permissive tax exemption bylaw 8.2. And I'm going"},{"t":6159,"text":"to ask uh our corporate officer to introduce"},{"t":6172,"text":"Okay. At our last meeting in July 6th, council um asked that staff return with the permissive tax exemption for a"},{"t":6179,"text":"5-year period. Um that has been attached to the report and um we're asking that council give first, second, and third"},{"t":6187,"text":"reading to the permissive tax exemptions."},{"t":6198,"text":"Councelor Gordon. Okay. I would like to make an amendment."},{"t":6206,"text":"I'd like it not to be five years but to be one year"},{"t":6214,"text":"because I think as that's a bit uh far ahead to to encumber that for five years. I think at least the next council would have should have considered this."},{"t":6226,"text":"Do I have a seconder? Yeah. Seconded by councelor Stanton. Discussion."},{"t":6234,"text":"And as I said, I I think that [clears throat] five years is too long. Councelor Mlan."},{"t":6242,"text":"Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I actually when I read this, I was actually a bit um I don't like to use the word confused,"},{"t":6251,"text":"but I thought we did I thought our motion was for four years. I thought the staff report had indicated my recollection is that four years to"},{"t":6260,"text":"tie in with a four-year term and actually at the last council meeting I had pursued a for one year and so when I"},{"t":6268,"text":"read five in in this um in in the u report u I was a bit"},{"t":6276,"text":"surprised well why why would it be 5 years so"},{"t":6283,"text":"anyway Anyway, there's um a motion on the floor, but I did have that question for clarification. Thank you."},{"t":6290,"text":"Right, Council Gord Bon."},{"t":6299,"text":"All right. Anyone wish to discuss the amendment?"},{"t":6304,"text":"Seeing none, I'll call the question. All those in favor? Opposed?"},{"t":6312,"text":"opposed by councelor Ann and Gord Barrett. That carries."},{"t":6319,"text":"Then we can go back to uh the main motion."},{"t":6330,"text":"Yeah."},{"t":6332,"text":"You want to break it up into three readings? Yes. First reading. We can do all three readings together."},{"t":6342,"text":"Yeah, I know. All those in favor opposed."},{"t":6350,"text":"Yes. Well, yes, it's a motion as amended."},{"t":6354,"text":"Mr. Mayor, yes."},{"t":6360,"text":"I think there's been some confusion about what's happened the last couple."},{"t":6366,"text":"Yeah. You agree? Yeah. Can we go back and make sure that we're Yeah. Well, we're doing the permissive tax exemption."},{"t":6376,"text":"Now, it was written in over five years. I amended it to make it one year. So, the amendment was for one year. Yes."},{"t":6384,"text":"And then the second Yes. Yes. And it passed."},{"t":6394,"text":"And now we're gone back to the main motion and we're on the permissive tax exemption. And uh so"},{"t":6402,"text":"we we want to give it first, second, and third reading. It's a bylaw. So do we have to do each one individually?"},{"t":6410,"text":"So um the motion that was put forward were for all three readings. So the amendment would be um third as amended. Yeah."},{"t":6418,"text":"And that's what you would be voting on all three and third is amendment. the third reading as amended."},{"t":6424,"text":"All right. And that's what we'll do. All those in favor? Opposed? None opposed? That carries."},{"t":6433,"text":"All right. And so, um, we have that done. We go to 8.3. And this is the parks management bylaws."},{"t":6441,"text":"And this is, uh, we've already previously discussed this, and this is mainly, uh, to be adopted. I'd look for"},{"t":6450,"text":"member of council to please move seconded by moved by councelor McLean seconded by councelor Stanton discussion"},{"t":6459,"text":"say none call question all those in favor opposed none opposed that carries and we're on to 8.4 Four fees and charged bylaw."},{"t":6468,"text":"Second, right? Yes. Question."},{"t":6475,"text":"Councelor Henderson."},{"t":6479,"text":"Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to ask, it may have been asked before, my apologies if it's just me having forgotten. Um but with respect to the"},{"t":6487,"text":"the rates and who is um subject to paying for park use um would this"},{"t":6495,"text":"include a nonprofit organization? I know the word commercial here says business andor profit generating. So when I think"},{"t":6503,"text":"and I will just put my cards on the table of Westro parks and wreck doing like their top pot park rowing thing. Um"},{"t":6510,"text":"would they be subject to paying for their use of the park?"},{"t":6515,"text":"No. Um because we're an owner with West Shore Parks and Recreation, we have an agreement with them and we also um have insurance in place and all of that. It's"},{"t":6524,"text":"a standing standing item. Okay, perfect. Thank you very much."},{"t":6532,"text":"Right. Any any uh further discussion on this? Seeing none, call the question."},{"t":6539,"text":"All those in favor? Opposed? None opposed? That carries. That brings us to new business and uh we have a development permit with variance uh"},{"t":6548,"text":"DVP0126 2015 Milstream Road. I would like to ask our planner to please introduce."},{"t":6555,"text":"Thank you, mayor. And the applicant um applicants are in the audience. Um Terry"},{"t":6563,"text":"Wood is the applicant. uh and the gentleman besiders uh Steven Haye who is the representative of the LEI who will"},{"t":6572,"text":"they'll be doing the development. Um so the purpose of this report is to present development permit with variance"},{"t":6580,"text":"application DBP 0126 along with the applicant's request for authorization to locate buildings and"},{"t":6586,"text":"structures within a covenanted area. The site is located in the north central area within Milstream Industrial Park"},{"t":6595,"text":"and so is also within development permit area 4 that can only be approved by council. The site is also within the"},{"t":6604,"text":"area that is covenanted for future road, hence the accompanying request."},{"t":6609,"text":"The proposal is to install a concrete manufacturing and loading plant with associated silos, hoppers, containers,"},{"t":6616,"text":"conveyors, a prefabricated office building, and a truck wash down pad. One silo is proposed to be higher than that"},{"t":6624,"text":"permitted by the zoning by law. And so a variance is requested. So you have a development permit with variance before"},{"t":6630,"text":"you. Um they're requesting that the silo height be allowed to go to 33 m as"},{"t":6639,"text":"compared to the 25 m which is the maximum allowed in this zoning by law."},{"t":6644,"text":"By comparison that's 108 ft request to 82 ft being the permitted. The proposal"},{"t":6651,"text":"is generally consistent with the applicable development permit areas and the rationale for the variance is to make use of a type of concrete plant"},{"t":6659,"text":"that will reduce noise and make efficient use of land. Um certainly Mr."},{"t":6663,"text":"Steven, Mr. Hay can uh comment better on that if council has questions. Um staff have included development permit area"},{"t":6672,"text":"six into the application for ease of administration."},{"t":6677,"text":"Uh and the recommendation is that notification be issued for council's future consideration of development permit with variance application DBP 0126."},{"t":6687,"text":"There you have it. Questions?"},{"t":6689,"text":"[clears throat]"},{"t":6691,"text":"Okay. All right. Discussion. Councelor Mlan."},{"t":6697,"text":"Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so I realize that this is um just for public notification tonight, so I'm not going to get into the um nitty-gritty"},{"t":6707,"text":"uh questions tonight, but um I will just make a comment that um"},{"t":6715,"text":"I thought okay well so this is this will be the first time we have a regenerative"},{"t":6720,"text":"development checklist for the uh DPA and um but also I just want to point out as"},{"t":6728,"text":"Well, in respect to the draft um DPA with variance um attachment number"},{"t":6736,"text":"three, it only indicates it's a DPA area number four does not indicate regenerative development there. I think"},{"t":6744,"text":"it might be worthwhile educationally wise to to have it in there so people realize what what it is. And um and so"},{"t":6755,"text":"when I did take a look at the um uh DPA area uh for uh"},{"t":6765,"text":"guideline check sheet. That's what I was talking about. Um I did look at to make sure the regenerative development"},{"t":6773,"text":"um was incorporated there as we had had it previously uh written up. But a concern that I had which I can discuss"},{"t":6782,"text":"in detail at another time is for a number of the regenerative things including reing"},{"t":6790,"text":"um it didn't seem to me that the applicant was being particularly um flexible."},{"t":6801,"text":"Um answers like uh well it's it's it's too disturbed."},{"t":6808,"text":"Um, you know, you could say it's well, it's rock."},{"t":6813,"text":"Uh, so we have this regenerative development and that the aspects of it in the South Highlands local area plan"},{"t":6821,"text":"and it's incorporated into the official community plan. There's policies and goals"},{"t":6829,"text":"and I believe they should be adequately addressed."},{"t":6833,"text":"Um if not then I from my perspective a proponent risks"},{"t":6841,"text":"uh non-sup support. So I'll leave it at that for now. Thank you Dr. Gordon."},{"t":6849,"text":"Yeah, thank you Mr. Mayor. Um I uh personally I see something like this that comes through and I see a lot of value and I think it's probably the"},{"t":6857,"text":"third or fourth variance that's come through that has used interesting uh technologies and approaches to deal with waste water and water and storm water."},{"t":6867,"text":"So um I think that uh this is another kind of a cool thing that's coming through and I look forward to hearing"},{"t":6875,"text":"more about it as it moves through. But uh I appreciate it. Thank you."},{"t":6881,"text":"Yeah, I absolutely support this."},{"t":6893,"text":"Yeah."},{"t":6894,"text":"Right. Without I don't see any further questions or comments. So I look for the the motion."},{"t":6901,"text":"All those in favor? None opposed? That carries."},{"t":6908,"text":"And that brings us to our adjournment."},{"t":6913,"text":"All those in favor post that carries."}],"words":15573,"fetchedAt":"2026-10-03T04:27:26.038Z"}