Local conservation fund, land use amendments edge closer
By Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Area H and F are in.
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) board has approved the creation of a funding stream to the Local Conservation Fund service for electoral areas H and F — to be given final approval through a referendum that will run simultaneously with the local government elections occurring in October.
The fund was set up to provide grants to “support conservation efforts focused on the conservation of water and aquatic systems, as well as wildlife and habitat, with the ultimate goal of supporting actions to provide a healthy physical environment for future generations,” noted RDCK general manager of Development and Community Sustainability, Sangita Sudan, in her report to the board last month.
In the Kootenay Conservation program market research survey it showed a “higher majority support” for the Local Conservation Fund in both areas H and F.
There are only three areas that are involved in the program — areas A, D and E — which distributed $71,000 to eight different projects. Area F was the only electoral area surrounding Kootenay Lake that was not a part of the fund.
Sudan noted that if residents of areas F and H approve of joining the Local Conservation Fund service, property owners will be charged an annual parcel tax of $15.
“If the service is established in 2022 by assent voting in Areas F and H then 2023 will be focused on gathering parcel tax to fund the service implementation in 2024,” she noted in her report to the board.
Using the land
Third reading was given to amendments to the land use bylaws in several Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) electoral areas.
The amendments could legitimize the practice of building or setting up an accessory building before constructing a primary residence.
Previously in place for only commercial and industrial projects in some areas of the RDCK, the changes to the Local Government Act allow the regional district to govern temporary use permits for residential applications.
The amendment was for areas A, B, C, D, F and G, the Slocan Lake North part of area H, area K (the Arrow Lakes Official Community Plan bylaw) and the RDCK zoning bylaw.
The temporary use permits proposed under the amendment were considered an improvement and were a far more effective way to deal with some of the land use challenges where people were building a garage and living in it prior to building their principal residence.
The amendments also include:
• revision of the definition of park and parks permitted in any zone;
• revisions to the maximum number of shipping containers allowed in certain zones;
• revision of permitted locations of 2-metre tall fences in R1, R7 and HR-I zones; and,
• removing ability to construct accessory buildings prior to establishing a principal use in residential zones.
The Transportation Act requires that a zoning bylaw that may affect a controlled area (relating to highways) requires signature by the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI).
“Therefore, staff recommend that amending bylaw 2757 be granted third reading and referred to MoTI’s designated person for signature. Adoption would take place at a future board meeting,” noted an RDCK staff report to the board.
With the public hearing waived by board resolution, public notice of the amendments was advertised, resulting in one written comment against the proposed changes provided in response to the ads.
