City of Powell River staff has made a recommendation to issue a development permit to place a modular office building in the BC Wildfire Service lease area at Powell River Airport.
At the February 13 committee of the whole meeting, planner Rachel Pukesh said the development was for a triple-wide modular trailer unit with associated fencing and site landscaping as part of the expanded fire base on the airport lands.
She said in November 2023, council was provided notice that an application of this nature was coming. She said there was a development variance permit for the property that was to relax some side setbacks in relation to the siting of the modular structure.
“BC Wildfire Service has now finalized their development plans following council’s support of the development variance permit and has submitted the drawing schedules that are attached to the draft permit,” said Pukesh.
She said landscaping installation as per the landscaping plan would be secured by way of a security deposit and BC Wildfire Service will provide costing to the city should city council approve issuance of the development permit.
“Planning staff do feel that the proposal meets the development permit guidelines and council’s approval of this permit would permit the BC Wildfire Service to move ahead with site servicing and building permit submissions, which they have already been engaging our department about,” said Pukesh. “The goal is working toward establishing expanded office space, which serves as an expanded firebase in event of a major BC wildfire season, as soon as possible.
“Planning staff did refer this application out internally to engineering, fire, airport operations and city property staff, none of whom expressed any concerns about the proposal as presented.”
Pukesh said the recommendation was that the development permit be forwarded to council for consideration.
Council carried the recommendation unanimously.
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