Organics processing in City of Powell River limits was brought up at a recent committee of the whole meeting.
During the community engagement reports at the July 19 meeting, councillor Jim Palm said he had received phone calls from a couple of business owners in the area of Franklin Avenue.
“This has to do with odours that were coming from an organic processing facility on that street,” said Palm. “In the middle of the summer, in the middle of the heat, we have a lot of odour.
“When I dealt with this some time ago, I asked staff where the new organic processing facility was going to be set up. There was some suggestion at that time that Franklin Avenue was going to be that destination, however, that changed.
“I understand, and what I want to ask our regional directors for some input on, is that somewhere, within the regional district, that organic processing facility has to go through a rezoning application. How long might that take?”
Palm said in addition to the business owners, he has spoken with the owner of the facility itself. He said he is beginning to think relocation may take quite some time.
“There are a lot of concerns,” said Palm. “The other question that needs to be asked is: when do we [the city] begin to pick up organics, and is that where it is going to be going? I can tell you, even with the limited amount we have going there right now, it’s not satisfactory.”
Palm said the city should have a look at having some form of formal process where business owners can register their displeasure.
“They need somewhere to go to voice their concerns,” he added.
Palm said he checked with staff and there is no formal complaint process for this particular instance.
Councillor and committee chair Maggie Hathaway said people can always write a letter to city council.
Palm said he’d like to hear from the city’s regional district directors about timelines and the process moving forward. Councillor CaroleAnn Leishman, one of the city’s regional directors, said the question was of an operational nature, not a political one, so the appropriate place to ask the question would be with regional district staff.
“We can’t speak to that,” said Leishman. “It would be operational staff at the regional district.”
