City of Powell River will be gaining control of lands it owns in Townsite.
Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons has stated he is glad to see that municipal control will be granted to the city over lands near the Paper Excellence mill site.
“This amendment will allow the local government to continue delivering for the people of Powell River,” stated Simons in a media release. “This is a great example of local governments and first nations working together toward a common goal, and I’m glad that our New Democrat government is able to support their work and partnership.”
City of Powell River was incorporated in 1955 under specific provincial legislation – the Powell River Incorporation Act – which, in section 21, set out restrictions on municipal regulation of the mill site, according to the release. These provisions protected operations of the pulp and paper mill at the time of incorporation, but reduction in activity of the mill and transfer of mill lots to the city have made these restrictions a constraint on economic development of those lots, which are now owned by the city, the release stated.
The city approached the province to remove these restrictions specific to the municipality after discussions between the city, the ministry of municipal affairs, and Tla’amin Nation, which supported the municipality’s request. Simons stated that on October 26, minister of municipal affairs Josie Osborne tabled Bill 26 to remove the restrictions and free up the space for the municipality to develop the land for the community.
The legislation allows for changes to the Powell River Incorporation Act to be made through regulation, according to the release. For the changes to take effect, cabinet must approve the change. This will expedite future changes to the city’s boundaries near the mill, ensuring that legislation is no longer required, the release stated.
Powell River mayor Dave Formosa told the Peak that this greatly anticipated news has finally made its way to the BC government’s cabinet to change the laws in favour of the city, which will allow it to take control of its newly acquired land for the absolute benefit to all the residents of Powell River in the times present and years going forward.
Formosa said meetings are being undertaken by the city’s planning department, under the direction of the director of planning Jason Gow, to receive input from residents on what they may like to see the city adopt within these lands into the sustainable official community plan (SOCP).
“Once this exercise has been completed, I am hopeful an update to the SOCP will be completed in due course to assist in guiding the city forward with the future use of these valuable lands, given that we were fortunate enough to purchase them a number of years ago now,” said Formosa.
City chief administrative officer Russell Brewer said the amendments reflect long-awaited progress on an action item that has been on council’s strategic plan for a number of years as an economic resiliency priority, and a desire on the part of the community as reflected in the city’s SOCP.
“The amendments will not apply to lands that are integral to forestry and log dumping operations for Tla’amin Nation and Western Forest Products, such as the log dumps and the haul road,” said Brewer.
Section 21 of the Powell River Incorporation Act applies to core industrial lands required for the continued operation of the mill, according to Brewer. The rationale for continuation of Section 21 does not apply to city-owned lands that are not strategic for mill operations, hence the request for amendment, he added.
