City of Powell River council is considering a variance to property at Powell River Airport to allow BC Wildfire Service to situate a triple-wide trailer at its leased land.
At the September 14 city council meeting, planner Rachel Pukesh provided an overview of the proposal, which seeks relaxation of setbacks on the property.
Pukesh said the development variance permit is a relaxation of minimum side setbacks in the M2 airport industrial zone that would apply to a new lease area that BC Wildfire Service has procured adjacent to the existing firebase operation at the airport.
“The development plans for the BC Wildfire Service includes placement of a modular trailer, surrounded by gravel parking areas and chain link security fencing,” said Pukesh. “The M2 airport industrial zone requires a minimum-sized setback of three metres on each side of the building.”
Pukesh said there were two areas where the setbacks did not comply in relation to the lease area boundary.
“While BC Wildfire Service hasn’t finalized their development plans for the specific modular that is going to be located here, they wish to have certainty as to how this modular can be sited,” said Pukesh. “They are moving ahead with these particular dimensions and would like to get some surety about the siting before they go ahead and finalize their plans. They will be following up with a development permit application.”
Pukesh said the wildfire service wants to keep the siting of the building harmonious with the existing building. She said there is the expectation that wildfire service staff are going to be working and travelling between the two buildings and the wildfire service would like to place them as close as possible to provide for the easiest transfer of staff between the two buildings.
Pukesh said there are also plans to maximize the parking in the front of the building, and the wildfire service would also like to site the building outside of where water and sanitary services will be located underground.
She said city planning staff have asked the wildfire service for a landscaping plan to make sure the proposed placement of the building will still allow them to achieve landscaping objectives.
Pukesh, in a report to council, stated that planning staff support the variance application.
“Personally, after the wildfire season, anything in this regard that seems to facilitate an expansion of BC Wildfire Service’s command centre base in Powell River so that they can mobilize more quickly and bring staff is seen as a good thing,” said Pukesh.
Councillor Trina Isakson said it makes sense to treat the two sites as one. She asked about the length of the leases.
Pukesh said the new lease is long term and she understands it is upward of 14 years, set to coincide with the existing lease.
According to Pukesh’s written report to council, BC Wildfire Service is proposing the new modular unit to provide office space for firebase support staff and vehicles plus equipment that may be mobilized to Powell River in the event of a coastal wildfire emergency.
Council carried a motion to direct staff to give notice of council’s intention to consider issuance of the development variance permit.
Join the Peak's email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
