Regional district OCP review
As a land owner and resident of Powell River Regional District I am concerned that right now anybody can clear cut their property across the road from most anyone’s home and turn it into a gravel pit. Or they can turn their property above anyone else’s into an auto-wrecker yard [“Director attempts to stop the rot,” March 23].
And the way the district’s official community plan (OCP) for areas B and C reads now, there’s nothing to prevent it.
During this recent OCP review process people asked for new bylaws and development permit guidelines to ensure “intelligent planning” for things like:
Preservation of a certain amount of natural vegetation for wildlife habitat and aesthetic enjoyment.
Adequate water supply and appropriate sewage treatment.
Suitable lot size and housing density for the surrounding area.
Compatibility of proposed developments with existing land use.
Appropriate access.
But during the OCP review meetings these requests were suppressed. And more recently regional district directors tied voting for and against them.
Freedom is a precious thing. But, freedom at the expense of others is another thing.
Whether we like it, cause it, accept it or not, change is going to occur in our paradise, hopefully with balance, harmony and sustainability as cornerstones. It takes a left wing and a right wing to fly.
As the price of carbon fuels goes up and it costs more to bring the things we need into Powell River, we’re going to depend more on ourselves to preserve our way of life.
I really liked Rob Higgin’s idea of a Powell River Mutual Fund [“Local currency creates society,” March 30].
Wouldn’t it be cool to use our existing brainpower, life experience and resources to create more employment for the full spectrum of our population and ensure our future needs? Develop our organic farming potential, bring new meaning to hydroponics in BC, design, build and operate wind and solar-powered cargo ships to facilitate trade for things we can’t grow or make and use renewable energy sources to power it all.
Surely there’s a way to salvage this OCP review process.
Ken Glaze
Phillips Road
Willingdon RV sani-station
Last week I called City of Powell River bylaw enforcement to report four cars parked on the Willingdon RV sani-station site. I was coming from Wildwood with my travel trailer to empty the holding tanks. When I arrived there were now five cars parked there. Three of the cars were empty.
I could not access the station. While waiting for the bylaw officer to arrive two more cars arrived. One lady got out with her dog and disappeared on a walk. Again, I called bylaw enforcement. By now it was lunch time and the officer couldn’t be found.
Finally the officer arrived and asked owners to move their cars. When asked why he was not writing out parking tickets he told me it does no good. He writes 30 parking tickets a week, but people don’t care and they still park there [“Council shoots for positive outcome to parking fines,” February 10, 2010].
One empty parked car sitting almost on the sani-station was left. The officer guided me in backwards until I was up to the now ticketed empty car. I managed to dump my tanks. I had waited an hour to do a five-minute job.
I have travelled all over BC never to have a problem like we do in Powell River with these RV stations. This sani-station is in the wrong place and must be moved. Many tourists have the same problem. When any event is held at the beach they shut down the sani-station leaving tourists stranded. There used to be a second station at the campsite but large units can’t get near it.
It seems the city doesn’t care about RVers, tourists or not. Why would anyone who wants to go for a stroll on the Willingdon pathway want to smell sewer tanks being dumped as they take in the sights? With all the money being wasted in this town surely a bit could be spent to move this station. All RVers out there need to phone Mayor Stewart Alsgard and voice their opinion. Something has to be done.
Dave Hurrie
Nass Street
Opponent misrepresents
Misrepresentations by my opponent regarding the Tla’Amin (Sliammon) First Nation treaty are a shameful attempt to play divisive politics with a significant matter [“Treaty turmoil,” March 30] . Some basic facts:
1. I’m in regular contact with Chief Clint Williams and his Council and have worked with them, among other things to:
a. Help resolve the fisheries component of the treaty—the parties had been blocked on this for years, when Chief Williams sought my intervention in March 2010. By June 2010, the parties had resolved the matter.
b. Obtain federal funding for the Tla’Amin Salish Centre renovations.
c. Create jobs for Tla’Amin people.
d. Stand with them for the raising of their totem pole in memory of recently departed elders.
2. On March 14 and 15, I was in Powell River to meet with Williams, Chief Tla’Amin Negotiator Roy Francis, City of Powell River Mayor Stewart Alsgard, and others specifically to talk about the treaty and how we could continue to advance it, the legitimate concerns that exist on both sides, and to explain in person my support for the Tla’Amin people and the need to achieve a treaty.
3. Last month, my opponent, purely for his own selfish and partisan purposes, came to Ottawa with Williams, Francis and Alsgard. At no time did they request a meeting with the Department of Indian Affairs staff or the Minister’s office and, they refused my offer to meet with them.
Over the last five years, I have visited Powell River over 40 times. As member of parliament, I have addressed the concerns and questions of the community and its elected officials head on. I proudly represent Powell River and have worked with the mayor, council members, business leaders and residents to resolve many issues, in addition to securing $90 million in federal funding for significant projects.
My opponent went to Ottawa for no substantive reason at all, accomplished nothing, and continues to play self-serving, partisan personal politics on an issue that requires patience, goodwill and constructive collaboration.
John Weston
Conservative Candidate
Kings: Our heroes
We recently flew back from our spring-break trip to the Cayman Islands into Seattle—stayed over in Seattle and then headed home for Kelowna the following day. We had just passed Merritt and our truck lost power. My husband Boyd and our three children were stranded on the side of the road awaiting a tow truck to take our truck back to Merritt for repairs. My husband noticed a bus coming up behind us and thought it was the Greyhound. He proceeded to flag down the bus so that we could get back to Kelowna for Monday work and school. The bus turned out to the be Powell River Kings junior hockey team bus [“Champs set to battle old foe,” March 30].
Coach Kent Lewis, trainer Brendon Kerr and the bus driver Norm Philip very kindly invited our family to catch a ride back to Kelowna. The entire team was very warm, friendly and respectful toward us and our children and made a normally boring trip down the connector very fun and exciting. They were great role models. Our youngest son, Ollie, dubbed their bus “the safety bus” and felt it was the best ride ever.
Our appreciation goes to the Kings for rescuing our family from a cold snowy highway outside of Merritt.
Jacquie and Boyd Hayes
Kelowna, BC
Mobile cart businesses
Could someone please explain why the wonderful offer made by First Credit Union to create a park area in the vacant space at the corner of Alberni Street and Marine Avenue was turned down, due to the need for parking along Marine [“Businesses oppose park,” January 28, 2009], only to have a hotdog stand and a fry cart parked there from 7 am till at least 5:30 pm, six days a week?
Between the two carts and their owners vehicles more than six parking spaces are taken up every day. And these mobile cart businesses don’t pay taxes for this space, they only have to buy a business licence.
Something is very wrong with this picture. Council should take another look at its policies for the licensing of these types of businesses and where they can set up and for how long.
Vi Johnston
Alberni Street
