Ladysmith Council Notebook for May 6

Ladysmith Council met for almost an hour and fifty minutes on Monday, May 6, 2019.

The meeting started with a delegation from Ladysmith Resources Centre Association executive director Christy Wood providing an annual update to Council.

Wood highlighted many of the Heart on the Hill’s successes over the previous 12 months, including the over 10,000 direct connections with the community through its many programs and services.

The LRCA recently received a $12,000 grant from Island Health to further food security initiatives and attempt to map every fruit tree in Town. A portion of the funding is being used to purchase a dehydrator, juicer and canning equipment.

Council then heard three separate delegations on the Holland Creek Local Area Plan (HCLAP) Development Cost Charges (DCCs). 

Bill Eller, representing 1399 Developments Inc., Glen Carey, representing Zhongjian Holdings Ltd., and Jim Dickinson, representing 0936984 BC Ltd., all agreed that the HCLAP technical committee should regroup to discuss matters within the development area.

Mayor Stone indicated that Council would consider the recommendations in its ongoing discussions about Development Cost Charges.

Council approved first and second reading of bylaw amendments that will allow for new land uses within the area referred to in the Waterfront Area Plan as the Arts and Heritage Hub.

These changes to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw provide support for commercial and mixed-use businesses and activities by adding artifact and boat restoration, brewery, distillery, bottling and distribution, coffee shop, micro-brewery, restaurant, and retail sales to the list of uses under the Comprehensive Development 4 Zone.

The amendments will be the subject of a public hearing on June 3 at the Eagles Hall.

Council approved changes to the Town’s Grants in Aid policy that will make the process for handling applications more efficient.

Respective organizations will now be asked to submit only one application and the deadline for these requests for financial assistance are due by Dec. 31 of each year.  The deadline helps to align with the Town’s budget process.

Information regarding this change will be included in the Grants in Aid letter to all organizations receiving funding in 2019 as well as listed on the 2020 applications.

Council approved up to $20,000 from surplus to make safety improvements to the waterfront trail on Lot 5.  The Town acquired Lot 5 through expropriation on April 1, 2019.

Town staff completed an assessment of the trail and identified several necessary safety improvements, mainly due to erosion and drainage problems which have the potential for hazardous conditions during the winter season.

The work will also include the removal of a mature Arbutus tree that toppled during the December 2018 windstorm, as well as the trimming or removal of other damaged trees.

The Town will notify the public in advance of any access restrictions to the waterfront trail while the work is being completed.

The Lot 108 Working Committee has submitted a proposed revised site plan which includes a soccer warm-up/practice pitch, fitness stations and multi-use hiking trail. 

Council referred the submitted site plan to the Parks, Recreation & Culture Advisory Committee for comment and feedback.

Staff were also directed to bring back potential options for developing an updated Lot 108 site plan, along with the recommended process and associated costs.

Next on the agenda, Council directed staff to enter into an agreement with the Town and Country Mobile Home Park for the completion of a sanitary servicing study.

The property owner had previously approached the Town in 2018 about investigating options for connecting to the municipal sanitary sewer system.

Town and Country Mobile Home Park has 90 units and the on-going maintenance of the current sanitary sewer services could make it inefficient to maintain in the future.