Items on the agenda of the regular District of Sooke council meeting of Dec. 11.
Development Variance Permit
Council defeated a recommendation to issue a Variance Permit for 6670 Sooke Road to vary the Sign Regulation Bylaw, 2011.
The building, the new Toronto Dominion Bank, requested a variance to increase the size of their signage in three areas on the building.
In November council had just adopted its new sign bylaw and felt it needed to be adhered to.
Mayor Wendal Milne said that Sooke is rural in character and he was not in favour of varying signs. He said the applicant should stay within the rules as this was no hardship for the bank.
“No one likes strip malls with big signs,” said Milne.
Bylaws
Council gave first and second reading to Bylaw No. 513, Zoning Amendment Bylaw and scheduled a Public Hearing for Jan. 9, 2012.
The purpose of the zoning bylaw amendment us to correct duplicity between two zones in Bylaw No. 500.
Reports requiring action:
Mutual Aid
Council did not endorse a Mutual Aid Agreement with the City of Colwood and Colwood Fire Rescue Service. Colwood was looking for a five-year agreement wherein if Colwood attended in Sooke, Sooke would be charged a fee and vice versa. Liability insurance would have cost the district $5,000/yr. plus costs of upgrades for insurance to each emergency vehicle.
Fire Chief Steve Sorensen said they had not attended any calls in Colwood. Colwood is the only mutual aid partner that has proposed a fee for service formula within their agreement. Other communities have signed with Colwood.
Council approved the Silver Spray Fire Protection Agreement for a three-year term. Silver Spray became part of the District of Sooke in 2005. The original agreement for fire protection from the East Sooke Fire Department was at a cost of $6,000. In 2011 the cost was $30,670.
The Sooke Community Association Community Services Agreement came before council for renewal. The association was asked to provide a 2011 financial report which was not available. The decision to renew the agreement was postponed until all of the necessary information was available for council perusal.
The Sooke Community Association has over $1.1-million worth of assets but ran into a deficit position of $33,586 in 2010. The association’s capital assets include land worth $44,938, land and improvements at Milne’s Landing $248,232, improvement at the Sooke Flats,$343,845; Sooke Community Hall $434,082.
