ALR Land Exclusion
1990 Caldwell Rd. — Council made a recommendation to postpone the consideration of an application to exclude 1990 Caldwell Road from the Agricultural Land Reserve until the District of Sooke completes an Agricultural Plan. There are no current plans to develop the 1.5-hectacre property if it is excluded.
Municipal planner Gerard LeBlanc said the topsoil on the property was stripped and relocated in the late 1960s early 1970s, and recommended the decision on the application be held in advance until an Agricultural Plan is completed or a soil report done to assess the capability for farming. The applicant said he has owned the property for 52 years and that it hasn’t been suitable for agricultural use and yet he continues to pay tax on the land.
Coun. Ron Dumont said during the Union of British Columbia Municipalities meeting a few weeks ago the ALR commission were concerned with how agricultural land in the district was going to fit in with future town plans.
Coun. Bev Berger agreed and said unless a plan was put in place, any request would likely find its way to the bottom of the pile.
“I think it’s a huge thing that we need to get on with an ag. plan,” she said.
Dumont made a defeated motion for an amendment to have a soil test required along with an agricultural plan. Coun. Herb Haldane said it would be a lengthy process having to wait six to eight months for test results. Coun. Maja Tait agreed and opposed the amendment saying she would only support it if asked for by the ALR.
6912 & 7096 West Coast Rd/1841 Brooks Rd. — Council unanimously passed the recommendation to forward a request to the ALR for an exclusion of the mentioned 16-ha of property and the inclusion of 11.4-ha of land at 2322 Kemp Lake Road that is not within the District of Sooke.
LeBlanc said the proposed land for inclusion has better agricultural land than the three properties to be excluded, which are anticipated to be developed for light industrial use — likely a high-tech park.
The applicant took to the podium during the public input period and said the owners of the Kemp Lake property will likely make an application to the ALR regardless of the outcome of the recommendation because they are “true farmers.” They would like to keep the property for agricultural use indefinitely and pass it off to their daughter who wants to leave it for the SPCA.
Sign Regulation Bylaw
Council adopted the long-awaited sign bylaw. Prior to adoption, a few last-minute issues were raised.
Dumont hoped that there would be equal treatment of the various businesses with sandwich boards scattered throughout the region.
Tait put forth a unanimously carried motion that enforcement for sandwich boards and signs surrounding playing fields be relaxed provided they comply with the requirements stated under section 6.15 of the bylaw. There would be the option for the council of the day to enforce the bylaw fully later when town development is revitalized, and also if the Sooke Community Association ask that the signs mounted to the chain link fence surrounding the playing fields be taken down. An amendment was also made to remove “Highway 14” from the bylaw stipulation.
Confusion over benches and garbage cans
There was also some confusion over covered benches and garbage cans that have mysteriously appeared at some bus stops in the area. There were concerns from several councillors why council wasn’t notified before an agreement was made.
“I’m really concerned who’s going to be advertising, especially being an arts community. I really wish we knew about this before,” said Coun. Sheila Beech. Director of finance Sue-Lin Tarnowski said staff entered into an agreement with the responsible party who would pay for the ad space on the side of the bus shelters, and that revenue would offset the cost of emptying the garbage cans.
Mayor Janet Evans called for a carried motion to have a full report done immediately before further action is taken.
Committee of the Whole Recommendations
Council waived the commercial use permit fee for the Sooke Slow Food Cycle’s symposium that took place last Sunday at John Phillips Memorial Park.
Beech asked “do we expect these people to be eventually self sufficient? I’m not against the event but I felt we got caught.”
SSFC asked for the waiving of the fees just days before the event took place.
Tait said it’s not too often the same group asks for money year after year.
“I look at it as seed money.”
Dumont wondered whether groups should plan ahead instead of approaching council at the last minute.
“How do we set a budget when people come with their hands open?” he asked.
