by John Boivin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Valley Voice
After years of discussion, planning, public consultation and rewrites, the Village finally has its Tree Planting Plan. The plan was adopted by council on the recommendation of the Parks, Trails and Public Art Committee (PTPAC).
The Tree Planting Plan provides a detailed guide to what types of trees should be planted in specific locations in the village. The consultants identified good locations for specific kinds of trees, as well as guidelines for planting and maintaining them.
But one councillor wasn’t impressed by the 49-page report during the Aug. 10 council meeting.
“I do not agree with the willy-nilly of placing trees all over town because there’s a spot,” Councillor Henry Van Mill said, predicting it would bring problem after problem back to council. “My granddaughter could have done a better job than that.”
“I thought this plan was the most bang for a document we’ve ever received,” countered Councillor Kellie Knoll. “For $5,000 it’s a really deep, comprehensive plan. The point was not to involve council as much – the plan was to be adopted by the crew so we don’t have to deal with these tedious debates where trees go. It’s in the plan … so I’m really happy with it.”
Other councillors agreed with Knoll, and voted to adopt the plan.
Another park to get a facelift?
The Trails and Public Art Committee also recommended council apply for a Community Outdoor Revitalization (COR) Capital Grant to fund improvements to Vimy Park. But council took one step back from that suggestion.
The grant from the Columbia Basin Trust would provide communities with up to $650,000 (up to 75 per cent of eligible costs) to “upgrade the aesthetics of outdoor spaces or create opportunities for community gathering.”
The PTPAC says it would like to see the grant used for Vimy Park electrical upgrades, including installing a new power panel for special events; gazebo repairs and enhancement; fencing between the park and adjacent ballfield; new garbage and recycling bin; and picnic tables, washroom upgrades and better signage.
No cost has been set for that wish list, and a staff report noted it could cost council money if specialized consultants had to be hired for estimates for the grant application.
That had CAO Ian Dunlop recommending council apply for one of the CBT’s related $10,000 COR planning grants, that would give council time to bring such a substantial project into the Village workload in a manageable way.
“The planning grant would be a good approach,” he said, “and there might be other grant opportunities. It would also let it get into our budget cycle and strategic planning cycle.”
Council approved staff drafting an application for a planning grant.
Neighbourly approach to variance
When a developer wants to bend the zoning rules for a new house, they have to apply for a development variance permit. Neighbours get to weigh in if they are OK with the proposed change.
DVPs, as they are known, can be divisive things, pitting neighbour against neighbour, and the decision pleasing neither the neighbours nor the developer.
But not always, as an application for a height variance on a house on Larch Drive demonstrated at the Aug. 10 meeting.
The couple building their dream house need to go one metre higher than the zoning allows, because the house is being built on bedrock.
But the neighbours next door wrote in to council voicing their concern.
“This variance will absolutely affect our interests,” wrote Paul Hoefer, one of the neighbours. “We… designed our house (requiring no variances) and positioned it on our lot with the expectation that anything built on Lot 7 would conform to the 10-metre height limit.
“An 11.1-metre height will negatively affect our view of the lake.”
But Hoefer joined the council meeting remotely, and when he heard more detail on the project, showing the couple had taken time to mitigate their impact on his property, he was moved.
“I do really appreciate the thought that went into the design to minimize the impact on us,” he told council. “Seeing the way the plan is oriented on the site makes us less concerned.”
But he said he still couldn’t get a sense if the variance would affect him.
That had the two sides going back and forth during the hearing to plan a way to fill in the details for Hoefer.
“We’d be happy to provide that information,” said Carolyn Whittaker, one of the proponents. “It’d be great to chat about it and accommodate any concerns you have.”
Whittaker said she and her husband were more than willing to be reasonable.
Council decided to defer ruling on the variance until the two sides chat and find a compromise. The couple will try to bring the application back in time for the next council meeting.
Hospice seeks more space
The Kaslo Hospice Society office, currently on the second floor of the Kemball building, wrote to council to inquire about the music shop space on the main floor that they’ve heard will soon become vacant.
“Our reasons for exploring a main floor space are mainly about accessibility, as we have a number of clients and volunteers who are frail/elderly or experiencing mobility issues which preclude them from being able to access the two flights of stairs,” organizer Bev Peacock wrote to council. “A slightly larger space would also enable us to store some of our equipment in one place and to have workshops and group sessions.”
But the society actually gets a cut-rate on its rent, and any change to that (either in the space they rent or the rate they are charged) could have consequences for the society and the bylaw-set rental rates.
Staff will meet with hospice reps to discuss the matter further.
Youth group seeks to renovate space
The North Kootenay Lake Community Services Society (NKLCSS)/Kaslo and Area Youth Network (KAYN) asked for discretionary funds for the renovation of a new youth centre space.
“We were given notice to leave our current location unexpectedly,” said Shannon Isaac, the KAYN co-ordinator. “We managed to find a new location at the Kootenaian Building with Rhonda Ruston, who is willing to provide us with a long‐term lease agreement. There is a fair bit of work that needs to be done prior to moving in on Sept. 15, 2021.”
The group needs money to pay for materials for renovations, including the removal and installation of walls, shelving, kitchen cabinets, and a kitchen sink.
Staff told council the only funding the Village could help the group access would be an RDCK Community Development Fund grant, but that wouldn’t come through before Sept. 15.
But “our timelines are very flexible,” Isaac told council. She’ll try to get her application in on time to include it on the next council meeting agenda, allowing council to forward the application to the RDCK board meeting of Sept. 23.
Nix to bottle depot study
Another youth group got a simple ‘no’ to a request for $500 to conduct a feasibility study for a youth-led bottle depot business in Kaslo.
“Currently, the [Kaslo Husky] depot is running on reduced hours with little help. The infrequency of operation has been identified as a problem, but has presented a unique business opportunity for young people in the area to be a part of a valuable community service,” wrote Kenya Blouin and Kim Molyneaux. “Our idea at present is to create a bottle depot business in Kaslo where youth employees would gain paid experience running a small business.”
To apply for funding to take over the business, the group needs to do a feasibility study. That should cost about $1,200, thus the request for $500 from council.
While applauding the initiative, council noted they could not by law help a business pay for a feasibility study.
The group will be sent a letter “advising that the Village of Kaslo’s ability to provide assistance to business is restricted under the Community Charter.”
Section 25 of the Community Charter stipulates the general prohibition against assistance to business and the exceptions to this rule.
Mayor and FCM
Kaslo’s mayor will have a continuing role to play at the national level.
Mayor Suzan Hewat told council she had received her appointments from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Hewat will be a member of the committee of the whole, a non-board committee member, will sit on the Rural Forum and take part in three standing committees: community safety and crime prevention, increasing women’s participation in municipal government, and municipal infrastructure and transportation policy.
