Regular Council Meeting - August 19th, 2024

Please see below for a summary of the meeting held Monday, August 19th. 

• Council held a public hearing at 6 pm to gather public input on a proposed Official Community Plan amendment for the Seal Cove quarry site to be dedicated to residential instead of industrial use in order to allow for a proposal for housing to proceed. If successful in meeting other project parameters such as funding, development and permitting processes, the development would be for up to 62 units of affordable housing.
• At the Committee of the Whole meeting, Council received an extensive presentation from Magna Engineering on the proposed design for a wetland wastewater treatment system for the former WWII Department of National Defense tank sites. Rather than a standard treatment system, this is a nature-based wetland system that will not smell of waste. All materials will be treated with a multi-tiered contained system. Additional information will be provided at a public information session in the fall, and made available to the public. We are also in the process of developing an FAQ to be posted on our website.  
• At the Regular meeting, Council received public comments from a member of the public regarding the wastewater wetland treatment system.
• Council also approved a Development Variance permit for 412 4^th Avenue East and referred a second for 721 Lotbinierre Street to statutory notification. 
• Council approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to pool grant funds with the District of Port Edward and North Coast Regional District to meet new criteria under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act for Indigenous consultation and engagement. 
• Council approved the award for construction consultation services for the wetland wastewater treatment system to Spur Construction. 
• Council approved the construction award for the MacCarthy building project to Coast Tsimshian Northern Contractors Alliance for $5.98 million to construct the next phase of the progressive design-build for the project. Additional information will be shared in a press release on this project later this week. 
• Council gave fourth and final reading to Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaws No. 3541, 2024, which varies the height allowance at 836 3^rd Avenue West from 1-2 storeys to 5-6 storeys to allow for an affordable housing development proposed by Lax Kw’alaams Housing Society. 
• Council gave third reading to Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaws No 3542, 2024, which would amend the OCP to allow the Seal Cove quarry site to be dedicated to residential instead of industrial use. This was the subject of the Public Hearing held at 6pm, at which no members of the public spoke.  
• Council approved a Development Variance Permit for 836 3^rd Avenue West to vary the building height, which relates to the same Lax Kw’alaams housing proposal noted in the earlier OCP amendment. 
• Council gave final reading to the Northwest BC Regional Funding Agreement Reserve Bylaw No 3547, which establishes a separate fund required in order for the City to receive funds from the Northwest Resource Benefits Agreement, approved in the Spring.