Municipal manager recommends approving permit, but denying request to remove trees
Town council approved a development permit with variances, but some concerns were raised about the proposal at 551 Skagit Avenue.
The application involves a plan to construct a nine-unit townhouse development that is very close to a property designated for agriculture.
The proposal includes three buildings, each containing three units. The adjacent property is within the Agricultural Land Reserve and operates as a farm. Therefore, zoning rules include additional setback and landscaping requirements to mitigate the impacts of farming operations.
The proposal asks for variances, including a reduction in the building setback from 15 to 9.44 metres from agricultural land. In addition, the applicant is requesting to reduce the requirement for trees as a buffer.
Municipal Manager Tom Szalay recommended that council approve the permit, but to deny the request to eliminate the trees in the buffer area.
The applicant told council that they plan to replant trees as a buffer. A minimum 1.8-metre high solid wood fence must be erected to separate multi-family developments from adjacent lands designated agriculture.
Local resident Carlos Vala expressed a concern about the proposal, which shows the placement of commercial garbage containers directly behind his property at 5782 Main Street.
“This is my place of sanctuary. I am frustrated because this will be unpleasant for me and my family in the back yard.”
Vala noted that the nine-unit complex will create a lot of garbage, which in turn will result in odours and flies. He suggested finding another location for the garbage containers, or have the garbage in plastic bags to be picked up on collection day.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
