By Madeline Baker, Times Chronicle
The South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce plans to apply for new funding from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) for the purpose of business retention, expansion, and engagement, and they do so with the full support of town council, who voted unanimously to add a letter of support to the chamber’s application.
Previously, the chamber received a grant from the Rural Business & Community Recovery Program which allowed them to connect with and support more local businesses as well as flesh out their South Okanagan Stories initiative, an effort to bring new potential and current business owners to the area by sharing relocation information and inspirational success stories.
Council’s letter of support also included several avenues of business support and development that they would like to see strengthened with the help of ETSI-BC grant funds including connections with local supports like Community Futures and WorkBC, local training and mentoring programs, and outreach across the region’s various communities.
ETSI-BC’s current intake period for funding applications began on October 1 and will run until November 1, 2022.
The Town of Osoyoos has developed a new policy on Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) Exclusion applications in response to a 2020 bill that shifted the task of submitting those applications from landowners to local governments.
ALR land is protected by the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) to maintain “the size, integrity, and continuity” of areas designated for agricultural use only, as stated in the recent amendment to the province’s Agricultural Land Commission Act. Any other use of ALR land must be approved through the ALC application process.
Now that local governments, First Nations, or other prescribed bodies must submit ALR exclusion applications on behalf of landowners, new policies are needed to determine when applications will be considered by the town. Director of Planning and Development Gina MacKay received approval for Osoyoos’ draft policy at the September 27 meeting.
Under this new policy, council will only consider applications for developments that are ”considered to be of considerable benefit to the community.” Additionally, any proposed developments for property that is also designated as agricultural in the Official Community Plan will have to apply to have that designation amended first.
Applicants will also be encouraged to review the ALC’s applicant information package on their website before approaching council to determine if they meet all the requirements.
Osoyoos Town Council also gave their yearly approval to first, second, and third readings of the permissive tax exemption bylaw that will come into effect on October 31. The bylaw can still be amended by council before it is accepted at a later meeting.
As no properties have been added to or removed from the list in 2022, the bylaw states that the Osoyoos Curling Club Society, Sailing Club, Golf Club, Senior Centre Association, Museum Society, Nursery School Society, Arts Council, Portuguese Canadian Cultural Club Society, Desert Park Exhibition Society, Destination Osoyoos Development Society, Pyramid Corporation, Fire Department Hall, Desert Sun Counselling Centre, Elks of Canada, and Canadian Legion will remain free from taxation through 2023.
Properties with religious designation are provided tax exempt status by the province, so their status will also remain unchanged.
