Erin Haluschak
Record Staff
Comox council adopted two bylaw amendments and an Official Community Plan amendment Wednesday — all three which were the subject of a public hearing two weeks ago.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, the bylaw amendment for the Old Brooklyn School site, zoning bylaw for for medical marijuana facilities (RZ 13-6) and an OCP amendment to DPA #10 for large birds around the Comox Valley Airport were all given third reading, with OCP amendments adopted.
The bylaws were unanimously approved and will be adopted at the next council meeting.
Coun. Barbara Price said she was reading about some details around a medical marijuana facility in Nanaimo which “employs 60 people and security guards on site at all time and cameras surrounding the area.”
“It’s like a bank within a prison,” she added.
The bylaw permits medical marijuana only in the I2.1 aeronautical industrial and AG1.1 agriculture zones.
At the public hearing, concern was raised by a member of the 888 (Komox) RCAF Wing about the potential of a production facility located near Military Row.
Wednesday, Mayor Paul Ives noted it remains to be seen if anything will be proposed in this area.
“Given the current state of court cases, we probably won’t see anything come forth, but we’re ready if they do.”
• • •
The final tax numbers are in, and the average single family homeowner in Comox is facing a $30.58 increase.
In his report to council, Don Jacquest, director of finance for the Town, said this is good news, with $18 of the increase due to the Town’s taxes, and the rest being library and hospital district.
There is also the garbage and sewer fee increases of $24 and $27 respectively, for a total increase of $81.58.
The provincial government provided the Town with the school tax rates mid-April, which allowed Jacquest to complete the calculation of the 2014 tax rates schedule.
Coun. Ken Grant told council the Comox Business In Action appreciates the efforts of council for not applying an increase to the business tax.
“They really see council is trying to do good things for our downtown,” Grant added.
photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com