Cumberland council sent a rezoning bylaw back to staff to redefine carriage to laneway housing for a development in the village.
The bylaw concerns a 10-acre property on Carlisle Lane where the owner plans to build 33 residential lots, with the ability to add secondary suites and carriage houses. The latter are detached from the main residence usually located at the rear of a lot with access via a lane or road.
Coun. Kate Greening prefers an amended bylaw to enable laneway houses to accommodate people of all walks of life.
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The Comox Valley chapter of the Council of Canadians hopes to phase out bottled water sales at municipal facilities.
Group representative Linda Safford asked council to consider two wishes for the spring and summer — to retrofit water fountains at Village Park and the No. 6 Mine Park, and to install signage near concessions and vending machines to promote the use of tap water.
Safford noted Comox will not sell bottled water in vending machines by the end of the year.
Last year, Cumberland was designated a Blue Community. The designation aims to protect and conserve water by banning bottled water sales at events and in public facilities, among other measures.
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Coun. Conner Copeman was supported in his motion for a letter of encouragement to promote mason bees to B.C. municipalities. His motion stemmed from a letter from Clinton Ekdahl of Saskatchewan, who asked council to proclaim May 29 as the Day of the Honey Bee.
Greening asked Copeman to report back on the mason bees in No. 6 Mine Park.
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Council received a draft transit plan that outlines a 25-year transit network vision for the region. The BC Transit and regional district boards hold the decision-making authority for the plan. Copeman thinks it wrong not to engage opinions of bus users. Coun. Roger Kishi supports the idea of bus surveys.
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A petition supporting a bylaw amendment allowing backyard chickens, along with a letter of support, have been referred to staff. Elke Bibby submitted a list of 321 chicken enthusiasts who support a limited number of hens but no roosters.
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The Official Community Plan process is in Stage 2 of the engagement strategy. The OCP advisory group met Wednesday. The next public event is a roving kiosk April 10. Times and locations will be posted on the Village website and on PlaceSpeak, where a survey is available. Surveys are due at the Village office by April 15 at 4 p.m.
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A budget open house will be held April 15 at 7 p.m. at council chambers. The financial plan and tax rate bylaws need to be adopted by May 15.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com