It will be at least October before there is a ruling on Telus’ variance application to keep structures that already exist in violation of oceanfront setbacks at its Cawley Point development.
At the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) July 27 board meeting, consideration of the matter was delayed until after comments from two area Advisory Planning Commissions (APC) and the District of Sechelt are received.
The application is for a development variance permit to retain five cabins, a yurt site and connecting boardwalks at its Storm Bay site on Sechelt Inlet (12 kilometres north of Sechelt). Those structures, and others that Telus proposed to removed, were built within as little as 2.5 metres of the inlet’s natural boundary. The regional district's Zoning Bylaw requires a 15 metre oceanfront setback.
Coast Reporter has been advised the matter will be considered by the Halfmoon Bay APC on Sept. 26 and Pender Harbour/Egmont’s APC on Sept. 27. According to the SCRD website, APC meetings can be scheduled monthly if there are agenda items for review, but neither of the two involved commissions have opted to meet during August.
Meetings of all SCRD APCs are open to the public. Their agendas are posted one week in advance of the meeting date on the SCRD website.
The SCRD’s orientation package for APC members notes that “while the APC’s role is to collectively provide input and advice as the ‘community voice’, members do not speak on behalf of the community, nor do they have responsibility to consult with the community or collect community feedback."
Comments from the commissions are normally routed through the SCRD’s committee process for a recommendation in advance of going to a board meeting agenda for a decision.
