Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
At its regular council meeting on June 9, Peace River town council considered changes to the Land-Use Bylaw (LUB) after analyzing residents’ feedback in the LUB Review Survey.
Administration prepared amendments to present to council, adding some alterations as directed by council after survey results were received in May.
“The changes are to update the LUB bylaw with some more current views on some of the land uses,” explains Mayor Elaine Manzer.
“There have been public engagements and also a survey to gather public opinions on what changes should be made to the bylaw as well,” she adds. “This is still under discussion and will come to first reading in the next while, which then allows for more comments and discussion before it would be approved at a third reading.”
The initial presentation of the LUB included allowing downtown property owners to have two storage containers on their premise.
“The survey indicated that a majority of the respondents felt that one was reasonable for the size of these properties and also considering the looks of the downtown,” Manzer explains.
In addition, administration added some flexibility to the proposed landscaping requirements in new developments. Additional changes to the landscaping section clarify requirements and remove repetitive requirements related to securities.
“This, again, had a smaller majority agreement, but the Town does have an overall strategy to be attractive, and landscaping of properties fits into that goal,” says Manzer.
“Flexibility includes having two shrubs rather than one tree in the front, and also, this requirement may be waived on the development permit if the applicant owns the property and will occupy the dwelling once it is built.”
First reading of the updated LUB will be presented to council later this summer.
“LUB is one of the ways that development is planned in any municipality,” explains Manzer.
“Peace River has been working on the LUB refresh for several years and it is now hopefully getting close to a hearing and consideration of approval.”