Metchosin municipal hall will hold an open planning committee meeting tonight to discuss amending the districtB次元官网网址檚 soil deposit bylaw following long-standing complaints from residents that some are abusing the rules.
Under the proposed amendments, deposits under 500 cubic meters could require a permit. Any large deposits would need to have monthly reports submitted to the corporate office from a qualified professional.
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A large deposit is a deposit of over 500 cubic meters, or fifty truckloads, on any lot equal to or greater in size than .4 hectares, or a deposit of a total of 250 cubic meters or more of soil or other material on a lot smaller than .4 hectares, according to a report to the committee.
Council has previously indicated that they become responsible for approving all permit for large deposits.
It also introduces a rule stating that the unauthorized removal and deposit of less than 50 cubic meters of soil or compost material could result in a minimum fine of $2,500, as council suggested in the April 8 meeting.
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Currently, residents can get the district to sign off on permits for up to 2,000 cubic metres. In the future exceeding that amount would require the resident to submit a permit for councilB次元官网网址檚 approval.
Another amendment states the applicant would have to pay a heftier security deposit and for the estimated cost of remediating the site and its vegetation.
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Residents and council have both indicated the changes are long overdue. The new bylaw could be ratified for council to give a first, second and third reading before it passes.
swikar.oli@goldstreamgazette.com
