Supporters of Woodwynn Farms filled the seats at a Central Saanich council meeting on Monday for a contentious question and answer period.
In November, the provincial the farmB次元官网网址檚 application to build temporary housing. Last week, on trailers and washroom facilities on the farm after an inspection revealed electrical issues they considered dangerous. Both issues prompted a wide range of public comments.
One speaker asked why council had not B次元官网网址渆ducated themselvesB次元官网网址� on the issue or taken a tour of the facility. When Coun. Bob Thompson, who was acting chair in the mayorB次元官网网址檚 absence, replied that the council was familiar the supporter said B次元官网网址渟o youB次元官网网址檙e saying you donB次元官网网址檛 care?B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淟isten, we are doing our best here,B次元官网网址� replied Thompson. B次元官网网址淲e are dealing with a complex issue here. We are here to take questions, and we will answer them where and when we can.B次元官网网址� After a follow up, Thompson said B次元官网网址渢he implication that we are not trying to save lives is not an accurate assessment of members of council.B次元官网网址� Other statements from supporters were at times punctuated by applause from the gallery, which Thompson eventually stopped trying to control.
B次元官网网址淲ell, I think this question does need to be answered and thereB次元官网网址檚 obviously some issues of clarification that some people havenB次元官网网址檛 understood,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Christopher Graham at the meeting. B次元官网网址淭he Agricultural Land Commission has not approved this proposal. We are not in a position to allow the proposal to go further without the Agricultural Land CommissionB次元官网网址檚 approval. So, this is not something that Council has given any direction or instruction to them. So I really think youB次元官网网址檙e trying to bark up the wrong tree but I get youB次元官网网址檙e upset.B次元官网网址�
In a follow-up interview, Graham said that B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not particularly happy with that technique being used,B次元官网网址� referring to the statements made by Woodwynn supporters.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not really sure what that was supposed to achieve, because council isnB次元官网网址檛 in a position to do anything in this case.B次元官网网址�
Central Saanich mayor Ryan Windsor was not present for this session because he had recused himself. Prior to the meeting, council learned that Windsor had a friend staying in a van on his familyB次元官网网址檚 property, which itself is within the ALR. The parallels to Woodwynn Farms were not lost on the mayor, so he recused himself.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a similarity in the perception so I have said that as a result of this coming forward, IB次元官网网址檓 obviously going to comply so that Council can continue to not have to deal with the perception that somebody at the table is conflicted on this matter,B次元官网网址� said Windsor in a follow-up interview.
B次元官网网址淭he statement I made, and I was very emphatic about it [that] night, is that I fully intend to comply with district bylaws as soon as obviously practicable.B次元官网网址�
Windsor said he was consulting to see if he would recuse himself permanently from the situation, or if a temporary recusal would be sufficient.
Coun. Graham said that elected officials did not direct district staff to make the inspection which led to the B次元官网网址榥o occupancyB次元官网网址� signage; staff did the inspection independently, which was corroborated by Liz Cornwell, acting Chief Administrative Officer for Central Saanich. Graham said that he has seen previous incidents where trailers have burned down due to electrical fires, and he felt that district staff B次元官网网址渉ad a responsibility to put lives and peopleB次元官网网址檚 safety first.B次元官网网址�
Richard Leblanc, executive director of the Creating Homefulness Society, did not respond to requests for comment before press deadline.
Council resolved to meet with the board of the Creating Homefulness Society in the new year to discuss ongoing concerns.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
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