ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A6 | NEWS | THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020
Temporary use permits
PRRD wants TLE talks
Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca
Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca
The Peace River Regional District went over the finer points of temporary use permits on May 28, revisiting policy from the past five years to generate discussion on how the board will issue permits going forward. Permits are increasingly being used as a substitute for rezoning, primarily to allow local businesses to operate. Planning consultant Katrin Saxty appeared before the board to present a history on temporary use permits in the district. The permits allow for a temporary use of land for purposes not designated or zoned for under district bylaw. Users must apply every three years to be granted that right by the PRRD, with one renewal to a max of six years. “That’s not to preclude that someone could come back after those six years, and apply for a whole new temporary use permit,” said Saxty, noting current legislation does allow it. Temporary use permits are largely used for work camps, farmers’ markets, oil and gas equipment stations, temporary sawmills, and gravel pits. However, they are not intended to be used for RV parks, gyms, schools, campsites, or recreational vehicle and boat storage. Previously, the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) had up to 20year allowances for non-farm temporary uses. Waivers with conditions are being suggested by the PRRD for future temporary use permits. “If you’re allowing something for 20 years, it’s really difficult to argue that it’s temporary,” noted Saxty, adding that enforcement is also a challenge. PRRD bylaw enforcement operates on a complaint basis, with no staff actively inspecting properties. “We don’t have any bylaw enforcement staff with the capability to police this,” said Director Dan Rose, noting the PRRD lacks authority over
The Peace River Regional District wants to start a dialogue with Treaty 8 nations to talk about the legal implications for lands owed and offered through treaty land entitlements. The regional district wants to better understand their legal position in the ongoing TLE process with Doig River, Halfway River, Saulteau, West Moberly, and Fort Nelson. The province is working with the nations to transfer lands that have been owed for more than 100 years, and to compensate for the impacts of Site C construction. The lands owed fall into three categories: shortfall lands, Site C lands, and additional lands for fee simple purchase. Regional district staff presented to the board on May 28 a summary of lands selected to date. Fort St. John Mayor Lori Ackerman said it’s not necessary to meet with all the bands, only with those who have selected lands that may be of concern to the regional district. “Unfortunately, it’s not the province that has the regulatory framework that needs to be addressed with this, it’s the feds,” Ackerman said, noting Fort St. John and Doig River signed a memorandum of understanding in March to establish an urban reserve for its land selections within city limits. “Local governments need to have discussions with the First Nations, to provide them with our official community plans,” Ackerman added, citing federal policy for treaty land selection. The regional district has reached out to the bands, but Doig has been the only one to respond so far. A meeting is planned for June. “In most cases, the selections should not be an issue,” said Director Karen Goodings, agreeing letters could be sent in place of meetings. “But I do think it’s dangerous to convey what we do or do not support, as far as our rules and regulations go.”
NORTH PECAE DISTRICT 4H PHOTO
A North Peace 4-H member encourages everyone to save the date for this year’s 4-H auction on July 6. In place of the 4-H Achievement Days, the auction will be done online, starting at 4 p.m.
private and Crown property. Increased taxation to employ bylaw enforcement officers is also a concern, while the ALC and the Ministry of Energy are two agenices regularly involved in land use regulations. “They have their own set of rules, and we don’t do their enforcement for them either,” Rose said.
Brewery rules passed Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca The Peace River Regional District approved zoning amendments May 28 that allow craft breweries and distilleries to be built in light industrial zones. The amendment was prompted by a developer intending to build a distillery and tasting room in Clairmont, west of Fort St. John. “They’re becoming very popular, and it diversifies your economy. You need to modernize and take a look at what you’re doing,” said PRRD board chair Brad Sperling on May 12, noting the amendment is a welcome and necessary update. The Peace region is already home to two microbreweries in Fort St. John, with one
planned to open in Dawson Creek. The District of Taylor adopted a bylaw in September 2019 that allows for retail cannabis, distilleries, and microbreweries. Fort St. John Mayor Lori Ackerman was the only board member to oppose the amendment, on the grounds that a new zone should have been created to keep breweries and distilleries clear of industrial activity that could taint the product through air pollution. “I’m not against this application; I think having craft breweries or distilleries is a good way of diversifying some of our agricultural products,” said Ackerman. “I just believe that we should have created a completely new zone where you don’t have industrial activities.”
Rural docs Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca The North Peace Division of Family Practice was invited before the Peace River Regional District board May 28 to present their findings on the Rural Fort St John Residency Program. Four residents took part in the program this year, but only two were ready to gradu-
ate. Both are staying in Fort St John. Resident doctors are eligible for monthly housing stipends up to $5,000 a year, and doctors who decide to stay for a full year receive an additional $10,000. The PRRD offers these funds for up to eight resident doctors per year. More than $55,000 was spent in stipends last year. “The financial incentive has been huge, but we do need to go to more urban areas for training,” said Dr. Courtney Boyer, one of the graduates. Dr. Richard Moody said that rural training remains critical to recruiting and retaining doctors to northeast B.C. “The costs of these residents coming north are much higher than other areas,” said Moody. New residents are expected to arrive next month. Rural-trained doctors are much more likely to stay in rural areas, said Moody. “The skills for a rural doctor are even wider and more unique, and this is why training is so critical as part of a recruitment and retention strategy for getting physicians to come to the North,” said Moody “It’s very competitive, and there are areas that are much more attractive to young doctors, such as the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan.”
Courts reopen June 15 Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca Courtrooms in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek will reopen June 15. The provincial court says one courtroom will open in each city for in-person appearances. In-person proceedings will only be available for priority matters that cannot otherwise be accommodated remotely.“Open accessible courts are fundamental to our democracy,” the court said in a May 26 update. “The rule of law depends on it. However, the public, litigants, court staff, court participants, counsel, judges and the media need to know that when they come to court they will be safe.” For criminal matters, the court says it continues to hold bail hearings remotely, and that opening courtrooms will not change this process. The court says it is conducting pre-trial conferences
on all criminal trials that are scheduled for longer than half a day. For small claims, the court says it is conducting settlement conferences by telephone on all matters that were scheduled for conferences since March 15, 2020 and were adjourned due to COVID-19. For family court, the court says it is rescheduling all case conferences that were adjourned due to COVID-19. Those will proceed by telephone, and if issues cannot be resolved, the judge will canvas whether the hearing can proceed by audio or videoconference and what admissions can be made, the court said. Traffic and ticket matters scheduled from March 18 to June 12, 2020 are adjourned without the disputant having to attend Court and will be rescheduled to a later date, the court said.
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