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OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
VOL. 99 NO. 91
www.quesnelobserver.com
PM 40005365
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$ 30
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Single MVI RCMP and emergency personnel attended a single motor vehicle incident Tuesday morning about 12 kilometres south of Quesnel. As of press time no details were available. Karen Powell photo
Petitioners speak out on secondary suite decision AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter After a court decision to dismiss a petition over secondary suites in Johnson Subdivision, petitioners are speaking out. “I don’t feel like justice was served,” Susan Maile said. “Or democracy for that matter – how democratic is this council?” Maile, along with fellow petitioner John Higgins, say they never felt listened to. “Obviously they [coun-
cil] were not listening very closely,” Higgins said. “We had a large population in opposition. Residents in this area were ruled, not served.” Mayor Mary Sjostrom said she’s pleased the court found the city not in contravention of the Local Government Act. “Development Services followed all of the legislative and local bylaw requirements for this spot zoning application,” she said. “Spot zoning to permit secondary suites is the
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2013 Stage Headliners Friday, July 19 at 3:00 pm Saturday, July 20 at 2:00 pm Children’s Headliner: Sharon & Bram Friday evening - 7:30 pm Aaron Pritchett Saturday evening - 7:30 pm Kenny Shields and Streetheart
mechanism our bylaws (OCP and zoning bylaw) utililize to consider secondary suite applications. “This is the sixth application in which we have used this tool under our existing policy.” For her part, Maile, who moved into her current location more than 40 years ago, says she feels council’s decision was made for them. “I have a real feeling the mayor has absolute sway over other councillors,” she said. “I feel this decision
was personal.” Maile says she plans on taking her municipal concerns to Premier Chirsty Clark. “We need full discussions in council chambers,” she said. And that’s where Maile and Higgins feel the city and the courts let them down. “We were steam rolled,” she said. “It wasn’t discussed as thoroughly as it should have been,” Higgins added, pointing to the city planning department and his inability to compre-
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hend their decision to advise council to move forward. “There’s safety concerns, traffic issues... I don’t think it was thoroughly looked into by planning,” Higgins said. As for the courts, Maile pointed to the Official Community Plan and the petitioners initial complaint. “We didn’t challenge the law,” she said, adding how pleased the petitioners were by their representation, Karen Surcess. “We challenged the OCP which states residents will
be heard – were we?” Sjostrom said “moving forward” she wants the community to know staff has been directed to review policy for spot zoning for secondary suites. “...with consideration to be given to permitting secondary suites in all single family zones. This will include a significant communications process where staff will be seeking input from the public.” “What’s the point in public hearings,” Maile challenged, “when you don’t listen?”
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