PENINSULA Fun at the Saanich Fair
Check out our photo spread from the 146th annual Saanich Fair last weekend, page 3 Friday, September 6, 2013
NEWS REVIEW
Market success
The sidney market wrapped up last week and organizers say it was a success, page 11 Watch for breaking news at www.vicnews.com
CS Mayor seeks clarity from ALC
Alastair Bryson asks residents to appeal to ALC on compost issue Devon MacKenzie News staff
The normally quiet council chamber at Central Saanich municipal hall was taken over by 150-plus residents on Tuesday who wanted their voices heard on the issue of composting at Stanhope Farm. Concerns from speakers ranged from the impact of the odour on quality of life, to what effects the odour could be having on their health to lasting impressions the pungent odour has left on visitors who have travelled through the municipality. Recently, the composting facility on Lochside Drive appealed a decision by the Capital Regional District to suspend their licenses but cancelled a court date last week after they filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court. Public court documents revealed the company had filed a judicial review petition, but last Friday a scheduled court date was cancelled by Foundation Organics’ lawyer, John Alexander. The two parties are now planning to work through the CRD’s appeal process. During Tuesday night’s meeting Central Saanich Mayor Alastair Bryson emphasized he is pushing for the public to appeal to both the CRD and more importantly the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) with their concerns. “I’m afraid I’m going to ruffle a few feathers by saying this,” Bryson said, before explaining that the production of compost is an outright permitted use on farm land in the Agricultural Land Reserve under ALC provincial jurisdiction. “We are not legally allowed to forbid it,” he said. Questions from the public on the enforcement of the municipality’s bylaws were answered with more encouragement from both the mayor and council to contact the ALC. They say that the ALC may hold the loophole to the legalities surrounding enforcement issues if they determine Foundation Organics is operating a commercial industrial composting facility. PLeASe See: CRD monitoring truck traffic, page 8
Steven Heywood/News staff
PNR reader Joan Gibb poses with a bunch of locally grown sunflowers she purchased at the Sidney Street Market on its final night of the season.
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