Two injured in Hwy 97 incident PAGE A5
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Organ donors critical PAGE A10
VOL. 100 NO. 89
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first annual belly run PAGE A14
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Quesnel crowns new royalty In an exciting pageant evening, July 5, Quesnel was introduced to its newest royalty. Out of eight participants in the Miss Quesnel SelfDevelopment Program, Mierie Sabbarwal, centre, was selected as Miss Quesnel with Sierra Cook, left and Kayleen Dillabough, right, as her princesses. Tracey Roberts photo
Council defeats controversial secondary suite bylaw AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter
Council has voted to defeat a controversial secondary suite bylaw. The vote, four against two in favour, squashed land use Bylaws 1734 and 1735 that would have seen secondary suites as a permitted use in any single detached dwelling within the city subject to a building permit authorizing their construction. Voting against was Couns. Sushil Thapar, Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, John Brisco and Mayor Mary Sjostrom. In favour was Couns. Scott
Elliott and Mike Cave (Ed Coleman as not in attendance). “I feel it’s a victory,” Thapar said, pointing to a number of community consultations in which residents were adamantly opposed to the bylaw. “We needed to listen to the community. They are the ones that put us here. We can’t be voting with an agenda [in mind].” “I’m glad it didn’t pass,” Johnston Subdivision resident of 46 years, Susan Maile said. “But I’m not grateful, we’ve been through hell for a year.” In July of last year, a court dismissed the peti-
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tion to quash a bylaw to allow a secondary suite in Johnston Subdivision. The petitioners quoted safety concerns such as parking, snow removal, air quality and traffic. At the crux of their case was the argument the neighbourhood is zoned as low-density single family dwellings and as such the amended bylaw decision is in conflict with the Official Community Plan. The matter was finally settled Monday in council chambers. “After much consultation with the community and a lot of staff time, council did not proceed
with third reading to allow a blanket bylaw over the entire city regarding secondary suites,” Sjostrom said. “My decision not to support moving forward with third reading was not taken lightly but I felt our community was not ready to endorse this bylaw and as council we are listening to our residents. “I fully support our affordable housing strategy and will continue to work with other levels of government to move toward more safe, accessible and affordable housing in our community. If anyone wishes to discuss this further I welcome the
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opportunity to speak with you.” “I voted against zoning for secondary suites because I felt that the issue is much to divisive and causing a rift in our community,” Brisco said. “I believe it needs more work and public consultation, so as to achieve a way of going that is different and more acceptable to the whole city. Our staff did a huge amount of work on this file and my heart goes out to manager Tanya Turner.” Coun. Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, maintained while she could argue the merits of secondary suites “this isn’t about me. It is
about the community as a “whole.” Not one person, not one street, not one neighbourhood, but the entire community and I do not want to see any one area pitted against another. “After listening to the community at large, having attended all of the open houses that were offered throughout the community, I heard from many citizens in the community that they were concerned about a blanket secondary suite resolution. Their concerns were the same as what were presented at council from one neighbourhood in particular.”
Quesnel Rodeo Friday July 18, 2014 - 6:00 pm Saturday July 19, 2014 - 1:00 pm Sunday July 20, 2014 - 1:00 pm
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