The Chilliwack
Progress Wednesday
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Waste plant triggers talk of aboriginal rights, title
■ M ISTY M ORNING
Jennifer Feinberg The Progress Sto:lo leaders are now looking to the province to stop a proposed hazardous waste recycling plant from being built in Chilliwack without their consent. B.C. Environment Ministry officials told The Progress last week the riverside waste facility will not be built — unless it’s deemed “safe.” Sto:lo Tribal Council Grand Chiefs Doug Kelly and Clarence Pennier wrote Environment Minister Mary Polak to say they weren’t consulted during the rezoning of the site for the recycling plant on Cannor Road in Chilliwack, less than 200 metres from the river. “Despite the obvious hazards associated with handling toxic waste near the Fraser River, and within our Traditional Territory, the City did not consult with the Sto:lo before approving the rezoning for the Waste Project,” they wrote in the letter to the minister. The chiefs did acknowledge the city’s relationship and duties to the Sto:lo are different than those of the province. Citing the Tsilhqot’in decision from the Supreme Court of Canada, their position is that the Aevitas waste project infringes on their aboriginal rights and title, and demanded an immediate meeting with the minister last month. They stated they could not envision any waste plant proposal that would be “acceptable,” on the flood plain of the Fraser River. “It is our view that, in the face of our very good claim for title, the Province should seek our consent before approving the Waste Project.” The Ontario-based proponent, Aevitas Inc., plans to recycle metal, glass and mercury from light bulbs and remove the PCBs from low-level PCB laden transformer oil for re-use. Continued: WASTE/ p4
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A blanket of fog covers the Fraser River at the Agassiz-Rosedale bridge. JESSICA PETERS/ PROGRESS
Local Harvest rezoning held at third reading Jennifer Feinberg The Progress The farmer from Local Harvest Market wanted to talk about the importance eating local food with greater consciousness at city hall. Chilliwack council was supportive last Tuesday night, but also emphasized the urgent need to bring the business into compliance with bylaws, and code regulations. Local Harvest Market owner Dan Oostenbrink was given just under three months to work with city staff on outstanding issues around the retail aspects of the farm operation. A public hearing Tuesday was held to rezone a portion of the land on Lickman Road from an
AL (Agriculture Lowland) Zone to an AC (Agriculture Commercial) Zone, in order to allow the continued operation of the two-year-old business inside the main building on Lickman Road. The rezoning was later approved in principle, but held at third reading. Mayor Sharon Gaetz called Oostenbrink “a pioneer” and said she appreciated he was bringing attention to the growing local food movement. “But I am not happy with some of how this is being done,” she said. The revamped barn structure used to house some of the retail isn’t up to code, or considered suitable for high occupancy use.
Oostenbrink admitted to council after being pressed on the issue, that he was aware he’d been operating without certain permits in violation of bylaws. He noted he’s been made to feel what they were doing was “illegal” at the site, having started as a roadside veggie operation. Changes at Local Harvest in the past three years ranged from greenhouse construction, to herb and vegetable production in the fields, as well as the addition of a café with hot food, and a farm market inside a renovated barn structure, with added partners. Renovations were made to the main building “without benefit of approval and issuance of appropriate (city) Building Permits and for-
malization of the Agricultural Land Commission’s approval through zoning,” according to the staff report in the Jan. 21 council agenda. Regarding when the applicant said about feeling what they were doing “was illegal,” the mayor said: “And it simply is. “That’s why I would like to encourage you to work with staff on this. The rest of the community is watching.” Oostenbrink was the only presenter at the public hearing. He explained the goal of Local Harvest was to “reconnect people with farm grown food” through the experience of eating what they have grown right there on-site. Continued: HARVEST/ p5
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