Richmond Review, April 29, 2015

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the richmond

Frances Clark remembered for her dedication to the community 3

REVIEW RICHMONDREVIEW.COM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Hobbyists get time to fly

28 PAGES

Sea lions on the rocks

City tightens rules on new houses, but critics say it’s not enough

City delays bylaw to allow time for talks, but federal guidelines could restrict model aircraft

by Matthew Hoekstra Staff Reporter

by Matthew Hoekstra Staff Reporter A dozen hobbyists gave city council an earful Monday in defence of flying power kites and remote control aircraft, convincing politicians to delay a bylaw banning the activities in parks. “You can’t stop it. It’s the same thing as cell phones,” said David Rodgers while showing council an unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as a drone. “The point is there’s always going to be a bad apple somewhere.” Rodgers, a distributor of radio controlled aircraft, said the majority of hobbyists are responsible, and suggested council approve regulations, not a total ban. He was one of several speakers who made their case against a parks bylaw council conditionally approved earlier this month. The bylaw arrived without public consultation, but hobbyists were quick to react. Council earlier opened talks with model aircraft enthusiasts about making room for their activity somewhere in the city. And on Monday council did the same for power-kiters, who use Garry Point Park. Council also agreed to delay final adoption of the bylaw until Aug. 1. Power-kiter Ron Hardie told council Garry Point has drawn enthusiasts of the wheeled kite contraptions since 1995. “It is unique in the Lower Mainland with favourable wind conditions and large enough for us to use the park, as I have been doing for 10 years,” he said. “There isn’t a place better in the Lower Mainland.” But the city’s mayor suggested a balance must be struck with pedestrians who use pathways around the field used by power-kiters, which council heard can travel up to 30 km/h. “Everything is fine as long as you have people who are well-educated, well-intended and fly within rules—self-imposed rules. Unfortunately not everybody does,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “That’s why we need to set the parameters for the regulations in both areas.” The bylaw prohibits all remote or radio controlled aircraft—including drones—from Richmond parks and school grounds, along with power kites. Hobbyists who flout the bylaw would face a fine of $150. Council heard popular places for model aircraft are the school grounds of Manoah Steves and Steveston-London. But finding a formal place for hobbyists to fly planes or drones could be challenging. See Page 4

Katie Lawrence photo Two different coloured California sea lions take a turn stretching out on the rocks by Steveston. The mouth of the Fraser is a popular resting spot for sea lions. See story, page 4.

Developers are facing new height limits on houses built in many areas of Richmond, but critics warn construction of mansions with hulking upper floors will continue. At a recent public hearing city council voted unanimously to tighten Richmond’s zoning bylaw and no longer permit threestorey houses in zones that only allow for two-and-ahalf storeys. Homebuilders have been using regulations to the fullest, including maximizing floor area and adding an allowable half-storey on top of the bottom two floors. The city had intended this half storey to be concealed inside a pitched roof—but more builders are using a flat roof to effectively create a third floor while staying within the maximum height of nine metres (29.5 feet). Flat roofs will now only be permitted if the roof area doesn’t contain a habitable half-storey. Other changes include additional setbacks for half-storey areas and prohibiting decks on the upper half-storey. But critics told council the changes won’t adequately address “excessive massing” of homes, especially those built by developers bending the rules. See Page 4

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