Whether a riverside property will become the new home for some light industry will be decided on another day.
Residents, proponents, and workers presented for and against an amendment to the Official Community Plan, which would rezone 6161 Otway Road to “light industrial.” Council and the overflowing gallery listened for four hours before Council decided to end the meeting at 11. There were still more presentations lined up.
Administrative Services General Manager Walter Babicz says Council’s decision to stop for the night shows how important this issue is.
“Council is mindful that it is a significant decision for the community and that it’s important for council to be fresh and look at the issue as whole after considering all the speakers, rather than making a decision in the wee hours of the morning,” he says.
While there were many different opinions in the room, the majority were against the rezoning. Most of the concerns were centred around pollution (air, noise, visual), property values, and potential groundwater contamination risk.
If rezoned, CIF Construction and TimberWest could use the property as a workspace.
In the initial feedback period, neighbouring residents sent the city 74 letters against the rezoning. The city only got 2 in support.
The meeting will resume on May 9th.
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