May 27 Council Highlights

From the meeting of May 27, 2019

Gazebo Location Determined

Earlier this year the District was gifted an 18’ x 20’ Victorian style gazebo after The Republic of Sarah was filmed downtown in Pioneer Park.

Council requested feedback from the community as to where the gazebo should be installed, and a survey was administered through the District’s social media channels from May 6 to May 17. The survey included an interactive map that showed respondents exactly where in the parks the gazebo could be located.

Council was impressed by the feedback received from the community, a total of 107 responses were received. The benefits of having the Victorian gazebo installed at the community’s first choice, Pioneer Park, or the second choice of Schep Park were weighed heavily.

Consideration was given to potential concerns regarding sap deposits and the attractiveness of the downtown park to movie companies. The more elements that are added to the park take away from the filming potential as set design becomes increasingly complicated. Though the large gazebo could be installed on top of a wooden platform that the film companies could move at their own expense with a fork lift, the associated costs may become a deterrent.

Discussion also focused around the lack of shaded seating areas in Schep Park and the need for such an amenity as the park is increasing in popularity thanks to its recently replaced playground, including accessible play features. 

Council thanked the community for their input and decided that the large Victorian style gazebo will be installed at Schep Park, with the smaller cedar gazebo remaining in Pioneer Park.

Pioneer Park Playground Grand Opening Event

The all-inclusive Pioneer Park Playground will have its official grand opening party on Thursday, June 20 at 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

The afternoon will include Subway sandwiches, cookies and juice for kids, and a group photo. The picture will be hung in the Community Recreation and Cultural Centre along with the grand opening photos of the Centennial Spray Park and Schep Park.

This event has been partially funded by the SPARC BC as Council proclaimed June 1, 2019 as Access Awareness Day in the District.

New signage will also be installed in the park recognizing the support of Enabling Accessibility (Government of Canada grant program) and Tire Stewardship BC. These partners helped create the unique play space in Agassiz by providing opportunities for kids of all ages and abilities the opportunity to play using accessible equipment features and rubberized surfacing.

Stay tuned for more event details about the grand opening of the Pioneer Park playground by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Consideration for Reduced Parking Requirements in Downtown Core

Council gave two readings to Bylaw 1625, which considers several amendments to the Zoning Bylaw parking requirements specifically related to the downtown commercial core.

Challenges currently faced by potential developers and business owners is the limited space to create a reasonably sized commercial building while meeting the current parking requirements, and if a business undergoes a change in use (for example, from retail to restaurant), the new use is limited to the current parking standards. This limits a business’s ability, primarily restaurants, to operate at full capacity as the number of permitted seats are based on available parking spaces.

To address this issue, staff is proposing Council considers amending the Zoning Bylaw parking requirements to:

1. Exempt changes in use in existing buildings from meeting additional parking requirements;
2. Round parking requirements to the nearest whole number; and
3. Reduce commercial parking requirements by 35%
   The reduction would apply only to properties designated Commercial – Town Centre.

A Public Hearing for Bylaw 1625 will be held at 6:00 pm on June 24. Further information on this bylaw is available at Municipal Hall.

Consideration for Short Term Rentals

A report detailing proposed Zoning Bylaw amendments to regulate short term rentals within the District was presented for Council’s consideration.

Council gave first and second reading to Bylaw 1622 that redefines “bed and breakfast use” and creates an opportunity for home owners to rent their principal and secondary residences.

The bed and breakfast definition specifies its use as a temporary lodging period of 28 days or less in duration where the residence is occupied by the owner as their principal residence and the owner is on site during the lodging period.

Short Term Rentals (STR) would be considered commercial accommodations and would only be permitted where existing bed and breakfasts can operate. Some conditions of the STR Principal Residence are that the accommodation can only be rented out by the owner of the property; no more than 5 bedrooms within the building; a maximum of 2 guests per bedroom is allowed with not more than 8 guests permitted per lodging period; and only one STR commercial accommodation building per lot.

Conditions of a STR Secondary Residence are restricted to similar conditions as above, though the property is not occupied by the owner as their principal residence. Property owners would be required to apply for a “companion zone” zoning amendment, meaning that the STR would be added to the existing zoning designation.

A Public Hearing for Bylaw 1622 will be held on June 24 immediately following the Public Hearing for Bylaw 1625 (Reduced Parking). Further information on this bylaw is available at Municipal Hall.

Agassiz-Harrison Museum Open for 2019 Season

Located downtown at 7011 Pioneer Avenue, the Agassiz-Harrison Museum and Visitor Information Centre is now open daily from 10 am to 4 pm until Thanksgiving weekend.

Inside the historic building, the Museum has updated the visitor information centre, exhibits and refreshed the public washrooms. The galleries are now more open and uncluttered to open up the main space for programming and interactive activities. For information on upcoming events, visit agassizharrisonmuseum.org. Admission is by donation.