Re: February 14th ODN article – Regular Council Meeting briefs
Oliver, the town that most of us enjoy today, is the sum-total of the hopes, dreams, energy, hard work, initiative, foresight, planning, courage, sacrifices, and so on of all the residents, businesses, industries, agriculture, and perhaps all taxpayers who have contributed to what we have in our Town today.
Out of all or our heritage, both in nature and man-made, has evolved the, rules, laws, and regulations through which we organize and govern ourselves. Such is the basis of the Oliver Official Community Plan.
It is in this Plan (O.C.P ) that zoning regulations and by-laws may be found. It is in this Plan where we may see an orderly and hopefully, effective zoning of property uses; such as, Residential, Industrial, Commercial, Retail, etc.
When by a majority of one vote Feb.13/12 the present town council, with the questionable recommendation of the Town Administration, particularly the Development Services Officer, approved of a Temporary Use Permit (under the Local Government Act) to allow for the continued development of a winery-manufacturing business at 860 Fairview Road, this present council circumvented and violated the RS1 ( residential zoning by-laws ) as clearly provided for in the Oliver Official Community Plan.
No matter what reasons for this T.P.U approval were provided by any of the councillors or the Development Services staff – It must be stressed that no matter what reasons – they have violated the RS1 zoning regulations under the O.C.P
If zoning by-laws and regulations anywhere in our Town need to be changed, then with total community involvement, such changes in the zoning may be considered and approved.
But in the meantime, this T.U.P. for wine-manufacturing at the residentially-zoned property at 860 Fairview Road needs to be rescinded or repealed by the council now.
If you agree with the position taken in this letter, I ask you to make your views known to the Oliver Council now, because the T.P.U. represents a violation of at least one of the foundations of our community growth and development.
Robert Bull
874 Fairview Road
Oliver B.C.
February 14th – ODN Report
2. In a split decision, Council approved a Temporary Use Permit for the operation of a wine making plant at 860 Fairview Rd. Owners Kristie and Scott Stefishen have been given a 3 year period to prove the viability of such an operation manufacturing up to 575 cases of wine. Staff pointed out that such an operation is not a permitted home occupation use so the permit is necessary.