You could practically hear the crickets during a public hearing for proposed amendments to the Official Community Plan of Electoral Area D, which falls under the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.
Only one person asked about the proposed changes, a question which SLRD staff said would be best answered by B.C. Assessment.
There was no other participation from the audience, which was gathered at the Sea to Sky Hotel on Feb. 19.
The proposed changes will now be forwarded on for third reading.
On the table were changes related to bottled water facilities, urban agriculture, farmland events, gross floor calculations for houses and tree removal.
The SLRD appears to be putting tighter restraints on allowing companies to bottle water in the area.
Proposed changes made to the definition of industrial use in zoning bylaws would exclude bulk water extraction for water bottling and water bottling facilities.
That amendment is being made across the regional district to ensure water bottling would require a rezoning application in the future and not be allowed by default.
Other OCP amendments include language that would allow for hens and bees to be kept in some parts of land outside the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Concerning urban agriculture, six hens will be allowed on each parcel of land. Owners won’t be allowed to sell any manure or meat from the hens.
Two beehives will be allowed on any parcel of land under 929 square metres, or 10,000 square feet.
There were also conditions for events at farms in the amendment. Ten gatherings per year are allowed for occasions such as weddings, music festivals and other celebrations of 150 people or less.
For gross floor area calculations, some square footage in basements and garages will be exempted, meaning they won’t be counted toward the floor area limits of a house.
Basements 90 square metres will be exempted, as will garages that are 60 square metres or less.
Electoral Area D encompasses unincorporated communities surrounding the District of Squamish. Some examples include Porteau Cove, Furry Creek and Britannia Beach.
