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New gas stations and drive-throughs prohibited in narrow vote
Kimberley City Council Report
By Nowell Berg
On January 27, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.
Councillors Sue Cairns, Kevin Dunnebacke, Diana Fox, Woody Maguire, Jason McBain and Sandra Roberts were present along with Mayor Don McCormick.
An archive of the meeting can be viewed on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here.
Kimberley Trails Society
Ryan McKenzie, Kimberley Trails Society (KTS), presented the Annual Report on how KTS has utilized the funds from the city’s standing grant. Developing, maintaining and protecting trails year-round is the KTS mission.
McKenize noted the KTS jurisdiction includes the Nature Park, St. Mary’s Valley, Bootleg, the campground, Lois Creek, the ski hill and Nordic Centre. With such a wide footprint, KTS works with most outdoor groups in the area, along with local businesses.
Last season, KTS employed the same five people for six months. “That’s the most we’ve ever employed. They were invaluable to the trail network,” said McKenize.
Key projects from the past year include trail maintenance, and completion of the bike park and Electrify the Mountains. Both “very successful” projects.
McKenize noted there were 3,600 paid trail crew hours, $140,000 in wages and 600+ volunteer hours spent maintenance, clearing trees and repairing boardwalks on 47 trails over the past year.
Starting off discussion, Coun. Maguire asked, “What are you doing around ecology within the area where you operate?”
For provincial trails, “an environmental study is done and we follow best practices that they require.” McKenize added, “We work directly with the Nature Park Society (NPS)” to determine routing and its impacts on flora and fauna. “We adhere” to NPS’s recommendations.
Answering Mayor McCormick’s question about the number of kilometres covered, McKenize said, “230 kilometers” of trails, of those, 25% are old forestry roads, 15% mountain bike trails, and the rest is hiking and multi-use trails.
The city will be reviewing all requests under the Community Grant Program.
Future drive-through and gas stations prohibited
Troy Pollock, Manager of Planning and Sustainability, presented council with “a path forward and laid out a few options for council to consider.”
Pollock pointed out that in 2024, council requested staff to prepare a report on possible bylaw changes regarding drive-through restaurants and gas station development.
The issue created substantial community discussion, pro and con, which resulted in council making the request Pollock noted.
Taking over, Erian Scott-Iverson, planner, detailed the proposed amendments. She told council the proposed direction for new drive-through regulations would restrict developments to the Automobile Commercial C-3 Zone, a corner parcel abutting Highway 95A with a minimum parcel size of 1,200m2. A drive-through would only be allowed if it’s part of a restaurant.
These proposed changes are designed “to help manage the impact on adjacent properties, maintain the pedestrian oriented character of Kimberley’s commercial areas and direct drive-throughs away from pedestrian focused areas.”
Regarding gas stations, the proposed bylaw changes recommend “capping” the number at six. There are currently five. Further, the proposed bylaw would “establish minimum separation [150 metres] requirements from sensitive uses to reduce health risks associated with benzene emission exposure.”
Scott-Iverson concluded, saying the proposed bylaw amendments sought to balance council direction, resident feedback and OCP policies.
To start discussion, Coun. Maguire said, “Our town is unique, we’re not a pit stop, we’re not on a main highway to anywhere.” He added, “we have a responsibility to keep what our community has.”
He pointed out the partial or total banning of drive-throughs already exists in Vancouver, Calgary and other B.C. towns.
Coun. Fox and Coun. Cairns had similar comments to Maguire and provided their own detailed take on the situation.
Coun. McBain said, “I agree with all the rationale” from Maguire, Fox and Cairns, but he was in favour of the proposed amendments.
Coun. Roberts pointed out that a property tax alone does not cover the current and future infrastructure costs faced by the city.
Mayor McCormick reiterated his consistent quest for revenue diversification. “We can’t afford to restrict anything. Being protectionist about businesses doesn’t work.”
The proposed bylaw changes allowing drive-throughs and one more gas station were defeated four to three. Coun. Maguire, Cairns, Fox and Dunnebecke voted against. Coun. McBain, Roberts and Mayor McCormick voted in favour.
A new motion to “prohibit” drive-through services was approved by Coun. Cairns, Fox, Maguire and Dunnebecke. Coun. McBain, Roberts and the Mayor were opposed.
New gas station services are now “prohibited” based on the same vote pattern.
Animal Control and Bylaw Enforcement
Council received a fourth quarter report from Bylaw Enforcement Officer Lever covering animal control and bylaw enforcement.
From October to December (2024), total calls for service were 232. A 15.6% increase over 2023. The largest number of calls (148) dealt with streets and traffic bylaw violations. Year over year (2023-2024) saw a 35.8% increase in street and traffic violations such as unattached trailers, uninsured vehicles and parking infractions.
Of all calls, animal control accounted for 24. Purchased dog licenses dropped in 2024 to 802 from 878 in 2023. The city received eight calls regarding dog-at-large, three dog attack calls and one aggressive dog off-leash call.
Kimberley city council assembles twice monthly starting at 7 p.m.
The next regular council meeting: February 10.
e-KNOW file photos
e-KNOW
