South Pender committee advances land-use bylaw to public hearing
The committee gave amended Bylaw No. 129 first reading and asked staff to schedule a public hearing and community information meeting.
The Denman Firestarter · Governance · 2025-05-02 · updated 2026-10-08 · South Pender Island
The amended draft would change maximum floor-area rules for several zones and retain existing provisions for agritourist accommodation, including limits on floor area, operating days and guest numbers. The South Pender Local Trust Committee gave Bylaw No. 129 first reading on May 2 and requested a public hearing and community information meeting.[1]
The committee also asked staff to arrange an electronic special meeting to review amendments made on May 2 and hold a community information meeting. The minutes say first reading allows the bylaw to be referred while leaving room for further amendments before second reading.[1]
The meeting recording includes public comments both supporting and opposing the proposed changes to house size and setbacks. One speaker said the existing bylaw protected rural character and the environment; another supported the draft as a compromise and said it addressed concerns about existing properties.[2]
The minutes record that the committee discussed concerns about floor-area wording and the possibility of dwellings becoming non-conforming. Staff clarified that adopting Bylaw No. 122 had not made dwellings non-conforming in floor area; the non-conformity issue had concerned height.[1]
The committee also voted to move a review of short-term vacation rental policies and regulations onto its active projects list, and asked staff to report back with options and draft a project charter.[1]
Sources
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South Pender LTC Regular Meeting Minutes — May 2, 2025
that South Pender Island Local Trust Committee Bylaw No. 129, cited as “South Pender Island Land Use Bylaw No. 114, 2016, Amendment No. 1, 2025” be read a first time as amended.
link checked · passage found in the document we hold
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Transcript of the meeting recording (250502D)
I support 129. I am a member of the APC. And I also believe that we have come to an appropriate compromise.
link checked · passage found in the document we hold