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Area G may be backyard chickens and bees test ground
By Ian Cobb
e-KNOW
A Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) investigation into whether to establish directions to regulate backyard chickens and beekeeping on single family parcels in the Columbia Valley almost ended June 9 when regional board members voted to suspend further work.
However, after debate, it was decided to allow Electoral Area G to serve as a testing ground.
“Investigating backyard agricultural operations in single family residential zones in the Columbia Valley is a 2016 strategic priority. Public engagement included three community conversations (Windermere, November 3; Edgewater, November 4; Windermere, March 1) and a survey which received 220 responses,” stated RDEK planner Kris Belanger in a report to the board.
“At each of the community conversations and through the survey, participants were asked the same questions about various components of backyard agriculture on single family parcels in the Columbia Valley. Survey respondents provided comments regarding the various components of backyard agriculture being discussed (chickens, bees and wildlife exclusion fencing for gardens) and participants at the community conversations engaged in a facilitated conversation regarding their opinions on backyard agriculture,” Belanger reported.
“Due to polarized public opinion and the fact that keeping chickens is currently permitted on 94% of private land in the RDEK, staff recommends to not pursue regulation of chickens on single family parcels in the Columbia Valley,” Belanger stated.
“We heard some lengthy discussions,” said Electoral Area F Director Wendy Booth of the public consultation process. Rather than establish regulations, she suggested “a good compromise” would be temporary use permits.
Electoral Area G Director Gerry Wilkie pushed for reconsideration of backyard chickens and bees and said he’d like to see a public hearing in Area G on the topic.
“We’ve come around this quite a bit. I’d like to hear from the people of our region,” he said.
District of Invermere Mayor and board director Gerry Taft had his northern neighbour’s back.
“This could be a trial,” he said, urging the board to let Wilkie lead the way on the matter. “It’s still a very rural atmosphere,” he said of most of Area G. “It’s not quite the same as an urban setting.”
District of Sparwood Mayor and board director Cal McDougall agreed. If a rural director is willing to step up as a test case “we should allow it,” he said.
Booth said regional staff have put in enough time on the issue.
“This is not good value of staff time,” she said.
Wilkie argued most of that time has already been spent. “Virtually all the work has been done. It won’t take much staff time,” he pushed.
Electoral Area A Director Mike Sosnowski made a motion for the board to halt procession of this work.
“Let’s not spend an hour on bees and chickens,” he said.
Wilkie, Taft, McDougall, Electoral Area B Director Stan Doehle and Electoral Area E Director Jane Walter voted against the motion, which was passed.
However, when it came time to vote on beekeeping, as the two were separated to two votes, Booth made a new motion, after Wilkie’s continued lobbying, to have a review to see if it should proceed, but in Area G only. The board voted in favour of that motion, with a report to be created after.
