The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the May 8 District of Sparwood council meeting.

BYLAWS

Financial Plan and Tax Rates Bylaws

Council adopted the Financial Plan (2025-2029) Bylaw No. 1350, 2025 and Tax Rates Bylaw No. 1351, 2025. The purpose of these bylaws is to formalize the budget process, as legislatively required. Property tax notices will now be processed and mailed out.

BUSINESS

Development Variance Permit for 1302 Wildwood Drive

An Informal Public Hearing was held to hear community feedback regarding a development variance permit for 1302 Wildwood Drive. Staff received an application to vary requirements of the District’s Zoning Bylaw No. 264, 1981 as amended, to increase the allowable accessory building site coverage and increase the maximum accessory building height, to construct a detached garage. The development variance permit was later issued by council.

Development Variance Permit for 408 Willow Place

Council authorized staff to issue notice to affected properties of its intent to consider development variance permit, DVP2025-003, to vary requirements of the District’s Zoning Bylaw No. 264, 1981 as amended, to increase the allowable accessory building site coverage and decrease the minimum side and rear yard setbacks for a new accessory building at 408 Willow Place.

An informal hearing will be scheduled to hear from the public prior to consideration.

Community Funding and Support Requests

Council reviewed two community funding and support requests and provided the following decisions:

Adam Toner: $3,000 cash donation to Parkinson Society of BC – Denied;

Ghostrider Adventure Camp: $3,000 to support the cost of sending four Sparwood children to camp – Approved.

There is now $15,278 of funding remaining for 2025 requests.

Columbia Basin Trust Resident Directed Grants (ReDi Grants)

Council reconsidered and approved the ReDi Grants allocations. The District of Sparwood received funding requests totaling $107,667.28 for the Columbia Basin Trust Resident Directed Grant, but only $65,682.14 is available to distribute. The applicants were invited to present their requests to council at the April 15 special meeting.

The following is what Council has recommended to RDEK:

BCSPCA – East Kootenay Branch be allocated $364.29;

Blue Lake Forest Education Society be allocated $1,540.29;

Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network be allocated $328.57;

Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History be allocated $661.43;

Cranbrook Alliance Church – Sponsoring Cranbrook Pregnancy Care Centre be allocated $300.00;

East Kootenay Invasive Species Council be allocated $571.43;

East Kootenay Regional Science Fair Society be allocated $342.86;

Elk River Watershed Alliance be allocated $1,671.43;

Elk Valley Rugby Football Club be allocated $2,171.43;

Fernie Chamber of Commerce – Visitor Centre Boardroom Enhancement Project be allocated $114.29;

Fernie Chamber of Commerce – Griz Days 2026 be allocated $514.29;

Fernie Pets Society be allocated $471.43;

Fernie Pride Society be allocated $1,442.86;

Ghostrider Adventure Camp Foundation be allocated $1,178.57;

Little Mittens Animal Rescue Association be allocated $1,321.43;

Michel Natal Sparwood Heritage Society be allocated $5,085.73;

Reel Canadian Film Society be allocated $400.00;

Rocky Mountain Metis Association be allocated $835.86;

Rocky Mountain Village Auxiliary Society be allocated $2,228.57;

Sparwood Farmers Market Society be allocated $1,754.29;

Sparwood Golf Club be allocated $8,686.88;

Sparwood Minor Ball Association be allocated $9,935.88;

Sparwood Secondary School – Sponsoring: Sparwood Secondary School PAC be allocated $7,214.29;

Sparwood Trails Alliance Association be allocated $5,719.29;

Sparwood and District Chamber of Commerce be allocated $6,735.71;

Sunset Ridge Ski Society be allocated $1,281.45;

The Canadian Red Cross Society be allocated $335.71; and

Tourism Fernie Society be allocated $2,474.92.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

All meetings are held at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Municipal Office (136 Spruce Avenue), unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, May 20 at 5 p.m.

Informal Public Hearing for Development Variance Permit for 402 Willow Place

Tuesday, May 20

Regular Meeting of Council.

e-KNOW file photo

District of Sparwood

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