Councillor strikes out in ALR appeal

Wayne Moore - Mar 17, 2009 Castanet:

Kelowna City Councillor, Charlie Hodge, went to bat for a Kelowna landscaping business. He struck out. More than a month ago, Hodge was one of six Councillors who voted against a re-zoning application from Tim Valeriote. The Benvoulin Road residence is home to a landscaping business, contrary to land use provisions in the mainly agricultural area. Hodge admitted he visited the property after the vote and asked his colleagues Monday to waive the six month re-application provision to allow Valeriote the opportunity to come before council sooner. "After having a lengthy meeting there and walking the property and looking at more information that I received, I came to the conclusion that I myself probably didn't have enough information to make the decision that I made," says Hodge. "I had a few sleepless nights and decided I had to try and rectify what I had failed to do." Any motion which is defeated by Council can be brought back within 30 days if two Councillors agree. Hodge's proposal came after the 30 day grace period, meaning he needed the cooperation of two-thirds of Council to bring the application back a second time.He received just three of the six votes necessary.

Hodge brought forward a petition with more than 100 area residents in favour of the re-zoning. "He has support from neighbours throughout the area along Benvoulin and other areas in the agricultural community who feel the business has greatly improved the neighbourhood, helped reduce crime and fits well into the agricultural community." Despite his pleas, Hodge was reminded by numerous Councillors that the decision made back at the beginning of February had nothing to do with the merits of the business but instead was about inappropriate land use for land in the ALR. Mayor Sharon Shepherd, says there may be a bigger issue afoot in the Benvoulin Road area. "There is a concern that there are a number of other businesses in the area that are carrying on businesses much as he is trying to do. We've heard from our staff that those businesses may also be on the list of not conforming," says Shepherd. "We may have a much bigger issue to deal with than this one application. What I am wondering if we need to sit down with staff and have a report as to what is happening in that entire area. Council did agree to have staff bring back a report on the number of businesses which may be operating within the area and also the amount of agricultural and industrial land available within the city.