If you’ve always wanted to be a backyard farmer but didn’t want the hassle of dealing with city hall, you’re in luck.
Council has amended the building bylaw to exempt building permit requirements for hoop greenhouses greater than 108 square feet (10 square metres). While property owners will still need to comply with the B.C. Building Code when building greenhouses, the city believes that exempting the requirement for a building permit for hoop greenhouse provides an incentive to support local food production and allows homeowners to grow a wider range of food.
“We have resolved the 100-square foot greenhouse space so if you haven’t seen this already, look it up online and contact city hall and start building your greenhouses,” said Coun. Chuck Puchmayr.
Save the date: Aug. 29
The B.C. Penitentiary Task Force is hard at work on plans to unveil interpretive signage on Aug. 29.
A staff report to council states that the group has completed three initiatives to the property since forming in 2016: undertaking the physical restoration of the site; providing the city’s archives with research that’s been collected; and creating interpretive signage about the historical significance of the site.
The task force is working on the details of an event to until the interpretive signage and restoration of the B.C. Penitentiary Cemetery site, which is located in the Glenbrook Ravine Park lands. Stay tuned for more details as the date gets closer.
Clean air at arena
New Westminster’s ice arenas have made changes to ensure they are safe.
Following an ammonia leak in Fernie B.C. that claimed the life of three workers, City of New Westminster staff reviewed the processes and procedures of local arenas to ensure they are safe. A staff report states that the city made “minor operational adjustments” to arena operations following a review by WorkSafeBC and Technical SafetyBC.
“Both Queen’s Park Arena and Moody Park Arena now meet and/or exceed the safety requirements of TSBC, and once the update ammonia-exposure plans are completed, will also meet and/or exceed WorkSafeBC requirements,” said a recent staff report to council, which noted the plans were being developed.
