Local News

Hanger High

By NEIL HORNER
News Reporter
September 21^st, 2007

Qualicum Beach council this week used the first of their regularly scheduled Wednesday meeting to approve a lease agreement and development permit variance for a hangar used by Sunwest Helicopters. The variance called for the hangar to rise to a height of 10.5 metres, two and a half over the zoning maximum. Mayor Teunis Westbroek asked for assurance the leasees at the facility wouldn't be able to sublease out to others. He was assured by CAO Mark Brown any sub-lease agreements would have to be approved by council. Both the lease agreement and the variance passed unanimously. Although the lease and variance were dealt with relatively quickly, being passed unanimously, the lease and variance - and by extension the issue of noise at the municipal airport - dominated the meeting, with all councillors except the absent Jack Wilson weighing in on the issue. Commenting on last week's public meeting on airport development, councillor Barry Avis called it a valuable exercise. "I think it was excellent, very timely,"he said. "New knowledge was gained by the town council and staff and it gave us an opportunity to put the airport operation under the microscope and have a focus on how the airport unfolds in terms of quality of life." Avis said in all his time on council, he has never received so many e-mails and other correspondence as he has on the airport issue. "The focus is there and the town is interested,"he said. Coun. Wendy Maurer echoed his sentiments, congratulating staff for a job well done. "You created an event that got out information and set the tone for people treating each other with respect and feeling comfortable expressing a wide range of views. We should learn some lessons from this." Coun. Mike Wansink also waded into the discussion, noting he has obtained a decibel measuring device with which he plans to develop a sound map of the areas surrounding the airport. Although Westbroek also praised the meeting, it was probably Max Kellerman, speaking at the end of the meeting, who summed up the situation best. "I've revised my point of view,"Kellerman, who spoke out vehemently against the variance at a meeting in the Sunwest Hangar last month. "I would like to see the hangar built large enough to accommodate the helicopter." Kellerman said the key is to find a common denominator and have respect for each other's situation in order to come to a peaceful resolution to the airport concerns. Westbroek thanked Kellerman for his comments. "This is another good indication that communication and having that meeting allowed people to express their concerns,"he said. news@pqbnews.com


Original Source:
http://www.pqbnews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=50&cat=23&id=1069346&more=1

Wondering what your home is worth? Fill in this quick form and receive a comprehensive market
evaluation specifically for your home. Click Here to launch my interactive home evaluation.