Several city councillors are still unhappy about implementing the provincial government害羞草研究所檚 new housing legislation.

Following a staff report at Monday害羞草研究所檚 (Apr 15) meeting, they said they had no choice but to vote in favour of amendments to zoning bylaws and the Official Community Plan (OCP) to implement the provincial government害羞草研究所檚 new housing legislation.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e losing more and more control here at the council level with the authority taken away by the province,害羞草研究所� said Councillor Ron Cannan, who also voiced concerns about delegating 害羞草研究所渁ll the powers for the city to staff.害羞草研究所�

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One of the main sticking points is that council can no longer request a public hearing if a residential development application is consistent with the OCP. It can only approve or deny rezoning at the application stage.

Developments that meet the OCP could be left to staff discretion.

害羞草研究所淚t precludes us from doing our duty,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Mohini Singh. 害羞草研究所淚t takes away the ability for us to serve the needs of our community, but we have no choice.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Gord Lovegrove agreed but noted that staff need council害羞草研究所檚 support.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 seeing our staff under a lot of strain to get the changes made, they are the experts. I trust them.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Luke Stack reminded his colleagues of where their authority comes from.

害羞草研究所淭he only authority we have in the first place was given to us by our provincial government. We are losing some of the freedoms that we害羞草研究所檝e enjoyed but in essence, the only thing we as a municipal government can do is what the provincial government allows us to do.害羞草研究所�

Councillors Hodge and Cannon were the only ones opposed to giving three readings to the amendments.

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