Richard Froese
South Peace News

A public hearing to discuss sea cans in hamlets in Big Lakes County has been rescheduled to February.

Originally set for Jan. 10 by council, the public hearing has been postponed to Feb. 14 after the county did not meet advertising requirements under the Municipal Government Act, says Pat Olansky, director of planning and development, in a report in the agenda package for the meeting Jan. 10.

“Notice of the bylaw or public hearing must be published at least once a week for two consecutive weeks in at least one newspaper or other publication circulating in the area to which the proposed bylaw or hearing is to be held,” Olansky states.

“A notice must also be advertised at least five days before the public hearing occurs.”

An advertisement was not published in the South Peace News issue of Jan. 3, 2018.

Council was scheduled to confirm the new date at its meeting Jan. 10.

Citizens will have opportunity to express their views to council at the public hearing at 1:30 p.m.

At its regular meeting Nov. 29, 2017 council gave first reading to the proposed changes to the land-use bylaw to update the uses of sea cans in residential areas.

Moving forward, the county proposes that:

-A sea can shall be aesthetically compatible to the main residential structure and the surrounding neighbourhood.

-A sea can shall be located on the side or rear of the property and not permanently fixed to the ground.

-One sea can will be allowed on a lot less than one half acre.

-A sea can shall be suitable screened from public view to the satisfaction of the development authority.

-Sea cans cannot be stacked.

-No human or animals will be allowed to live inside a sea can.

-A temporary permit to place a sea can on a residential lot may be permitted at the discretion of the development authority for six months.

A survey was conducted in September when 108 of 398 questionnaires were returned as 82 voted in favour of sea cans, 24 opposed, two indicated otherwise.