by Carl BR Johnson
May 29, 2013
Photo by Carl BR Johnson — Elsa Vesaniemi says that the local government could be doing a better job about informing local farmers of any bylaws that might affect her and her family.
Confusion over the new building bylaw has left farmers in the region concerned about what buildings on their property will require a permit.
People “are scared of this bylaw because they don’t understand it,” according to Charles Lasser, who spoke during the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) meeting last week.
“The layman cannot understand the language … I can’t make heads or tails of it.”
He is concerned that all structures on his property will require a permit, but even with assurances from the PRRD that farm buildings are exempt under Bylaw No. 1996, 2011, he wants a clear definition in the document itself.
“I just want every building in the agricultural area, outside of the home, to be classified as a farm building in the bylaw.”
Section 4.3 C of Bylaw No. 1996, 2011, states that farm buildings are exempt from the bylaw, but does not clarify in the document itself what qualifies for that exemption, it merely references the B.C. Building Code for definitions.
The code states that a farm building is, “a building or part thereof that does not contain a residential occupancy and that is associated with and located on land devoted to the practice of farming, and used essentially for the housing of equipment or livestock, or the production, storage or processing of agricultural and horticultural produce or feeds.”
Elsa Vesaniemi, a farmer in the Dawson Creek area, said that the local government could be doing a better job of educating farmers.
“We don’t know what those bylaws mean at all. We’re Finnish by nationality, so it’s that much more difficult for us to understand local laws,” she said.
Much of the confusion stems from Section 6.1 of the bylaw, which states: “No person shall commence or continue any construction, alteration, reconstruction, demolition, removal, or relocation of any building or structure, including excavation or other work related to construction, and no person shall place a manufactured home upon a foundation, unless a building official has issued a valid and subsisting permit for the work.”
Karen Goodings, the PRRD Board Chair, confirmed that this section does not cover farm buildings, as they are exempt, but added that it is causing a lot of confusion.
“You can read it and read it and read it and still not fully understand it,” she said.
Goodings said that there will be public meetings held first, to hear feedback from the community, and then a formal board meeting to discuss proposed changes to the bylaw.
She confirmed that the definition of “farm building” would be specifically addressed during that future meeting.
“That will be one of the changes to bylaw that we will be making.”
Bruce Simard, general manager of development services for the PRRD, said that it is apparent that people want the definition of farm building, the exempt structures, included in the bylaw.
“It’s been made very clear to us the definition was not made explicitly and that has been made clear to us and obviously, we’ve got to find another way to communicate to people.”
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