City council in Williams Lake sided with the cows, as they approved a zoning amendment for the Westridge area.
A public hearing at council’s regular meeting on March 26 heard no one speak in opposition, or in favour, of the proposed amendment to bylaw no. 2405, 2024, an amendment to bylaw no. 1825, 2002.
In plain speak, it was a change to an existing zoning which would allow Westridge Ventures Ltd. to continue to have cattle grazing on property which is legally zoned for single family residential.
The amendment will mean up to 60 head of cattle can continue fenced grazing of the property until the developer chooses to further subdivide and develop the area for residential homes.
The property is fenced and has BC Assessment approved farm status. The application by Simone Mandarino was for site-specific grazing to continue.
In 2018, a temporary use permit for the same property was issued, and then renewed in 2021. This permit would expire on March 31, 2024. The Local Government Act only permits a one-time renewal for a maximum of six years, so an amendment will allow cattle-grazing as a site-specific use.
The grazing provides wildfire hazard reduction as well, noted the application and report. Cattle are only present on the property for two to three months in the spring and fall.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the amendment, which they brought forward from the public hearing to the regular meeting.
In the regular meeting council once again voted unanimously in favour of the amendment as a whole, passing third reading and adopting the bylaw.
READ MORE: City of Williams Lake eyes up Westridge cattle grazing permit
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