The District of Port Edward is moving ahead with its plans for temporary rezoning permits, but more of the say in the matter is being put into the hands of individual councillors.
The bylaw, which allows parcels of land to be rezoned for three year periods and up to six years in total without going through the rezoning process, originally put the decision to approve any applications in the hands of the mayor and the chief administrative officer. But at the Nov. 5 council meeting, Coun. Knut Bjorndal said he wanted to see that changed following a public hearing on the matter earlier in the night.
"We could have an instance where this council, or future councils, have something the mayor and CAO approved but council is opposed to," he said.
The idea of bringing these applications before all of council not only found support from other councillors, but from Mayor Dave MacDonald and CAO Ron Bedard.
"We could have something where we don't think it is controversial, and then at the next meeting the room is packed with people saying 'you boneheads'," said Bedard.
"At this time I have no problem with it ... it has to be council as a whole that looks at these," said Mayor MacDonald.
The temporary use permit bylaw will have to come back to council for final approval.