The public hearing scheduled for tonight regarding an update to Merritt’s zoning bylaws has been postponed due to council’s need for more information.

“It’s felt that council just needs a lot more information,” Merritt Mayor Susan Roline told the Herald.

The public hearing should be rescheduled for sometime in the new year, and is required to be publicly announced with a minimum of two weeks notice.

Given the amount of concern the mayor and council heard at the last public hearing regarding the potential rezoning of land for an asphalt plant last month, Roline said they need more time to find answers to questions.

“With all the concerns that were being raised about the asphalt plant — is that a proper use for our community? — we knew that there would be a lot of concerns coming forth at the December 10 meeting we don’t have answers to yet,” Roline said.

If enough people at this next public hearing want council to amend M2 zoning to exclude asphalt plants, they can ask them to do so, she said.

“The bylaws always can be amended, but you want to amend them in a fashion that doesn’t restrict too many things, but also in a fashion that meets what your community expects, too,” Roline said.

Roline said the time for the public to oppose or express concern over different uses of land under the City of Merritt’s zoning bylaw categories is when it is being changed or updated.

There is no date yet for the rescheduled hearing, but the public will be notified no less than two weeks before the new date.