The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has moved to ensure the regional government is consulted when a biosolids composting facility proponent tries to set up shop in the TNRD.
Last month the board of directors for the regional district approved the third reading of a new bylaw that requires any party intending to establish a biosolids composting facility in the TNRD set up shop on P3 zoned land.
Area M director Randy Murray said there is currently no available P3 land in the TNRD meaning a desired piece of land will need to go through a rezoning process, which requires approval from the regional district and public hearings.
“It can’t just be brought in overnight anymore and show up in your backyard in 30 days,” Murray said.
He said previously a proponent could simply pick a piece of RL1 zoned land (rural) in the TNRD, get the approval from the province an bypass the regional district.
This new bylaw also puts an end to the rule that allows 50 per cent of biosolids on farmland to be exported for sale in the TNRD.
“Now you can no longer sell it off your land, but you can still import it for use on your land, but only on your own land based on agricultural regulations,” Murray said.
The new zoning requirement doesn’t impact the facility owned by BioCentral in the Sunshine Valley, which is grandfathered in, Murray told the Herald.
There are two regular TNRD board meetings in October, and Murray said he expects the new bylaw to be adopted by the end of the month, noting that given the passing of third reading, adopting the bylaw is essentially a formality.
“We’re moving forward with that bylaw and the only amendment to the bylaw that I made was to say that if there’s a certified organic composting operation that it’s exempt from the bylaw as long as they don’t use biosolids in the production of their compost,” Murray said.
In the new bylaw, P3 zoning is being redefined to allow waste management, transfer sites and composting as permitted uses. These facilities are currently listed in a variety of zones, and will be consolidated under the civic works zoning.