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NEWS: OCP survey deadline may be extended /A3 ARTS: Vic Theatre re-launches with Bond classic /A7 OPINION: 9/11 building theory debunked /A9
OAK BAYNEWS Friday, October 4, 2013
www.vicnews.com
Guarding the gait There may be smiles all around for the camera, but Grade five students Jayda Thor, left and Sela Piercy, right, volunteers for Ecole Willows elementary’s crossing guard program, are all business when it comes to the safety of their classmates Jocelyn Henderson, Breanna Henderson and Evelyn Boorman as they cross Dalhousie Street Tuesday afternoon. See the story page A4. William Shepherd/News staff
Oak Bay opens the door to birds and bees New poultry and bee bylaw gets approval
Christopher Sun News staff
Raising chickens and keeping bees in your backyard has become easier in Oak Bay after municipal council approved amendments to existing bylaws, relaxing the rules on minimum setbacks and yard size. Poultry and bees can now be kept on all residential properties with the amount
dictated by property size. Properties less than 1,114 square metres can now have a maximum of five chickens, turkeys or ducks, while larger properties can have up to 10. Previously, small lot owners were not allowed to keep poultry. Beekeeping is limited to two beehives on properties less than 930 square metres and capped at four for larger properties. However, no poultry can be kept in the Uplands. Oak Bay homeowner and president of the B.C. Bee Breeders association Barry Denluck welcomed the changes. “I’m very happy to see Oak Bay respond
NEW TO BARCLAY’S
to our request,” Denluck said. He asked council last year to make it easier for people to keep bees in their yards. “There has been many wanting-to-be beekeepers patiently waiting for this amendment.” “I am really happy council has agreed to this change,” said resident Doug Clarke, who already owns five chickens. “It’s a really good small step in the right direction.” Clarke’s property was already large enough to allow for a chicken coop under the previous bylaw, but he felt it was unfair that small lot owners were not allowed to raise poultry.
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“I had a lot of people coming to me asking, ‘why can’t I have chickens?’” Clarke said, adding he was surprised it took two years for the change to happen. FINE CUSTOM JEWELLERS Oak Bay councillor Tara Ney acknowledged it took a while for changes to be enacted, but there was a process that needed to be followed which included researching what other communities are doing and getting community feedback. She said council has always been supportive of making the change.
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PlEASE SEE: CUSTOM JEWELLERS Food FINE security a priority, Page A5
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106-2187 Oak Bay Ave. 250-592-1100
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