On October 9, 2012 Invermere council passed a resolution regarding a more proactive bylaw enforcement system. First broached at a council meeting in September, issues regarding improper parking in the downtown core and Kinsmen beach were initially the key concerns, however with the shutdown of the Invermere transfer station the issue of waste disposal has since come up and was also addressed. Council moved that the district bylaw enforcement shift to increased proactive enforcement for wildlife feeding and provision of attractants including household solid wastes, dog control at Kinsmen Beach from May 1 to Sept 15, parking regulations in the downtown core and at Kinsmen Beach, and any traffic issue that poses a health and safety risk to persons. District staff were also instructed to craft a bylaw regarding improper use of the transfer station, as no such bylaw currently exists.

Lakeside rezoning

Following the closure of the Lakeside Pub last month, a zoning amendment bylaw was brought to council regarding rezoning the Lakeside Pub land as residential from commercial. In a 3-1 vote after Councillor Justin Atterbury excused himself due to potential conflict of interest, council decided to not give the bylaw first and second reading, and not move to a public hearing. Discussions over the importance of that piece of land remaining commercial in the long-term played a prominent role in council’s decision and when the final vote was tallied, Councillor Spring Hawes was the only councillor to vote in favour of moving forward with the readings and public hearing.

“It was felt that a public hearing doesn’t change the reality that it’s taking one of the few pieces of commercial property along the lakeshore and changing it to residential,” Mayor Gerry Taft explained.