#permits

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City of Rossland

Environmental Protection vs Mining Development

🌲 Council backs community effort to pause Record Ridge mining permits

After hearing from the Save Record Ridge Action Committee, Rossland Council voted to request government halt new permits for the proposed West High Yield Magnesium Mine until a judicial review is completed.

  • ⛏️ West High Yield company wants to develop magnesium mine on Record Ridge

  • 🏛️ Environmental Assessment Office decided no environmental assessment required

  • ⚖️ Save Record Ridge Action Committee filing judicial review of that decision

  • 🌿 Community concerns about impact on local ecosystem and recreation area

  • 🚫 Residents want permit process paused during legal challenge

Should environmental reviews come before mining permits?

Next Steps:

  • Staff will send formal request to provincial government
  • Judicial review process continues through courts
  • Save Record Ridge Action Committee continues their legal challenge

From October 6, 2025 Council meeting

Council Action:

Council voted to direct staff to send correspondence requesting a pause on issuing additional permits for the West High Yield Magnesium Mine until the judicial review is completed.

Motion by Councillor Provencal - Carried

#environmental#mining#municipal#permits#community#judicial
Oct 20, 2025
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City of Rossland

Major Fee Changes Coming to Rossland 💰

Council is voting on Bylaw No. 2863 - a complete overhaul that consolidates ALL city fees into one document.

From building permits to dog licenses, water connections to planning applications - if you use city services, these changes affect you! 🏘️

Several services moving to "cost recovery" pricing.

  • 📋 Currently fees are scattered across multiple different bylaws - confusing for residents and staff

  • 🎯 New bylaw consolidates everything into one user-friendly document

  • 💡 Updates fees to better reflect actual costs of providing services

  • ⚡ Streamlines administration and reduces bureaucratic burden

  • 📈 Introduces cost recovery model where users pay actual costs for utilities

  • 🔌 Utility Connections: No more flat fees - you now pay actual costs of labor, materials & equipment

  • 🏠 Building Permits: Damage deposits removed (but permit fees remain)

  • 💳 Credit Card Fees: New 0.25% convenience fee for online payments

  • 🔄 Refund Processing: $10 fee for refunds under $100

  • 🔧 Building Permit: $50 application + $10 per $1,000 of project value

  • 💧 Water Connection: $2,415 for first 20 meters, then $105/additional meter

  • 🌊 Sewer Connection: $2,800 for first 20 meters, then $125/additional meter

  • 🐶 Dog License: $20 (sterilized) vs $50 (not sterilized)

  • 📝 Planning Applications: $1,150-$2,300 depending on complexity

What do you think about the shift to cost recovery pricing for utilities? Should residents pay actual costs or prefer flat fees for predictability?

Council Meetings: Staff recommends all three readings happen at the same meeting

Process: Bylaw requires first, second, and third readings before final adoption

Next Steps: If passed, this replaces the current scattered fee structure immediately

Have Input? Contact council before the vote!

#municipal#fees#bylaw#costrecovery#utilities#permits
Oct 6, 2025
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City of Rossland

🏠 Steep Lot, Failing Carport Challenge

A Rossland homeowner is seeking approval to replace their failing carport with a proper garage, but the steep topography means they need to build closer to property lines than normally allowed.

🏔️ The challenge: Standard setback rules don't work on every lot

📋 Council Decision: September 15th meeting

Council agenda - Development Variance Permit application
Location map

  • 🏚️ Existing carport has failing retaining walls and can't be safely used

  • ⛰️ Steep slope from west to east limits building placement options

  • 🚗 Need to maintain 2 off-street parking spaces for road safety

  • ❄️ Covered entrance will improve snow/drainage management

  • 🏗️ Alternative locations would require massive, expensive retaining walls

📋 The Proposed Solution

  • 🏠 Build new 2-car garage to replace failing carport

  • 🎆 Add covered stairway over existing house entrance

  • 📏 Front setback: 0m instead of required 4m (4m variance)

📋 The Proposed Solution

  • 📎 Side setback: 0.3m instead of required 1.8m (1.5m variance)

  • ✅ Staff recommend approval - no departmental concerns

Should Council approve these setback variances to allow the homeowner to replace their failing carport with a proper garage on this steep lot?

📅 Your Voice Matters

Council Meeting: September 15, 2025

🏘️ All neighbors within 50m were notified - no objections received

🗣️ How to participate:

  • Attend the council meeting
  • Submit written comments
  • Contact your councillors

📜 This decision sets precedent for how variances are handled on steep terrain throughout Rossland.

#development#permits#planning#variance#housing#steep#terrain#garage#setbacks#residential
Sep 15, 2025