Council Matters: Changes coming in a new (draft) Zoning Bylaw
By Sara Golling
It will shape Rossland’s future. Get informed and have your say.
Report: Rossland City Council Meetings, November 3, 2025
COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE (4:30 PM)
PRESENT:
Mayor Andy Morel and Councillors Maya Provençal, Stewart Spooner, and Craig Humpherys. Absent: Lisa Kwiatkowski, Jeff Weaver and Eliza Boyce
Staff: CAO Bryan Teasdale, Executive Assistant Rachel Newton, Deputy CO Cynthia Añonuevo, City Planner Stacey Lightbourne
This meeting provided a preview of the proposed changes in a draft new Zoning Bylaw, which was last replaced in 2011. Interested readers can see the eight-page summary of proposed changes in the Council package for this meeting, available on the City website.
There will be a public meeting at the Miners Hall in the evening on November 18, and a breakfast meeting with builders and developers on the same day for their input.
Proposed changes governing new construction (or changes in usage) include, among other things, increased density permitted on residential lots; measuring building height from the lowest point rather than the average grade; a slight increase in allowable building height; requirements for EV-ready parking spaces; driveway widths permitted based on lot frontage; home occupations allowed in all zones; and an added section on landscaping. Coniferous trees must be a certain distance from buildings, and other landscape plantings must consist of drought-tolerant native species. Regardless of changes in lot coverage allowed, at least 30% of lot area must be permeable in all zones.
A resident in the gallery asked permission to speak and asked about a proposed restriction on ground-mounted solar arrays on smaller lots; the resident thinks his smaller lot would accommodate elevated ground- mounted solar panels, and thinks his lot is large enough to have a reasonable-size solar array.
Councillors raised various points of possible concern; and Morel wanted to ensure that the public has adequate opportunity to respond to any suggestions from the developers and builders group.
The City’s consultant explained that we are early in the process; discussions are just beginning, and terms of the draft bylaw can be adjusted.
Besides the public meeting on November 18 at the Miners Hall, the City will host an online survey from November 8 to December 8.
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING:
Manager of Public Works and Infrastructure Scott Lamont and Manager of Recreation & Events Kristi Calder joined the meeting.
PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD:
Laura Pettitt expressed concern about the Centennial Trail project and the request for additional money and where that would come from.
Cezary Ksiazek wanted to have a storm drain and sewer connection done, at his own expense, from his Cook Avenue property to the new infrastructure being installed now; he sent messages to the mayor and Manager of Public works, but had heard nothing yet and was upset about that. Morel and Lamont explained that there will be a meeting about his request tomorrow and Cezary will be informed.
A resident stood up to thank Council and Staff for the open house event at the Miners Hall on Monday October 27 on the financial plan.
DELEGATIONS:
Take Action on Radon:
Project Manager Pam Warkentin of Take Action on Radon provided information about radon (the colourless, odourless gas that can seep from the ground into homes and is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers) and about the results of the radon testing program that included about 100 Rossland homes. (The testing cost residents and the City nothing but a small amount of staff time.)
She also provided information on how to limit radon seepage into the home, both during construction and retroactively, with helpful links to search for mitigation professionals.
In Rossland, she reported, only about 10% of the homes tested showed radon levels above the threshold level of 200 becquerels per square metre (bq/m³). There is no safe level of radon exposure, but the official threshold in Canada is 200 bq/m³. Residents with higher levels should take steps to reduce radon seepage into their homes.
A chart in the Council materials showed results from many communities; for example, in Kimberly, 44% of the homes exceeded that level, and in Kaslo, 60% of the homes had higher levels of radon.
Warkentin said that if anyone had taken a radon test from the recent batch and forgot to use it, the test is still good and could be activated for the required time and sent in.
She pointed out that Health Canada has a website with information, including measures municipalities can take to educate residents and help reduce exposure to radon.
Gold Fever Follies:
Gold Fever Follies representative Landon Lafond spoke on the issue of the amount of rent the Follies should pay under a new agreement with the City. Last season, the Follies had a record total attendance of 2829 attendees but are still struggling to do enough fundraising to carry on. Now they have to pay over $4000 for additional storage, having lost the use of all but one of the storage lockers in the Miners Hall. LaFond asked that the rent for 2026 be limited to $6000, with only a cost-of-living increase for subsequent years.
POLICIES AND BYLAWS:
Zoning Amendment Bylaw # 2856: 3975 Old Red Mountain Road
This bylaw will allow a spa, open to non-guests, to operate in the “Holiday Resort Campground” zone. Motions to give the bylaw third reading and to adopt it CARRIED unanimously, with the following conditions:
- A building permit will only be issued once the applicant provides an infrastructure servicing plan that meets the Subdivision and Servicing Bylaw, showing all phases and timelines for full buildout; and,
- That the applicant provide a lit off-road pedestrian pathway between the parking area and the main spa area.
Animal Control Bylaw:
A motion to adopt the new bylaw, previously discussed, CARRIED unanimously.
Policy Review: Utility Water Leak Adjustment Policy
A motion to approve the policy as amended, CARRIED unanimously. The amendments aim to provide an incentive for people to make timely repairs to leaks in the water lines on their property.
Sewer Rate (2026-2027) Bylaw # 2859:
Motions to give the bylaw first and second readings CARRIED unanimously.
The rates for both sewer and water use will rise slightly, both in 2026 and 2027.
Water Rate (2026-2027) Bylaw # 2860:
Motions to give the bylaw first and second readings CARRIED unanimously; Humpherys expressed surprise that the block rates for increased water usage did not seem high enough to discourage excessive use: “It doesn’t seem that we’re incentivizing people to conserve water.” Council discussed reconsidering the block water rates, but ultimately decided to leave the bylaw in its current state until the financial department is back to its full complement. Teasdale pointed out that Staff are trying to avoid raising all costs for residents more than necessary.
REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL DECISION:
Gold Fever Follies: a draft two-year agreement for use of the Miners Hall
A motion to charge the Follies $6,000.00 for their 2026 season, with an increase in the next year (and annually if the agreement is carried forward) based on cost of living increases, CARRIED unanimously. Provençal hoped that the City and the Follies can continue work together and be creative. Humpherys expressed the same thoughts and thanked Landon Lafond for coming in.
Centennial Trail Improvement Project – Additional Funding Request:
A motion to approve an additional $118,000 to complete the north section of the
Centennial Trail Improvement Project, and that the City seek to recover any of the project’s additional costs from project partners when/where appropriate, CARRIED unanimously after discussion.
The cost of the northern section of the improvement project is unexpectedly higher than originally estimated, because of “one improperly located FortisBC natural gas service, one unmarked FortisBC natural gas service” and the additional expenses arising from them. The City estimates that going ahead with the work now and then seeking financial assistance from the parties who caused the additional expense will be more cost-effective than delaying the work until next year and trying to secure compensatory funding beforehand.
Spooner expressed concern about paying additional money from taxpayer funds and suggested that it be paid for from the recreation reserve. Humpherys wondered how much the City might recover from Fortis, and when. He also wondered if the project could just be suspended where it is; Teasdale pointed out that it would cost more in the long run, and Lightbourne pointed out that the grant funding is contingent on the project being completed.
Provençal asked about using the Growing Communities Fund; Teasdale responded with more information about the reserves where the additional funding can be sourced.
REQUESTS ARISING FROM CORRESPONDENCE:
2026 J.L. Crowe Grad Class Fundraiser:
A motion to approve a one-time donation of $1,000 in 2026 to the graduating class of J.L. Crowe Secondary in exchange for the collection and delivery of Christmas Trees to the McKelvey Creek Regional Landfill CARRIED unanimously.
Rossland Museum and Discovery Centre request:
A motion to provide a letter to the Museum in support of their application for a grant from the BC Rehab Foundation Project, to create inclusive access to “an enhanced outdoor Museum grounds,” CARRIED unanimously.
MEMBER REPORTS (selected highlights only):
Provençal attended a Sustainability Commission meeting and the City event on the financial plan at the Miners Hall, and wished that she had taken time to thank the attendees for showing up.
Humpherys said people had told him they hope the City will do similar events again.
Morel reported that BC transit will be doing a review of services in the area, and that Victim Services is under review, and there may be a different strategy for delivering that service. Recent RDKB meeting; the RDBK plans to begin setting aside reserves.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 PM, and your reporter strolled home with wet snow falling but not sticking, and wondered why the draft zoning bylaw proposes to allow coniferous trees only three meters from buildings when FireSmart recommends that they be at least ten metres from buildings; after all, it doesn’t take some young conifers very long to grow branches that are over three metres long. And, since it is not easy to locate certain documents on the City’s website, here are the links (again) to six important documents which provide information on eventual or potential City expenditures.
Building Assessment Report on the Miners Hall, the Arena, and the Public Works Shop
