Gabriola LTC Regular Meeting Addendum

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Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee
Regular Meeting Addendum
 
 
Date:September 8, 2016
Time:10:15 am
Location:Gabriola Arts & Heritage Centre
476 South Road, Gabriola Island, BC
Pages
9.CORRESPONDENCE11:00 AM - 11:05 AM
9.3Email dated September 2, 2016 from Brad Hope regarding Sawmilling2 - 2
13.NEW BUSINESS
13.1Follow up on Expressions of Interest received for Appointments to the
Transportation Advisory Committee - deferred to next meeting
13.2Letter dated August 22, 2016 From Leonard Krog, MLA3 - 3
1

From: June Hope   
Sent: Friday, September 2, 2016 1:03 PM 
To: Heather O'Sullivan; mail.com 
Subject: Sawmilling on Gabriola 
 
September 2, 2016 
Dear Ms. O’Sullivan 
Sent by email to hosullivan@islandstrust.bc.ca cc 
                                                            
Thank you for taking the time to speak to me last week about the possible amendment to the 
Gabriola bylaws to allow for the temporary use of small portable sawmills on smaller Gabriola 
properties. This would allow property owners to remove problem trees and to use the resource 
in the most efficient, cost effective and practical way.  
There are a number of reasons as to why this bylaw change would be advantageous including 
safety related issues. Large trees very close to homes can of course cause problems from falling 
limbs as well as from fire hazards through increased dry material build up on roofs and in yard 
ground cover, i.e. dry needles. In our specific instance, we have a neighbour with a very large 
dead tree that in strong wind could certainly fall on our (or their) home. The neighbour, 
because of the related expense, has not proceeded to have the tree removed. When it was 
suggested that there was an added benefit of lumber production at no cost to him (through a 
lumber split with the mill operator), he was much more agreeable with proceeding.  
This land use change need not be particularly disruptive to other residents. No large industrial 
equipment need be involved, the mill set up and the sawing operation could be mandated to be 
completed rapidly and within a specific “in and out” timeframe. The process could be restricted 
to logs only from the property from which they were removed. Direct lumber sales from the 
site could be restricted.  
Other advantages to this bylaw change would be the best uses for the resource and a small but 
still important increased opportunity for local employment. Usually there are two people 
running each mill. In most instances all, or at least a portion of the wood produced, stays with 
the home owner which in turn results in an improvement to the property. 
Thank you again for your time, I would appreciate your forwarding of this request to your Sept. 
8
th
 local Island Trust Meeting. 
Yours truly  
Brad Hope 
 
 
 
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