Allowing one family to build a lakeside cabin large enough to comfortably hold their number could be setting a dangerous precedent agreed members of the regional district's board of directors.
During their monthly meeting Thursday, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board voted down an application to increase the allowable size of a recreational cabin at Purden Lake by almost 30 square metres.
The proposal by the McIntosh family was to be able to use the extra space outside of the 100 metre square regulation to include two bedrooms when they build their cottage.
"What we're trying to do is house our current family and expanding family in the manner we choose to live," said James McIntosh, referring to suggestions that his three-generation family use tents or trailers to accommodate extra bodies.
And despite assurances that the family would take utmost care in preserving the environmental virtues of Purden Lake, a public hearing on the matter Thursday afternoon released a flood of opposition from neighbours.
"I believe granting this variance will lead to more requests for the same," said Bruce Carmichael, calling the McIntosh application the "thin edge of the lakeshore development wedge."
Carmichael and others also referred to a poorly installed well project in 2004 that led to a cease of work order and fines.
"Even today if you go under my deck you can see silt sediments 10 years later," said one neighbour.
Other opponents questioned the desire for a variance when the rules were set in place long before the property was purchased.
"Stick to the rules, don't open the floodgates," said Bob Stowell, while Hal McKenzie stated "If you want to come out to our lake, play by the rules."
Comments like those concerned Prince George director Shari Green.
"One thing that can be frustrating for people, and we get this at the city as well, is property owners have a right to apply for a variance," she said. "They can apply for a rezoning, an OCP amendment, whatever the case may be in relation to the property."
Green said she felt the size rule was outdated and that based solely on the land use issue, she was supportive of the application.
The Prince George mayor was joined in her support by the other city directors on the board.
Cameron Stolz said he appreciated that damage was done by others in the past, but that he sees no challenge with supporting the expansion for two bedrooms. This was a sentiment echoed by Lyn Hall, who said he didn't see adding the two extra rooms as having a negative environmental impact.
Murry Krause said he appreciated that the neighbours didn't set out to villanize the McIntosh family and that there could be the same issues cropping up if someone was building a 500 square metre house.
The urban directors were on their own in supporting the application as the remainder of the 14-member board voted it down.
"I think it's important for us as directors to look at the big picture and long term," said area C director Lara Beckett. "We have an opportunity to prevent the kind of overdevelopment occurring at other lakes in the regional district... The land around [Purden Lake] will be there beyond any of us [directors] and any of the current land owners."
Valemount director Andru McCracken said at issue was the question of who sets the form and character of a community and if the board thought they knew better, they should change the rule for everybody instead of on a peicemeal basis.
"My concern is we set a precedent and we're going to have more applications coming forward and it's going to be a challenge," said area H director Ken Starchuk. "I know we should deal with them on a one off, but it's going to be a challenge to deal with future applications and really hold the line on these types of requests we're going to get."
