A water ski school on Ness Lake received cautious support from the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Thursday.
Directors voted to approve a temporary-use permit for Stacey and Tom Birkhiem to operate from their Lakeside Drive property - instead of from the public boat launch as they have in the past - but for the unanimous support came only after the permit's length was shrunk to one year as opposed to the requested three.
"I've lost a lot of sleep on this one," said Area A director Warren Wilson, who stressed he didn't want to stand in the way of a small business, but said he felt the neighbours had to be considered as well.
"Ness Lake is way overdeveloped," he said, noting a temporary use permit is essentially a rezoning. The Salmon River-Lakes official community plan doesn't allow recreation commercial uses on the subject property, and the zoning bylaw permits residential, homecraft and farming-related uses. "Are we setting a precedent here with rezoning residential lots?"
Prince George director Dave Wilbur agreed with Wilson, saying the "neighbours have rights,too."
It was Area H director Ken Starchuck who put forward the idea of reducing the length of the temporary use permit by two years.
The RDFFG has no control over the activities on the water, but the land-based portion of the school's activities include dry-land instruction, a waiting area for guardians
The ski school will operate July to August, with a maximum of three camps per season with a maximum of five students Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and noon and 6 and 9 p.m.
During a public consultation on the application held Jan. 22, concerns from neighbours were raised regarding noise, wake size and lake congestion.
