The second public hearing on the McKee Neighbourhood Plan takes place Monday night (June 12) in Abbotsford.
The hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium (32315 South Fraser Way) after the previous one was nullified in March following the discovery of a procedural error.
The neighbourhood plan, if approved, will be used by council in making decisions about a 1,900-acre (769-hectare) area of McKee Peak on Sumas Mountain in terms of allowable uses, building forms and densities.
Mayor Ross Siemens has previously said the plan will guide future development – including low-density housing – and environmental protection.
More than 50 speakers addressed council on March 6 at the first public hearing, which lasted five hours.
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Dozens of letters were also submitted in response to the plan.
Concerns included wildlife protection, trail preservation and the need to prioritize First Nations consultation.
But the city reported on March 23 that an error had been made during first and second reading of the pertinent bylaw on Jan. 30. The mistake was not discovered until after the public hearing.
The error involved duplicating a series of resolutions in the council agenda package from the afternoon meeting to the package for the evening meeting. A differently worded set of resolutions was to be included in the later session.
The mistake meant that council had to re-do first and second reading and the public hearing that follows.
But Mayor Ross Siemens confirmed that all comments made at the first public hearing remain on record.
Council considered an updated McKee Neighbourhood Plan on April 24 that included 65 more acres (23 hectares) of land to be designated as open space.
Council again approved first and second reading of the bylaw, with the second public hearing to follow.
Consideration of third and final reading of the bylaw that will see the Official Community Plan amended to include the McKee Neighbourhood Plan is slated for June 26.
RELATED: Updated McKee Neighbourhood Plan comes before Abbotsford council
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