Investigation Report: Ombudsman Act – Municipality of North Cypress-Langford
investigations & monitoring
municipal / local body
Summary
We received a complaint about a decision by the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford to approve multiple staff dwellings on an agriculturally zoned property. We determined that the municipality had the authority to approve the staff dwellings; however, we noted that the municipality did not have specific criteria to consider when assessing applications for accessory use buildings or structures. Having such criteria would help identify the factors council considered and applied in making its decision. The complainant further believed that the property owners did not have a conditional use permit for their home-based business, which sells items produced off-site. Our office is of the view that in accordance with the municipality’s zoning by-law, conditional use approval is required for the home-based business. At the conclusion of our investigation, our office made three recommendations to the municipality.
Case 2016-0228