landwatch Archives

LETTER: Saanich ignores the encroaching properties of municipal land

15/05/202321/04/2025dansa

Across Saanich, dozens, if not hundreds, of properties encroach upon municipal property and, despite current CAO Brent Reems’ assurances (report to council, April 2018), little is being done to prevent it. Thousands of square feet of public property, worth millions of dollars, upon which no taxes are being paid, have been illegally appropriated by homeowners for their sole use and enjoyment. People who know how to manipulate the system are obtaining permits for fences and hedges at the expense of the majority.

In 2020, the Saanich Engineering Department issued a boulevard permit, contrary to policy and for which there is no charge, for a fence. Granting the homeowners a strip of property worth roughly $16,000 and with the consent of the Bylaw Department. In just the last year I have appealed to the Bylaw Department to enforce infractions in clear violation of bylaws dealing with encroachments on roughly 2,000 square feet of municipal property, yet Brent Reems maintains the municipality’s policy of discretionary enforcement and nothing has happened.

While many of these encroachments endanger public health and safety by forcing pedestrians to walk on roadways [an illegal act in itself, MVA part 3, section 182(2)] the municipality regularly turns a

Prince Harry lands back in LA just 16 hours after coronation

07/05/202321/04/2025dansa

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex leaves Westminster Abbey following the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on September 8, 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Images) — Prince Harry leaves Westminster Abbey following the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. (Getty Images)

Prince Harry has landed back in California just 16 hours after his father’s coronation.

The Duke of Sussex caught a British Airways flight shortly after King Charles’ service finished and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at about 7.30pm local time (3.30am UK).

This was just 16-and-a-half hours after the coronation commenced at 11am on Saturday.

British Airways flight attendants confirmed to the PA news agency that Harry had been on the flight but said they were not permitted to discuss his trip.

Watch: Prince Harry departs coronation service at Westminster Abbey

The duke was reuniting with his son after Prince Archie turned four on Saturday, spending the day with his mother, the Duchess of Sussex, at their US home.

Harry’s appearance at the coronation marked his first public appearance alongside the royals since he lambasted his family in his controversial memoir Spare.

His book contained claims his father put his own interests above Harry’s and was jealous of his wife.

There was also the incendiary claim his brother, the Prince of Wales, physically attacked Harry during an argument about Meghan.

TOPSHOT - Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex looks on as Britain's King Charles III leaves Westminster Abbey after the Coronation Ceremonies in central London on May 6, 2023. - The set-piece coronation is the first in Britain in 70 years, and only the second in history to be televised. Charles will be the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned at the central London church since King William I in 1066. Outside the UK, he is also king of 14 other Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. (Photo by Ben Stansall / POOL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) — The

North Korea missile launch sparks confusion in Japan

13/04/202321/04/2025dansa

Commuters at a Seoul railway station watching a news report on North Korea firing another missile — A missile launch by North Korea sparked confusion in northern Japan, where an evacuation order was abruptly retracted

A missile launch by North Korea sparked confusion in northern Japan, where an evacuation order was issued and then retracted within 30 minutes.

Sirens blared across Hokkaido and residents were told to “evacuate immediately” on Thursday morning.

Authorities later said the missile did not land near the island and withdrew the alert.

Tensions have been growing in the region, as North Korea has already fired 27 missiles this year.

The projectile flew about 1,000 km (620 miles), in what South Korea’s military called a “grave provocation”.

The missile is believed to be of medium or longer-range, but details on which weapon was tested on Thursday morning have not yet been made public.

Meanwhile, Japanese coastguards said the missile had splashed into waters to the east of North Korea. Mr Hamada said he could not confirm whether the missile flew over Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

Schools in Hokkaido delayed their start times and some train services were suspended, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Pyongyang’s repeated missile launches pose a “grave and imminent threat” to Japan’s security.

US National

Texas senators soften proposed prohibition on Chinese land purchases

10/04/2023dansa

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Lawmakers in the Texas Senate have revised a Gov. Greg Abbott-backed bill that would restrict land ownership by entities from China and three other countries, softening the language to still allow dual citizens and legal permanent residents of the United States to buy property in Texas.

Senate Bill 147 initially sought to ban the sale of Texas land to citizens, governments and entities from China, Iran, North Korea or Russia, drawing months of outcry. The bill’s author, Brenham Republican Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, said the legislation is aimed at stemming foreign influence in Texas agriculture and other sectors. It still prohibits the purchase or acquisition of property by a “governmental entity” of the four countries, by a company headquartered in the four countries, and by a company “directly or indirectly controlled” by a government of the four countries.

The original bill was heavily condemned by Asian American groups and lawmakers, who said its broad language would have made it impossible for many immigrants, entrepreneurs and green-card holders to buy homes or other property — while doing little to advance

Surrey, BC to hold public meeting on potential 17.5% property tax hike – BC

20/03/2023dansa

A public meeting is being held on Monday to discuss Surrey’s budget and the potential 17.5 per cent property tax hike.

The proposed tax hike is a culmination of several factors, according to the city, including the possible halt of the city’s police force transition, global inflation, and other civic services.

The potential double-digit increase in property tax has people in the city worried.

What land is for sale in Squamish?

13/03/2023dansa

The available lots range from a roadless escape to a ready-to-build home already drawn up.

Empty plots of land are few and far between in Squamish these days.

Much like the rest of the housing in town, they are also often expensive. Currently, on Real Estate Works (REW), there are 13 lots listed for sale, although several of them have structures built on them which would then require some demolition.

As such, here are five lots with no structures available for purchase.

Squamish rural plots

For about $900,000 you can buy 40 acres located just south of Baynes Island on the west side of the Squamish River. The catch is there are no roads to the land.

“Amazing 40 acres located across the Squamish River,” reads the listing. “Property has been previously logged.”

The listing goes on to say that the plot is RE (resource) zoned, meaning only one principal building would be allowed. Resource zoning from the District of Squamish says things such as agriculture, aquaculture, airport, log transfer, gravel facility, telecommunications tower and horse stable are allowed here.

Other perhaps uncommon uses that are possible for this RE-zoned lot include a child care facility, a kennel or an

Texas angler lands giant bass, but is the photo misleading?

25/01/2023dansa

A Texas angler landed one heck of a largemouth bass this week while fishing at Lake Nacogdoches.

It was so massive that biologics borrowed the bass for use in a selective breeding program to benefit statewide fisheries.

But before anyone gets too excited, the bass caught by Jack York is not as big as it appears to be in an image shared Monday by the Toyota ShareLunker Program – Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Top comment: “Camera man… ‘HOLD IT AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN TO ME! THIS FISH LOOKS AS BIG AS A GROWN MAN! PERFECT!’ ”

Another observation: “I’m gonna need this photographer to take my fish pics! That is a giant but geeze in this pic it looks bigger than Jack. Good job!”

Ribbing aside, the bass weighed 13.51 pounds, certainly worthy of the Legacy Class ShareLunker designation.

ALSO: In California ski town, fast-food restaurant resembles a snow cave

Legacy bass must weigh at least 13 pounds to become part of the breeding program, which takes place January through March each year. The fish are encouraged to spawn at a hatchery and their offspring are stocked around the state.

Tom Nilssen with 13.52-pound largemouth bass. Photo: TPWD

This

New Moffitt Cancer Center campus to bring more than just a hospital in Pasco

21/01/2023dansa

LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — Linda Shotsberger’s fight started off in the new year when she saw something that didn’t look right.

“I had turned yellow that was my only sign. And then they started testing and they found out I had pancreatic cancer,” she said.

Linda said she was lucky the cancer was still in its early stage. After her diagnosis, she’s been getting treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center.

“They gave me great hope. Great hope,” Shotsberger said.

That hope is something Moffitt Cancer Center is bringing to an entirely new community with Speros. That’s the name of Moffitt’s new 775-acre campus coming to Pasco County.

“Speros means hope. And this is going to provide a lot of hope for patients with cancer and many other diseases through the years,” said Moffitt CEO Dr. Patrick Hwu.

Moffitt will build the Speros on land off Ridge Road in Land O’Lakes. It will eventually have 140 buildings that will include housing, hotel space, veterans’ facilities, and academic training space. The first phase will cost $1.6 billion and will be completed over the next five years.

“This area is one of the fastest growing areas in the whole country and it has