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A spiritual group that owns an island simply off Swartz Bay has misplaced its attraction of a choice denying a property-tax exemption on the island’s assessed worth of $7.8 million.
The Matsuri Basis of Canada had sought the exemption from the Property Evaluation Board for 12.5-hectare Knapp Island as a “place of public worship.”
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Within the authentic resolution in March 2023, the board discovered the exemption didn’t apply as a result of the muse had not proven that the general public was invited to or had entry to the island, and that its main use was subsequently not public worship.
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“The board discovered that to the extent Knapp Island was used for worship, that worship was non-public, not public,” the attraction judgement launched this month stated.
The muse had argued the exemption needs to be given “on equity and fairness grounds when in comparison with different related properties in British Columbia,” the judgment stated.
Nevertheless the judgment stated the board had heard from an assessor about 19 different Gulf Island websites that had full or partial tax exemptions however differed due to measurement, inhabitants, and ferry and highway entry.
The muse had a tax exemption for its former location on Salt Spring Island, referred to as the Brightwoods Religious Centre, which was primarily used for religious actions and ceremonies by Salt Spring residents.
The group relocated in 2022 to Knapp Island, which incorporates the Shin Mei Religious Centre led by Rev. Ann Evans, a Shinto priest affiliated with Japan’s Tsubaki Grand Shrine and the muse’s founder.
“Right here, we provide a sacred area the place individuals can discover renewal of spirit and be taught Shinto and Buddhist apply,” the centre’s web site says, noting the centre has areas for prayer, meditation and ceremonies, in addition to a library of studying supplies on spirituality.” There are additionally forested trails for “strolling meditation,” the location says.
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It says the island is open to the general public, and there may be free transportation by water taxi on weekends for a 15-minute journey from Canoe Cove Marina.
The judgment stated the island has a personal residence, two flats for company and a water-treatment facility, and has been a spot of personal worship for not less than 20 years.
A transition to public use is just not obvious to somebody passing by on the water, and there’s a “non-public harbour” signal on the island’s lone entry level, the judgment stated.
It additionally stated that enhancements made to the residence and different buildings shouldn’t be tax exempt.
Nobody from the muse was out there to remark.
Knapp Island is known as for Kempster Malcolm Knapp, who was chief naval teacher on HMS Britannia from 1871-75.
The judgment stated that Evans’ accomplice owned the island starting within the early 2000s, and it was transferred to the muse in September 2021 as a part of property planning.
The muse has 5 trustees, together with Andrew and Ann Evans.
The 2 moved away from the island in 2005 and moved again in early 2021, the judgment stated.
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