HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Features Development Permit Area Guidelines
Pursuant with Section 8.10 of the Official Community Plan, the Natural Features Development Permit
is assessed against the following guidelines. This checklist is intended to summarize the
requirements of Natural Features Development Permit and is to be completed by the Qualified
Environmental Professional for the development.
DP/____/__
Project Description:
(short description of the type and location of development, site conditions, setback requirements,
environmental issues, etc)
Section 8.10 Guidelines Consistent
Yes No N/A
Comments
A. Soils and Topographic Constraints & Erosion
Control
1. Lot grading should be kept to a minimum to ensure
maintenance of a maximum of the existing
vegetation.
2. To prevent erosion, landscape disturbance should
be minimized by retaining trees and natural
vegetation as much as possible and requiring
replanting or enhanced planting as soon as
possible; providing a minimum of cuts and fills and
limiting their depths, and minimizing terracing and
earth grading; blending graded areas with natural
slope; minimizing amount of exposed raw earth by
phasing of development and on-site controls.
3. Siting adjacent to treed slopes and ravines should
respect natural vegetation and may require
additional setbacks beyond the Zoning Bylaw.
4. The District may require engineering reports, and
monitoring in support of development applications
in environmentally sensitive areas. Supporting
documentation, technical studies, and
recommendations with respect to impacts of the
proposed development may include the following:
a. Technical justification for the possible
modification of lines defining areas of
environmental sensitivity undertaken by
qualified environmental professional;
b. Analysis of soils and their capacity to
accommodate development and appropriate
soils handling procedures that may be
necessary or proposed undertaken by qualified
professional engineer or geoscientist;
c. Slope analysis including recommendations for
appropriate building setbacks or stabilization
approaches undertaken by qualified
professional engineer or geoscientist;
d. Information on proposed site drainage
methods;
e. Flood protection and the identification of the
200 year floodplain boundary where
applicable; and
Natural Features Development Permit
Area Guidelines
May 2008 - 2 -
f. Subsurface hydrological assessments to
ensure appropriate and safe siting respecting
natural site characteristics undertaken by a
qualified environmental engineer or
geoscientist.
B. Vegetation Management
1. The District may require environmental impact
studies, enhancement works, engineering reports,
and monitoring in support of development
applications in environmentally sensitive areas.
Supporting documentation, technical studies, and
recommendations with respect to impacts of the
proposed development should include the
following:
a. Ways and means to mitigate potential fisheries
impacts and enhance fish habitat undertaken
by qualified environmental professional (e.g.
encourage construction between June and
September to avoid spawning and smolt
release; where instream modifications are
proposed, apply no-net-loss philosophy);
b. Identification of vegetation communities based
on studies undertaken at appropriate time of
year, with comments on size, quantity and
location of identified significant species as well
as rarity and frequency of occurrence
undertaken by qualified environmental
professional;
c. Identification of wildlife species sightings and
significance of such occurrence undertaken by
qualified environmental professional;
2. Natural vegetation will be required to be retained
where possible to ensure minimal disruption to the
environment. Existing vegetation should be
enhanced with new planting wherever construction
activity has destroyed vegetation.
C. Stormwater Management:
1. Integrated storm and rain water management
plans should:
a. Strive to reduce the amount of impervious
surface with new development;
b. Promote the use of Best Management
Practices including permeable surface
materials (e.g. gravel, paving stones);
c. Maximize infiltration from frequently occurring
rain events;
d. Maintain or improve water quality from the
development site;
e. Maintain the site's discharge hydrography from
peak flow events (i.e. 6 month, 2 year, 5 year);
and
f. Locate stormwater facilities so as to minimize
impacts to habitat areas.
May 2008 - 3 -
__________________________________ ________________________
Completed by: Qualified Environmental Date:
Professional
_________________________________________ _____________________________
Reviewed by: Rod Stott Date:
Environmental Planner
D. Monitoring:
1. The implementation of required environmental
mitigation measures as designed and their
maintenance is to be monitored by a qualified
environmental monitor.
E. Roads and Infrastructure
1. Home design should accommodate natural grades
to ensure that lot grading should be kept to a
minimum to retain a maximum of existing
vegetation for stormwater purposes.
2. Road grades should follow existing grades as
closely as possible to ensure minimal disruption of
slopes and vegetation.
3. Existing vegetation should be enhanced with new
planting wherever construction activity has
destroyed vegetation.
4. Public and private roads should be developed to an
urban standard.
5. Sewage disposal utilities should be sited to ensure
no threat to the groundwater and adjacent
watercourses. Ministry of Health and Ministry of
Environment may need to be consulted.
6. On-street parking may need to be eliminated where
existing topography renders development adjacent
to the street impractical or where the street serves
wholly as an access road. Restrictive covenants to
Ministry of Environment standards may be
required.