City of Powell River Council has approved a development permit to facilitate construction of the consolidated wastewater treatment plant project in Townsite.
At the January 21 city council meeting, council voted to grant the permit subject to receipt of the associated security deposit for required landscaping to the satisfaction of the director of planning services.
Councillor Jim Palm said city staff members have done an outstanding job in preparation of the development permit for Powell River’s largest infrastructure project. Palm also said he encourages the public to view the city’s website, which has a lot of information on the treatment plant.
“It’s all good reading and you’ll see many of the aspects of that area that are going to be impacted are in this report,” said Palm. “There are details on realigning trails, protecting trees and landscaping. It’s all included.”
Councillor Rob Southcott said he saw the submission for the permit as a case of dotting the Is and crossing the Ts in a very fine way, in terms of looking after the community.
“The plan is monumental in that regard,” said Southcott. “The city is developing that and development permits are designed to regulate a development. It impresses me that this is an example of building in a really above and beyond sort of way.
“It is such an example of diligence and doing things absolutely right.”’
According to a staff report, the city is consolidating its three existing wastewater treatment facilities, including the Wildwood lagoon, Townsite and Westview wastewater treatment plants, into a new greenfield treatment facility on the subject property adjacent to the existing facility in Townsite. The report states the parcel on which the new facility will be housed was created by a subdivision in 2017 from its parent parcel commonly referred to as the old golf course lands.
“These lands have acted as a de facto greenspace for decades, complete with a comprehensive trail network, heritage trees, watercourses and vast open space,” the report states. “Use of these lands while under private ownership would have been considered trespass, however, now that these lands are publicly owned, consideration should be given to balancing residents’ expectations of continued use with the broader needs of the city.
“While the subject lands make up only a part of this larger de facto greenspace area, development of the wastewater treatment plant will impact some of these natural elements cherished by residents. As such, the city should, wherever possible, strive to minimize these impacts.”
The report stated the key to this will be ensuring trail connectivity is maintained, avoiding encroachment into sensitive areas around watercourses identified as providing for fish habitat, and preserving mature vegetation where possible.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the development permit.
