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Increase in landslides prompts hazard review

Powell River Regional District plans expansion for development permit area

A plan to expand geotechnical hazard areas south of town due to danger of landslides has residents of the electoral areas concerned.

About 20 residents from Electoral Area B gathered at a public consultation meeting on Monday, January 25, at Powell River Recreation Complex. Powell River Regional District (PRRD) staff organized two meetings, one for Area B and another the following night, at Kelly Creek Community School, for Area C.

PRRD released its most recent landslide and flood hazards study for Electoral Area B and Electoral Area C in September 2015. That report came after an increased number of landslides north and south of town during December 2014’s heavy rain, a deluge that soaked the coast with more than 200 millimetres in a few short days.

Laura Roddan, PRRD manager of planning, told those at the meeting hazard areas south of town had previously been identified in a 2003 study.

“But for the south of town landslides, those happened outside of the development permit areas that had been identified,” said Roddan.

Regional district staff were most concerned about areas that were developed or anticipated to be developed, said Roddan.

Roddan told the meeting the regional district wanted to share the report’s findings and outline what changes could be made to the electoral areas’ official community plans.

“The official community plans have development permit areas, but now they are not complete,” she said.

Under the Local Government Act, the regional district has a responsibility to share any information it has about geotechnical hazards with the public. One way to do so is to include development permit areas (DPA) in official community plans (OCP). These DPAs require property owners to consult with and apply to PRRD if they want to build new structures on their property.

DPAs are designed to protect fish habitat in areas adjacent to streams, lakes and ponds. In areas with landslide risk, they aim to protect property. Before any new construction can happen on hazard area land, regional district planners are required to sign off on it.

Roddan said because the regional district had new information about hazard areas, it was necessary to update the DPAs within the OCPs. Electoral areas B and C have had OCPs since 2013, but the geotechnical hazards study used for their creation had been conducted in 2003.

“They’re not current,” she said. “We have new information that’s saying there are far more areas that are now vulnerable or have the potential for hazard. That’s important information for land use and planning.”

Best practice is to revisit community plans every five to 10 years, she said.

A resident at the meeting asked Roddan what had changed and why the areas identified are much larger in this new study. Roddan told him provincial guidelines have seen development since the last study was conducted. She added there is a growing awareness of the effect climate change in BC is having on the coastline and lower lying areas.

The legal process to update the community plans will include public hearings for more residents to voice their concerns.

The 2015 report expands the landslide hazard areas from one small section of coastline to now include the entire seashore from the City of Powell River boundary to Saltery Bay.

Flood hazards areas, created through historical data and computer modelling, have been increased to encompass the lower lying areas in Myrtle and Deighton creeks inside Electoral Area B and several other streams in Electoral Area C.

A Stager Road resident brought up the issue of property insurance and how these new expanded areas would effect her ability to purchase coverage. Electoral Area B alternate director Allan Rebane said he would look for answers to her question. After meeting with her it was determined her policy would not cover landslides or floods, so the expanded DPAs would not have any impact.

Several residents commented on the issue of stormwater drainage in the area. Forest harvest in the city’s airport reserve lands and unmaintained culverts were blamed for contributing to the increase in slides.

Rebane reported at the regional board meeting on Thursday, January 28, that progress has been made with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, which is responsible for all drainage ditching in the regional district.

Electoral Area C director Colin Palmer said before any legislative work is done to amend the OCP bylaw, it’s important to bring all the stakeholders together to discuss taking measures to improve water runoff.