Work on the removal and remediation of a section of Hemlock Street to comply with an order from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) has been completed by City of Powell River.
The ALC ordered the city to remove the road, commonly known as the Hemlock loop, and return the property to similar or better agricultural capability. The city must still complete an application to remove the statutory right-of-way from the Land Title and Survey Authority of BC.
The construction work to comply with the ALC order was finished on Tuesday, July 30, well before the August 31 deadline imposed by the commission.
The asphalt, concrete curbing, fill for road structure, lighting and wiring in the area of the loop was removed. Hemlock Street is now split between an upper and lower section. A 5.5-metre-wide access for emergency and public works vehicles will be constructed between the two dead-end sections on an existing utility right of way. Hemlock is no longer a through road. It formerly connected Brooks Secondary School to Timberlane Park.
All the work was overseen by the city’s consultant, Madrone Environmental Services. Thomas Elliot, a qualified environmental professional with Madrone, will provide a report to the ALC by September 30, 2019, to show the work has been done in accordance with the order.
Shaun Gloslee Excavating of Powell River was contracted by the city to do the removal.
The removal of the road began on Monday, July 22, and finished one week ahead of schedule.
What remains is some levelling, cleanup, permanent signage and compacting a pathway. Seeding of the area will begin in the fall.
Cost of the remediation has not been announced by the city.
