City of Powell River councillors will consider issuance of a development permit for construction of the new consolidated wastewater treatment plant.
At the December 15 committee of the whole meeting, manager of planning services Jason Gow outlined requirements for development permit that will provide for construction of the plant.
In a report to council, Gow stated that the parcel on which the new facility will be housed was created by way of subdivision in 2017 from its parent parcel, commonly referred to as the old golf course lands. He stated these lands have acted as a de facto greenspace for decades, complete with a comprehensive trail network, heritage trees, watercourses and vast open space. Use of these lands while under private ownership would have been considered trespass, however, now that they are publicly owned, consideration should be given to balancing residents’ expectations of continued use with broader needs of the city, according to Gow.
“While the subject lands make up only a part of this larger greenspace area, the development of the wastewater treatment plant will impact some of these natural elements cherished by residents,” stated Gow. “As such, the city should, wherever possible, strive to minimize these impacts. 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.”
Gow, in his presentation to the committee, said guidelines call for provision of pedestrian pathways that safely connect people from building entrances to parking areas and public sidewalks. He said in the absence or access to these features, staff interpret this guideline to mean safe connections across the site are required. Gow said some trails will be decommissioned during construction of the plant. He said to maintain connectivity of affected trails, the city is proposing a two-metre-wide crushed limestone trail along the waterfront façade of the facility after it is constructed. During construction, trail users will be directed to the haul road.
Another factor is preservation of mature vegetation. He said guidelines call for preservation of healthy, mature trees and vegetation where possible.
Gow said there is a proposed landscape plan in place. He said the plans include planting more than 100 trees, dominantly coniferous but with a smattering of deciduous trees, to be located at the rear of the facility. He said these trees will add to the existing vegetative buffer that will help screen the facility from residences along Laburnum and Larch avenues.
Councillor George Doubt said the landscape plan presented by Gow looks good. He said there is one tree in the middle of the roadway in the area and he wondered if it was of significance.
Director of infrastructure Tor Birtig said the site has been cleared and the tree in question was taken down. He said it was a fir tree.
Birtig added that two groves of trees near the centre of the plant site will be preserved, including a rare butternut walnut tree.
Committee chair councillor Cindy Elliott asked what the impact was on mature trees that have been cleared in the area. Birtig said the majority of trees removed were alder, with the odd maple tree, and one fir tree.
Doubt said he had been to the site and most of the trees removed were not specially planted at the site but had grown because they hadn’t been weeded. He said he believes an effort has been made to protect trees of significance.
“It looks like a good plan,” said Doubt. “It looks like it will be attractive. I encourage people to go down and look at what is happening.”
Councillor Jim Palm said it really hits home that the development is underway.
“This is very significant for Powell River,” said Palm.
Council referred the development permit to its January 21, 2021 meeting.
