Mayor Terry Rysz and councillors are looking for a clearer picture on waterfront development.
Rysz says district staff has been asked to look at improving bylaws to give more clarity when it comes to development on the waterfront. He notes fluctuations in the annual high water makes it difficult to determine where setbacks are.
“We want staff to pursue bylaws and make amendments to current bylaws so we can get clarity and certainty so we’re not dealing on individual developments,” said Rysz.
The provincial Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) that came into effect in 2006 requires that a minimum of all areas within 30 metres of the high water mark of lakes or watercourses be assessed for environmental values by a qualified environmental professional.
It is this recognized professional that determines a stream-side protection and enhancement area.
A staff report to council notes that there are challenges in implementing RAR from the district’s official community plan policies, as activities that are deemed development according to RAR differ from the activities the district considers to be development.
“The issuance of a development permit through council may be considered cumbersome for smaller-scale development,” notes the report. “Secondly, the RAR process is inherently site-specific, whereas the district’s interest is to review development along the watercourses for the cumulative effect along the shorelines.”
The report also notes there are components of the riparian area policy that conflict with current district regulations.
Also pointed out in the report, is the fact the district is not fulfilling its obligation and does not have a legal recourse to deal with violations for unsanctioned development within the 30-metre riparian assessment area.
Rysz says councillors debated the issue fully at a planning meeting and believe they have chosen the best option to pursue.
But, he says, directors will only move forward when staff brings the matter back to council with bylaws that have been tweaked and fine-tuned with all the different dynamics.
And, if they are not satisfied with the outcome, councillors can look at other options.