Archive: Green living
Change habits to limit tax increases
Over the past decade, Maple Ridge has added more and more homes and welcomed new residents to the community, but taxpayers have been faced with increases in their property taxes almost every year during this period. In conversation and in the media, I continually hear “We must increase our tax base to service our growing community” but I rarely hear, “How can we save money?”. As we have all seen, increasing Maple Ridge’s tax base is a long, arduous, and complex process but it’s important to note that we, as taxpayers, can make money-saving changes to our own behaviours that will benefit the community over the long term.
Recently, I was looking through a flyer from a local building supply company and saw a reference to a municipal toilet rebate program that offers participants $100 when they remove their old fixtures and convert to low flow, six litre flush toilets and low flow shower heads in their homes (applicable only to homes built prior to 2005). There are twelve districts and cities in British Columbia that have made this program available to local residents and it’s been shown to reduce not only water usage, but also the amount of effluent that is flushed down the sewer system. If you look at your 2009 property taxes, you’ll see that owners of single detached residential homes paid $348 for their water levy and $226 for sewer rates. Conversion to fixtures that use less water and produce less waste helps increase the efficiency of our homes by reducing the burden that we put on infrastructure services provided by the District of Maple Ridge.
While I agree that exploring options that would increase our municipal tax base is important, higher tax revenue is not the only way to keep a lid on property taxes in Maple Ridge. Participating in this rebate program and others like it is one of the many ways that residents can reduce personal waste and limit consumption — this type of activity helps reduce the total cost of the services to the community and, in the long term, will contribute to a more reasonable and logical history of tax increases.
I hope this letter flushes out some new thoughts and encourages people to look at other ways that limit consumption and our use of municipal services.
Ken Hemminger
Maple Ridge
Planting time is now and easy care perennial plants should be on your list. Hostas, astilbe and ferns are smart choices!
The plant sale will be May 30, 2009 from 8-4:00 PM. Prices start at $5 for mature 1 gallon plants.
Location: 12355 Skillen St., Maple Ridge.
Hosta Gold Standard
Hosta La Vista
As a Realtor in Maple Ridge for the last 36 years, I would like to thank the District of Maple Ridge for their forward vision in the protection of the natural resources of the community. The establishment of the Environmentally Sensitive Area [ESA] mapping is in line with similar steps taken by other BC communities and the Provincial Government. Most importantly, the ESA Mapping shows support for several principles of the Official Community Plan.
The Environmentally Sensitive Area Mapping and it’s acceptance as baseline information is consistent with Principles 23, 24 and 27 of the Official Community Plan [note Chapter 5] and provides the basis upon which the District of Maple Ridge can move forward and develope the Environmental Management Strategy [EMS]
Principle 23: The community values the protection of environmentally sensitive areas including water ( for its intrinsic value, habitat and aquifer recharge), areas of natural beauty, forests etc.
Principle 24: The community recognizes the environmental contribution made by lands within the ALR and
Principle 27: Overall environmental protection demands a comprehensive, smart growth” approach.
Also in Chapter 5.2 Environmental Management Model.
This section suggests that for proper environmental management it is necessary to firstly identify and then document the boundaries of ecosystems, the watersheds and the environmentally sensitive areas. To Quote the definition of an environmentally sensitive area [from page 3 Chapter 5 of the OCP] Environmentally Sensitive areas are areas where the landscape, wildlife , ecological function or historic value is of importance or is endangered.
Many Districts and cities in BC have actively developed Environmentally Sensitive Area Mapping such as:
* The City of Vernon [Feb 2007]
* District of Highlands [North of Victoria] 2005
* Kamloops [2005]
* District of Saanich
* Township of Langley [1993]
As for the Wet Land Protection in the ESA’s, these should be considered as one of the DMR’s natural capital assets, they absorb storm water, clean it and then allow a natural recharge of the ground water to the surrounding area… at no cost to the tax payer and with little or no maintenance.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/climate/pdfs/climateaction_plan.pdf
Other Initiatives, that suggest the District is on the right track are:
1) The BC Provincial Action Plan in which a net zero deforestation policy and Trees for Tomorrow [a BC provincial program that will see millions of trees planted in backyards, schoolyards, hospital grounds, civic parks, campuses, parking lots and other public spaces around B.C. to foster the many
benefits] to maintain the Urban Forests and realize the full value of the carbon storage potential [Carbon Sequestration]
2) British Columbia established a biodiversity strategy forum in 2004.
Biodiversity BC, a partnership of government agencies and conservation organizations has
just published, “Taking Nature’s Pulse: the status of biodiversity in BC”. The status report will
be followed by public consultation and a five-year action plan.
http://www.biodiversitybc.org/EN/main/21.html
3) UNESCO with its Man and the Biosphere program has developed a global system of 482 biosphere reserves in 102 countries [two are in British Columbia]
The establishment of contemporary baselines for ESA’s is important in that as continued degradation of these natural and unique areas occurs we will soon accept the degraded ESA’s of today and tomorrow as the new baseline [this is called shifting baselines].
The more we know about properties in development areas, the easier it will be to establish the most efficient, responsible and economic benefits for all citizens of Maple Ridge.
Ken Hemminger
What is the value of the Albion Flats and the agricultural land?
Is this where the “BIG BOX” stores should be?
What is the bigger picture? Environmentally and economically.
I hope to explore these questions and find the pros and cons of land use in the Albion Flats
Photo taken Nov 10 2008.
During the last Municipal election, there was a great deal of conversation about a brandable identity which would create opportunties to develope an integrated strategy to attract and enhance business and new residents. Why not “Maple Ridge - the Emerald City” Green and Growing Greener Everyday!
Hosta Royal Standard - Photo by Ken Hemminger
The month of May is a month of energy unfolding, with new growth…new garden plans and new plants.
The Hosta family is a diverse plant group of herbaceous perennials and for those gardeners in the Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows area who would like to include hostas in this year’s garden, come to to the Garden/Perennial Plant Sale at 12355 Skillen St., Maple Ridge on June 21st & June 28th, 2008 [8am to 1:00PM]
Hosta Wide Brim - Photo by Ken Hemminger
Another tree planting event…
….this time in Maple Ridge Park a total of 42 evergreen trees including Western Red Cedar and Douglas Fir. The trees were planted along the banks of the South Alouette River and was part of the many events of the Silver Valley Spring Festival 2008.
Between 500-600 people attended this event which included a fish release coordinated by the Alouette River Management Society [ARMS] along with a Katzie blessing by Willie Pirie.
The spring floral arrangement contest was enjoyed by all.
The 2009 Festival is now being planned
We thank the many volunteers and the support from the District of Maple Ridge
In 2007, the Mayor and Councillors of Maple Ridge created the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC). According to text on the website of the District of Maple Ridge (DMR), the purpose of the AAC was to review and develop an Agricultural Plan that would help conserve the area’s agricultural land base and promote local agricultural opportunities. Such a plan would recognize the cultural significance of agriculture and identify the industry as a viable contributing factor to the local economy.
Despite the sensibility of this methodical approach to developing recommendations for land use and the fact that the AAC’s work has not been completed or released, recent comments by some of our councillors suggest that these individuals have already made a decision about the viability of our agriculturally zoned land. In short, certain councillors feel sections of ALR-designated land should be stripped of its status and turned over to developers.
Instead of doing this, however, Maple Ridge has a great opportunity to show leadership, follow due political process and do its own due diligence, and stress the importance of our community’s agricultural land base. Currently, the District owns some agricultural land that is not being used for agricultural purposes, and it would be great to see an endorsement from Council that shows its dedication both to the Agricultural Advisory Committee and its work.
It’s time for our entire Council to “get serious” about the importance of the agricultural land base and to show our active agricultural community how significant its contributions are to the people of Maple Ridge, who will undoubtedly appreciate this approach when they recognize the value of this land fifty years from now, when it’s still being used for agricultural activities.
February 7th, 2008
On Thursday, the local “Maple Meadows Mommy Meetup” group participated in the first “Little Kid’s Tree Planting Day”. One tree hugger enthusiast, seven moms and fourteen children between the ages of 2 and 8 gathered for this fun and awareness-raising event. In total, 32 trees were planted at Crosses Cabin Park in the Alouette River watershed. The children (and adults for that matter) had a blast throwing snowballs, digging in the dirt, enjoying some fresh air, all the while learning a bit about nature and the importance of trees and actually doing something to help improve our environment.
This seven lot subdivision proposal at 28491 Dewdney Trunk [RZ/083/06] is part of the watershed of Whonnock Creek and the District of Maple Ridge have taken steps to protect Whonnock Creek and by connection Whonnock Lake. These steps include expropriation procedures of lands and the construction of a dyking system so that water levels of Whonnock Lake are maintained.
I do understand that the application reflects some of the OCP guidelines and has included some positive steps for “Rain Water Management”.
What we know!
The seven proposed lots would need the following:
- Seven Wells. Each well should produce at least 600 gals per day
- Seven Impervious surfaces. The housing foot print of the proposed homes will be 2500-3500 sq ft for a total of approx 15000 - 22000 sq ft of impervious surface.
And then we have an impervious street surface of approx 9000 sq. ft. Total impervious surface approx 31000 Sq ft which is approx 3/4 of an acre. What steps have been taken to reduce this impervious area? These days you can use pervious ashphalt, brick walkways and patios and rain garden surfaces for rain run-off.
What we don’t know
- What is the dollar amount of the security as part of the Watercourse Protection Development Permit [required to ensure that the Development Permit Guidelines are met]. For large-scale applications the environmental security deposit is 2.5 % of the total construction costs, while smaller projects the deposit is $1500 … so how much money?
- Is there a Tree Inventory prepared by a certified arborist:
- so the District can clearly determine areas that the developer has suggested as being “limits of clearing?” and
- so that the vegetative / tree health in the proposed conservation zone be determined and ensure that this area is not a future liability to the District. We need to insist that these conservation areas are healthy!
- The Historic Base Line flow levels for this part of Whonnock Creek to ensure that downstream water flows reflect pre-development flows. Note Sec 8.9 of the Official Community Plan states that pre-development flow regimes are to be maintained. Accurate data for the base flows [low flows] as well as reducing high flows is required so that there isn’t any disruption to the integrity of the watercourse and the living and movement of aquatic life. Note the photo of beaver lodge and dam below!
- The soil stratigraphy and the ability of the soil to retain water or not. This soil report is required in other districts, particularly when a watercourse is involved. [Coquitlam]
- What are the proposals for the re-vegetation of the drain-off areas for each building site and for each of the impervious driveway areas.
What we do know:
In the Executive Summary of this application the Engineering Department stated that, The lands to the east were recently subdivided and built on. These lands were subdivided over 15 years ago and since that time a higher level of awareness of sustainability is now reflected in the Official Community Plan.
The District had to extend the water system eastward to the Garibaldi St and McNutt subdivision due to a failure in a private water system [yes each home owner had a property assessment to cover these costs] However, at this site there is the BCIT woodlot between it and Garibaldi St [the distance is approx 2 kms.] so if a well water failure occurs in the future will this subdivision be a capital project paid for by the general public?
A significant number of residential homes located on these rural locations have suites [Whispering Falls, Rock Ridge] - due to the basic economics of affordability!
- Suites whether registered or not will increase demand on well water and septic systems so a Ground Water Impact Assessment Report should be required as all homes south of this lot are also on a well systems.
There is no provision for the densification of the tree and vegetation cover even though there is a housing densification.
The District should have a “Wildlife Habitat Assessment Report” as there is evidence of beaver activity in the South Eastern area of this property.
Beaver lodge in top center of photo taken 13 February 2008. Photo credit: © 2008 Ken Hemminger
If the District of Maple Ridge wants to protect Whonnock Creek and by extension Whonnock Lake we need to have more information for an educated decision on this subdivision application.
The use of evergreen trees for street plantings would be an opportunity to replicate the past evergreen-forested slopes of Silver Valley – Maple Ridge.
Why are evergreen trees important?
Acting as an enormous “carbon sink”, trees soak up carbon dioxide from the air, producing life-giving oxygen in return. In fact, a medium-sized tree generates the same amount of oxygen, as each one of us needs to breathe.
In a tree, ‘breathing’ takes place inn the leaf. Chlorophyll (the substance causing the green colour) absorbs the CO2 and uses it along with water to dissolve minerals taken up through the roots. After the chemical reaction is completed, the leaf releases oxygen and water vapor through its pores.
Because evergreen trees are not dormant during the winter months, they release oxygen 12 months of the year, so it would be wise to chose evergreen trees for street side plantings.
Suggestions for evergreen street trees
Serbian Spruce
Skyrocket Juniper
Iseli Fastigiata
Alternatives include: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’, ‘Green Arrow’, Weeping Alaskan Cedar, Picea omorika.
Alternatives include: Picea glauca ‘Pendula’, Weeping White Spruce (leader does not always stay straight), Cedrus deodara ‘Kashmir’ (broader than the selections above at maturity), Blue Haven Juniper
Leyland Cyprus: As recommended in the District of Mission – Tree Retention Bylaw.
There seems to be some choices!
A combination of deciduous and coniferous may also work in all development areas.
I think that the District of Maple Ridge should consider some of the evergreen trees as alternatives in our community.
