Archive: News
Comment on sustainability and the District of Maple Ridge by Peter Tam
“I think most people in the District of Maple Ridge understand the meaning of sustainability. But envisioning it and laying out the steps to achieve that vision has a few holes and missing pieces that needs some innovative patch work”.
Social Sustainability
Everything has a budget increase of about 10% to 15% in 2007 except for Recreation and Culture and Sewer, with protective service in the lead. Its time we think about preventive instead reactive. Through youth development and support group subsidies, neighborhood watch, volunteering, and with public education on social awareness promotions. Some of these fall under BC government services or school boards but we don’t have the luxury of time to do finger pointing; these social aspects have tremendous impact on our ability to grow economically.
Economic Sustainability
Everyone is saying we need more commercial base taxes. However, no one seems to be able to answer the question of how to achieve that. We need a firm commitment to potential investors from the top down, We need to establish the focus whether it is Tourism, Hi Tech., light industrial, etc. These Focuses should be driven by the strength of our community. And we need to identify this strength. Before we let the world know we are ready for business, we need solid strategies, identifying each step that is needed to take us there. And finally, we need to evaluate the way we are currently handling business licensing and bylaws. Yes, we need strict enforcement to keep out degenerates who wants to create more work for the police but we need to work with legitimate sustainable businesses.
Environmental Sustainabilty
I think we are going with the right ideas and in the right direction on environmental sustainability, but its enforcement we needed to beef up. And patch up some of the damages done in the past few years. For Example; the priority should be on the Allouette flooding,
Peter Tam for Council
A Clear Vision for the Future.
www.petertam.ca
November will be a busy month for The District of Maple Ridge and we will be finished with the Canadian Federal Election.
Our local political race and outcome will probably have a higher impact on our daily lives than what happens in Ottawa…. so I welcome all candicates to make material contribtions to this website. This may help council hopefuls and incumbents to reach the public without the clutter of lawn signs and promotional brochures [I like the idea of saving paper and trees] - it is all about sustainability.
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
The importance of the next Major and Council for Maple Ridge cannot be understated as our community grows, in numbers and in needs and expectations. Much talk, and a lot of postioning is already underway in Maple Ridge, with different potential candidates jockeying for the major’s spot and those of the vacating councillors. (Al Hogarth and Ken Stewart have stated they will not run for another term).
So, what would I do if I wanted to win a prized position in the Maple Ridge Municipal Government and what would my platform be?
Sustainability
As sustainabilty is a big catch word these days, I would take a close look at the current balance between the economic, social, and environmental interests of our community; I’d consider smart, long-term alternatives that strike a sensible balance between the three things mentioned above.
As a tax payer in Maple Ridge over the last 42 years, it’s pretty obvious that a sustainable balance has never been attained by any previous council. Voters should be asking themselves why this balance has never been achieved, and what this failure costs the community down the road.
Openness of Government and keeping citizens better informed of city operations, which includes development by private companies
Many voters currently feel that the District office are employees of the “developers”, and this public feeling has reduced the trust of the citizens. If openness can be established, and everybody can see what’s going on behind the scenes, then one would like to think that many of the ‘problem spots’ would be eliminated. Consequently, the District would follow the guidelines established in the Official Community Plan, a document that outlines sustainable and long term development.
As we move forward to the big day I will be adding my 2 cents worth and remember your property taxes are due July 2, 2008.
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
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.
Morse Creek is one of the few remaining “Uptown” Creeks in Maple Ridge and forms a major component of the north slope watershed as it flows towards the south Alouette River.
Morse Creek on 11 July 2006, 10 days after the infraction at the source of the dispute. Photo: © Ken Hemminger
I applaud the District of Maple Ridge and particularly the Staff, in their successful position they took to protect a watershed in the Smart Growth Area of Maple Ridge.
If someone wanted to know how much soil was moved by the owner of this property on July 1 2006, you just have to look at the trees!
A positive step to environmental sustainabilty, an example to all.
In case you’re living outside of southwestern British Columbia, you should know that it has rained pretty much every day for the past month. In addition to contributing to a growing number of SAD cases in Maple Ridge, the inclement weather has made for some trying times for local builders and developers. Given that it’s extremely difficult to control storm water on land without a lot of water retention properties, builders who work in conditions like these can cause significant damage to the environment. Mixed with the runoff from the heavy rains, topsoil, fill, and sand contributes to increased siltation levels, something that has an adverse effect on fish populations and the water quality in local creeks and rivers.
Last week, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans stepped in and told a number of local developers and construction companies to come up with sound storm water management solutions within seven days. According to the Maple Ridge News,
The guidelines the department [the DFO] follows when an area is under construction requires that total suspended solids be no more than 25 milligrams per litre of water above the levels that preceded construction.
Maple Ridge, however, allows levels to be 75 milligrams per litre on rainy days, something [DFO biologist Bruce] Clark challenges.
“If 25 [mg of solids per litre] is a problem for fish, why would 75 mg be acceptable?”
Is this recent flurry of DFO activity a sign of things to come? Or will things go back to the way they were when the rains subside? Only time will tell, but this latest news is certainly a signal that it’s time for the District of Maple Ridge to get serious about controlling water runoff and siltation levels in new developments and subdivisions.
The District of Maple Ridge has hired Rod Stott as the community’s environmental planner. According to a press release issued by the District (.pdf), the new planner is responsible for ‘issues related to environmental management and protection’. As part of his job, Stott is expected to review development proposals and consultant studies, recommend bylaw amendments, and act as a liason between the District and environmental groups.
About Rod Stott
Educated at Queen’s University and numerous other colleges, Stott has worked for the District of Maple Ridge in the past. His GPS work was a key component of the Stream Mapping and Inventory Project — a project that netted the community a Environmental Sustainability Award from the Canadian Administrative Management Association. The project allowed for the mapping of over 450 kilometers of streams, information that is now accessible on CD-ROM.
