Proposed Changes to Colwood's Environmental Guidelines
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What is the City Doing?
The City of Colwood is proposing to update its environmental development permit area policies and guidelines within its Official Community Plan. Specifically, the City is proposing updates to the following sections within the plan:
Section 18 DP Area Guidelines starting on page 118
Section 19 Environmental DP Areas starting on page 130
Section 20 Riparian and Marine Shorelines DPA starting on page 138
The purpose of this update is to:
Ensure compliance with provincial Riparian Area Protection Regulation and recent case law;
Simplify language to improve document readability;
Provide clearer procedural guidance to support staff’s review of development permit applications in riparian areas; and,
Provide new policies to help protect wetlands, non-fish bearing streams and stream beds that are not currently protected by the provincial Riparian Area Protection Regulation.
Where is the City at in the Process?
The following table summarizes the project history and the key events/decisions that led to the City’s consideration of Bylaw No. 1700-10.
Date
Event
Summer 2023
The City engaged a Qualified Environmental Professional to review and recommend updates to the City’s environmental policies and guidelines.
Fall 2023
Based on this review, staff prepared a report, recommendation and amending bylaws to update the environmental policies and guidelines.
The report, recommendation and draft amending bylaw were introduced to the Planning and Land Use Committee. The Committee forwarded the Staff Recommendation to Council.
A public hearing was held for the amending bylaw. In total, seven (7) written submissions were received, and seven (7) members of the public spoke live at the hearing.
Council directed staff to conduct additional consultation with the general public , the City’s Environment Committee and the development community (including Qualified Professionals) on the proposed amendments over a two-month period prior to scheduling 3rd reading of the amending bylaw.
Staff presented to the City’s Environment Committee to keep them informed about the proposed consultation process for Bylaw 1700-10. The Committee recommended that the City also invite Deborah Curran, Director and Professor of Environmental Studies and Law at the University of Victoria, to provide input on the amending bylaw.
Council considered and moved the Environment Committee’s recommendation.
March – May, 2024
We Are Here
A survey was administered to Ms. Curran, a list of Qualified Environmental Professionals, and members within the development community. The survey remained open for a period of two months with a closing date of May 31st, 2024. The City received a total of 7 responses.
What Happens Next?
Based on the feedback provided in the survey responses, staff will work with Qualified Environmental Professionals over the summer 2024 to further refine the proposed changes to the environmental policies and guidelines to address the concerns expressed at the public hearing and in the survey responses.
Following this, staff will return to the City’s Planning and Land Use Committee, Environment Committee, and Council for consideration of next steps and a revised amending bylaw.
The City of Colwood is proposing to update its environmental development permit area policies and guidelines within its Official Community Plan. Specifically, the City is proposing updates to the following sections within the plan:
Section 18 DP Area Guidelines starting on page 118
Section 19 Environmental DP Areas starting on page 130
Section 20 Riparian and Marine Shorelines DPA starting on page 138
The purpose of this update is to:
Ensure compliance with provincial Riparian Area Protection Regulation and recent case law;
Simplify language to improve document readability;
Provide clearer procedural guidance to support staff’s review of development permit applications in riparian areas; and,
Provide new policies to help protect wetlands, non-fish bearing streams and stream beds that are not currently protected by the provincial Riparian Area Protection Regulation.
Where is the City at in the Process?
The following table summarizes the project history and the key events/decisions that led to the City’s consideration of Bylaw No. 1700-10.
Date
Event
Summer 2023
The City engaged a Qualified Environmental Professional to review and recommend updates to the City’s environmental policies and guidelines.
Fall 2023
Based on this review, staff prepared a report, recommendation and amending bylaws to update the environmental policies and guidelines.
The report, recommendation and draft amending bylaw were introduced to the Planning and Land Use Committee. The Committee forwarded the Staff Recommendation to Council.
A public hearing was held for the amending bylaw. In total, seven (7) written submissions were received, and seven (7) members of the public spoke live at the hearing.
Council directed staff to conduct additional consultation with the general public , the City’s Environment Committee and the development community (including Qualified Professionals) on the proposed amendments over a two-month period prior to scheduling 3rd reading of the amending bylaw.
Staff presented to the City’s Environment Committee to keep them informed about the proposed consultation process for Bylaw 1700-10. The Committee recommended that the City also invite Deborah Curran, Director and Professor of Environmental Studies and Law at the University of Victoria, to provide input on the amending bylaw.
Council considered and moved the Environment Committee’s recommendation.
March – May, 2024
We Are Here
A survey was administered to Ms. Curran, a list of Qualified Environmental Professionals, and members within the development community. The survey remained open for a period of two months with a closing date of May 31st, 2024. The City received a total of 7 responses.
What Happens Next?
Based on the feedback provided in the survey responses, staff will work with Qualified Environmental Professionals over the summer 2024 to further refine the proposed changes to the environmental policies and guidelines to address the concerns expressed at the public hearing and in the survey responses.
Following this, staff will return to the City’s Planning and Land Use Committee, Environment Committee, and Council for consideration of next steps and a revised amending bylaw.
