Lakeshore Lakeshore DevelopmenDevelopment Guidelinest Guidelines A PrimerA Primer

Charlie Lake Conservation Society

September 2007

TopicsTopics• Background on the GuidelinesBackground on the Guidelines• Lake Classification and Development Lake Classification and Development

PoliciesPolicies• Scope of GuidelinesScope of Guidelines• ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities• General Development and Subdivision General Development and Subdivision

GuidelinesGuidelines• Special Case LakesSpecial Case Lakes• Draft Official Community PlanDraft Official Community Plan

BackgroundBackground Why Guidelines? Why Guidelines? • Need for Need for balancebalance between between

preservation preservation of ecological resources of ecological resources and and desire to developdesire to develop lakeshore lakeshore propertiesproperties

• Although land surrounding lake may Although land surrounding lake may be be privateprivate, lakes are ultimately , lakes are ultimately considered as a considered as a public resourcepublic resource and and should be accessible to allshould be accessible to all to be used to be used and enjoyed in a and enjoyed in a responsible mannerresponsible manner

BackgroundBackground Intent of Guidelines:Intent of Guidelines:1.1. PublicPublic - education on lakeshore - education on lakeshore

ecology and development issuesecology and development issues2.2. DevelopersDevelopers - conservation guidelines - conservation guidelines

(construction projects close to water)(construction projects close to water)3.3. Board of PRRDBoard of PRRD and and Development Development

Services StaffServices Staff – development policies – development policies and conservation guidelines (for and conservation guidelines (for decisions on development projects)decisions on development projects)

BackgroundBackgroundProcess for establishing Guidelines:Process for establishing Guidelines:• ClassifyClassify lakes re. development potential lakes re. development potential• DevelopDevelop guidelines that outline guidelines that outline

specifics for development proposalsspecifics for development proposals• ConsultConsult with technical experts and with technical experts and

public public • CommunicateCommunicate finalized Guidelines July finalized Guidelines July

20002000• 2006-2008 – Approve North Peace 2006-2008 – Approve North Peace

Fringe Official Community PlanFringe Official Community Plan

Scope of GuidelinesScope of GuidelinesApply to:Apply to:• Private land Private land • Within 300 m of lakes (high water Within 300 m of lakes (high water

mark) within official community mark) within official community planning areas of PRRDplanning areas of PRRD

Are Are notnot::• RegulationsRegulations• An intention of PRRD to An intention of PRRD to

expropriate private landexpropriate private land

ResponsibilityResponsibility Local Government (Regional Local Government (Regional

District )District )• Adopt and administer subdivision, Adopt and administer subdivision,

zoning and development permit zoning and development permit regulations*regulations*

• Provincial legislation has been Provincial legislation has been broadened to give regional districts broadened to give regional districts the authority to protect, restore the authority to protect, restore and enhance natural environmentand enhance natural environment*pursuant to the Local Government *pursuant to the Local Government Act Act

ResponsibilityResponsibilityProvincial GovernmentProvincial Government• MOEMOE – in-stream (e.g. lakes) works and – in-stream (e.g. lakes) works and

development adjacent to high water markdevelopment adjacent to high water mark• MOHMOH (Peace-Liard Health Unit) – sewage (Peace-Liard Health Unit) – sewage

disposaldisposal• Agriculture Land CommissionAgriculture Land Commission – development in – development in

ALRALR• MOTMOT – access to watercourses and final – access to watercourses and final

approval for all subdivision proposalsapproval for all subdivision proposals• BC Assets and Lands CorpBC Assets and Lands Corp – all development on – all development on

Crown Lands (including foreshore leases and Crown Lands (including foreshore leases and permanent dock construction)permanent dock construction)

ResponsibilityResponsibilityFederal GovernmentFederal Government• Potential for involvement in Potential for involvement in

lakeshore development proposals:lakeshore development proposals:• Agriculture CanadaAgriculture Canada• Department of Fisheries and OceansDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans

General Development and General Development and Subdivision GuidelinesSubdivision Guidelines

• ShouldShould be considered for be considered for all new all new developmentdevelopment and subdivisionand subdivision proposals proposals within 300 m from high water markwithin 300 m from high water mark (shore zone) of lakes (shore zone) of lakes (ideally should also (ideally should also apply near any stream, watercourse and apply near any stream, watercourse and wetland throughout a watershed)wetland throughout a watershed)

• PriorPrior to development proposal, owners to development proposal, owners are encouraged to are encouraged to consult with PRRDconsult with PRRD

• Official Community Plans, bylaws take Official Community Plans, bylaws take precedenceprecedence in case of conflict with in case of conflict with GuidelinesGuidelines

General Development and General Development and Subdivision GuidelinesSubdivision Guidelines

Single Lot Development and Single Lot Development and ConstructionConstruction (considerations to (considerations to minimize erosion and sediments):minimize erosion and sediments):

• Planning Planning construction accessconstruction access• Minimizing Minimizing clearing and gradingclearing and grading

activitiesactivities• Controlling Controlling excavated soilexcavated soil and properly and properly

locating stockpileslocating stockpiles• Consideration of Consideration of surface and slopesurface and slope

conditionsconditions• Planning surface Planning surface runoffrunoff and control and control

Single Lot Development and Single Lot Development and ConstructionConstruction

Site Layout and ClearingSite Layout and Clearing::• Design and layout of building site to Design and layout of building site to

minimize impervious areasminimize impervious areas• Retain Retain existing vegetation and ground existing vegetation and ground

covercover wherever possible wherever possible• Minimize Minimize clearing and stripping of clearing and stripping of

setbackssetbacks and easements and easements• Restrict Restrict vehicle accessvehicle access and provide and provide

surfaced working areassurfaced working areas• Clearly Clearly mark the building area and mark the building area and

clearing boundariesclearing boundaries on the site on the site

Single Lot Development and Single Lot Development and ConstructionConstruction

Soil Erosion ControlSoil Erosion Control::• CoverCover temporary fills or soil stockpiles temporary fills or soil stockpiles

with tarpswith tarps• Prompt Prompt re-vegetationre-vegetation on disturbed on disturbed

areasareas• Limit machine access and operation to Limit machine access and operation to

prepared access areasprepared access areas

Single Lot Development and Single Lot Development and ConstructionConstruction

Drainage and Sediment ControlDrainage and Sediment Control::• Divert runoffDivert runoff away from cleared areas away from cleared areas

with swales or low bermswith swales or low berms• Use Use silt fencessilt fences around soil stockpiles around soil stockpiles

and sloped areasand sloped areas• Collect runoffCollect runoff into sediment traps into sediment traps

prior to discharge prior to discharge • Divert runoff towards Divert runoff towards vegetated areas vegetated areas

Single Lot Development and Single Lot Development and ConstructionConstruction Retaining Retaining

Vegetation Vegetation Leave StripLeave Strip::

• 15 m width 15 m width from high from high water markwater mark

Single Lot Development and Single Lot Development and ConstructionConstruction Retaining Retaining

Vegetation Leave Vegetation Leave StripStrip::

• Clear less than 50% Clear less than 50% of frontage up to a of frontage up to a maximum of 15 m maximum of 15 m for beach for beach development or development or waterfront accesswaterfront access

• Depth Depth of cleared of cleared beachbeach less than 4.5 less than 4.5 m from high water m from high water markmark

Single Lot Development and Single Lot Development and ConstructionConstruction

Building SetbacksBuilding Setbacks::• Unless otherwise specified, at leastUnless otherwise specified, at least 15 15

m from high water level m from high water level

Single Lot Development and Single Lot Development and ConstructionConstruction

Septic Field SetbacksSeptic Field Setbacks::• all on-site sewage and septic fields all on-site sewage and septic fields

(other than community sewage (other than community sewage systems) systems) require permitrequire permit from Peace- from Peace-Liard Health Unit (MOH)Liard Health Unit (MOH)

• On-site systems located at On-site systems located at least 30 m least 30 m from high water markfrom high water mark

• Greater setback may be requiredGreater setback may be required based on soil percolation testsbased on soil percolation tests

Single Lot Development and Single Lot Development and ConstructionConstruction

Road ConstructionRoad Construction::• kept to a minimum within the shore kept to a minimum within the shore

zonezone• Prevent ditch line erosion by:Prevent ditch line erosion by:

• Grass seeding or hydro-seedingGrass seeding or hydro-seeding• Drop structuresDrop structures• Rip-rapRip-rap• Ditch blocksDitch blocks• Cross drainsCross drains

Subdivision GuidelinesSubdivision Guidelines

General locationGeneral location• Appropriate site conditionsAppropriate site conditions

DesignDesign• Cluster subdivision designs to increase Cluster subdivision designs to increase

amount of open space for public and amount of open space for public and habitat conservationhabitat conservation

AccessAccess• MOT may require road access to water MOT may require road access to water

and in the PRRD where most lots are > and in the PRRD where most lots are > 0.5 ha the access spacing is generally 400 0.5 ha the access spacing is generally 400 m m

Routine ActivitiesRoutine Activities• On-site sewageOn-site sewage• Yard Maintenance, Landscaping Yard Maintenance, Landscaping

and Gardeningand Gardening• Automobile maintenanceAutomobile maintenance• BoatingBoating• Dock Construction Dock Construction

Special Case LakesSpecial Case LakesIntentIntent• Easily accessibleEasily accessible• Mix of different land use activities Mix of different land use activities

around shore zone around shore zone • Recreational, ecological, cultural, Recreational, ecological, cultural,

heritage and archeological heritage and archeological characteristics for preservationcharacteristics for preservation

• Potential for future development and Potential for future development and recreational opportunitiesrecreational opportunities

Special Case LakesSpecial Case LakesCriteriaCriteria• Surface area greater than Surface area greater than 800 hectares800 hectares• Perimeter Perimeter development less 50%development less 50%• Plus any 3Plus any 3 of the following: of the following:

• A A development permit areadevelopment permit area that intersects any that intersects any part of shore zonepart of shore zone

• Aquatic environmentally sensitive areaAquatic environmentally sensitive area• Below average water qualityBelow average water quality values, values, low low

flushing ratesflushing rates and and high tropic levelshigh tropic levels• Existing or proposed Existing or proposed Ducks Unlimited projectDucks Unlimited project

sitesite• Existing Existing community sewer systemcommunity sewer system

Special Case LakesSpecial Case Lakes

Charlie Lake is a Special Case LakeCharlie Lake is a Special Case Lake

Special Case LakesSpecial Case LakesSpecific Development GuidelinesSpecific Development Guidelines• Max perimeter Max perimeter development less 50%development less 50%• Any development Any development proposal must meet:proposal must meet:

• Official Community Plan policiesOfficial Community Plan policies and and zoning requirementszoning requirements and and

• General development and subdivision General development and subdivision guidelinesguidelines

• Proposals for land Proposals for land within development within development permit areaspermit areas may require a may require a comprehensive development plan comprehensive development plan

Special Case LakesSpecial Case LakesSpecific Development GuidelinesSpecific Development Guidelines• Proposals for land Proposals for land within development within development

permit areaspermit areas may require a may require a comprehensive development plan comprehensive development plan including:including:

• Environmental assessment reportEnvironmental assessment report• Erosion and sediment control planErosion and sediment control plan• Vegetation management planVegetation management plan

• PRRD or provincial agencies PRRD or provincial agencies may reject may reject proposalproposal based on based on negative environmental negative environmental impactimpact or or out of character with existing out of character with existing land usesland uses

Draft Official Community Draft Official Community PlanPlan

• Consultation on draft plan 2007Consultation on draft plan 2007• Includes Charlie Lake Development Includes Charlie Lake Development

Permit Area Permit Area • References Lakeshore References Lakeshore

Development GuidelinesDevelopment Guidelines