25 Sep 2023 Council meeting Housing

Development Permit Application No. DP1308 - 855 Douglas Avenue

Motion
That Council issue Development Permit No. DP1308 for a proposed detached secondary suite within the watercourse leave strip at 855 Douglas Avenue with a variance as outlined in the “Proposed Variance” section of the Staff Report titled "Development Permit Application No. DP1308 - 855 Douglas Avenue" dated 2023-SEP-25.
Minutes, page 10
Sources
Agenda itemCity agenda, whole meeting
Staff reportPage 2
Purpose
To present for Council’s consideration a development permit application to vary the watercourse leave strip for a proposed detached secondary suite at 855 Douglas Avenue.
Staff report, page 2
Staff recommendation
That Council issue Development Permit No. DP1308 for a proposed detached secondary suite within the watercourse leave strip at 855 Douglas Avenue with a variance as outlined in the “Proposed Variance” section of the Staff Report dated 2023-SEP-25.
Staff report, page 2
DocumentsStaff report about Environment & Natural Resources, Housing, Land Use & Urban Form, Parks & Recreation

Ben Geselbracht Yes

Thank you. Thanks as a follow up. And I think that was the concern, the original time. That. Net gain wasn't explicitly. Mentioned or applied. In this permit. And then I'm not sure you know how much the qep themselves also. When they assess the property, looked through it through that lens and it probably is lacking a bit in a monitoring scheme at this state. And I think going forward we do have this new bylaw and I think recognizing that. Despite the historical lots, our water courses have been degraded over time and not functioning at peak capacity. And this is an opportunity. To allow development at the same time, sort of build back that integrity. So. I just want to make that point moving forward.

Questions and answers

Councillor Ben Geselbracht
Speaker identificationConfident
Yes

asked
Question to staff. Councilor gets a break for staff. I'm just curious. Like currently in. How. The development permit is set up in terms of monitoring or following up the principle of. Net gain is followed through on. Is there
J. Holm
Speaker identificationConfident
answeredDirector, Development Approvals
any provisions currently. In the development permit for this. Yes, there are actually. And thank you through madame Chair. So I think councilor Gesselbrick will recall through. The development of the Guidelines working. Through the Environment Committee and with qualified environmental professionals. The practice in the city and apply the guidelines. Monitoring. And maintenance of those areas. Was definitely one of the key additional changes. In addition. To the principle of net game being introduced. So yeah, there are provisions in the guidelines. And. We're looking for qeps to recommend monitoring. Program for those areas that are improved. And. We do have opportunity to review those and have inspections take place. Depends on the context. And the sensitivity of the area. And. What's actually taking place. And whether or not there was disturbance to an environmentally sensitive area or not. Previously, in this case, too, the context. Is I would just add to that the city. Has had. A significant environmental framework in place watercourse protection in place. For decades now and quite successful in achieving watercourse setback protection on newer development obviously in this case. And this is why I mentioned context. This lot was probably created in the early 19 hundreds. Before those protection measures were in place. That's why there is an encroachment required here, but there are monitoring provisions within the Development Permit area. Guidelines and qeps are expected to submit. Monitoring programs with their work. And we'll watch that and follow up. We have an Environmental Protection officer. That will visit these sites as necessary