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NEW! LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN – Cut and Paste/Write Your Own
The Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship Section 11 and RAPR decisions sound the alarm for Simms Creek. The Province must hear our concerns before it's too late!
LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN – Cut and Paste/Write Your Own
We continue to ask concerned citizens to write City Hall. Thank you for helping Save Simms Creek!
NEW! WETLANDS UPDATE
WATCH VIDEOS! STREAMKEEPERS, WETLANDS, TRAFFIC, ZONING
Four videos addressing ecological threats, traffic safety and zoning inconsistencies support the community's overwhelming opposition to WestUrban's proposed Simms Creek development.
KEY ISSUES:
Wetlands: WestUrban's application for a Section 11 Change Approval was approved by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. The Ministry has also approved the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation report (RAPR) – submitted five times, and four times rejected – by WestUrban's contracted Qualified Environmental Professionals (QEPs). The application appears to rely on information not supported by evidence. Provincial biologists in the same Ministry wrote to express their opposition to the Section 11 and submitted RAPRs as they believed WestUrban and its QEPs failed to meet Provincial guidelines, including inaccurate wetlands mapping and unsubstantiated claims. A hydrogeologist has raised serious concerns about water table data and an aquifer.
Save Simms Creek launched a legal appeal with the BC Environmental Appeal Board, who determined we did not have standing to appeal - effectively obstructing our ability to be heard and silencing public interest.
Further, a Ministry decision to extend/delay our Freedom of Information request, without our permission, means we do not have access to the approved RAPR.
Salmon: Simms Creek is regularly monitored by our local Streamkeepers, and continues to primarily support young and returning Coho salmon. We remain concerned about levels of 6PPD-q washing into Simms Creek from vehicle tires given its proven toxicity to fish, particularly Coho.
Traffic: See "Traffic Safety" page for RCMP/Citizens On Patrol traffic statistics on Alder Street South. Dave Sutherland, former RCMP Traffic Analyst/Accident Reconstructionist, has shared his grave concerns on video.
Geotechnical Report: The geotechnical report dated October 21, 2022 posted on the City’s website as part of WestUrban’s development application documents was an addendum referring to an earlier report. The original report, dated June 3, 2022, has since been added to the City’s website.
Both documents are based on different buildings than what WestUrban is proposing in their application. The original report clearly shows townhouses and one apartment building, and the addendum refers to three 3-storey apartment buildings each with one level underground parking. The height variance request is for three 4-storey buildings each with two levels underground parking.
Height Variance and Zoning:
The City is aware WestUrban plans to amend their application.
As the application stands, the City has not yet mailed the required Statutory Notification for the Development Variance Permit (Height Variance) to homes within 100m of the properties. Prior to the matter coming before City Council, written submissions are the ONLY way the public will have input. WestUrban will be permitted to make a presentation to City Council.
However, the Section 11 and RAPR approvals mean the City can move forward in their review of WestUrban's development permit application.
Save Simms Creek submits the proposed development does not comply with current City zoning bylaws and does not align with the new Official Community Plan.