Fire practice: Preparing for wildfire News A3
Election coverage inside: Pg. A5, A8
ASSOC TIRE
PROCESS
1710 Island Hwy, Campbell River 250-286-6132
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2013
Hazardous material was expected, says VIHA
www.campbellrivermirror.com
City relaxes eagle tree buffer for development KRisten douglas Campbell RiveR miRRoR
Paul Rudan Campbell RiveR miRRoR
When you dig into Campbell River’s recent past, there’s a good chance you’ll find buried junk and potentially hazardous materials. That was anticipated, according to the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), when it began site work for the new Campbell River Hospital. Work is well underway to create new hospital parking in the empty lot, a former gravel pit, by Yucalta Lodge on 2nd Avenue. Last week a reader called to report that workers appeared to be pulling out buried asbestos from the site. That has not been confirmed, but work crews are taking precautions. “The presence of some refuse, used some time ago as backfill on the western edge of the site, was not unanticipated as the site is well known as a former gravel pit,” said VIHA spokesman Dan MacLennan, in an e-mail. “There is no delay or increased cost to the work because the site preparation contract anticipated the possible encounter of contaminated materials. The contract also contains extensive specifications for proper removal of any hazardous materials.” The work is regularly monitored by the industrial hygienist and the city is also aware of the existing site conditions. Site preparation work is also taking place at 2nd Avenue and Cedar Street for temporary buildings to house staff.
2X1.5
AlistAir tAylor/the Mirror
Mournful sound
Piper John Fitzpatrick provides soulful accompaniment to the Day of Mourning for workers killed on the job. See Page A4 for more on the event at Frank James Park on Sunday.
Sutton’s Campbell River Funeral Home is very proud to welcome Dan Munroe back after a period of absence. Sutton’s Campbell River Funeral Home 250-287-4812 www.suttonsfuneralhome.com
SUTTON
PROCESS
City council gave the go-ahead to a local developer who wants to build an apartment complex closer to an eagle tree than the city normally allows. While city staff acknowledged developer Brett Giese’s proposal encroaches on the 60 metre buffer around an eagle nest tree, the city’s senior planner Kevin Brooks pointed out that Giese has taken the proper measures to ensure protection of the eagle tree. “Due to the site constraints it is not possible to develop the site without encroaching into the buffer area,” Brooks said. According to the city’s Official Community Plan, if the 60 metre buffer cannot be achieved, the distance may be altered if the developer provides a report from a Qualified Environmental Professional with experience in raptor assessments, with recommendations for protecting the eagle tree and ensuring no net habitat loss. Giese has proposed to keep several existing Douglas fir trees on the north side of the property and to protect the vegetation on the steep slope to help protect the eagle habitat. The property is located at 808 South Island Highway, a residential strip of highway next to the Sea Haven complex and near the Ocean Front Motel and Little Rock RV Park. Giese’s proposal is to build a 39-unit, four storey apartment building. “It’s 39 apartment suites which is something council and different
members of the community have identified a need for,” Giese said. “Affordable housing with all the amenities home owners have come to expect – six appliances, in-house laundry and lots of parking.” In behind the building, Giese plans to put up a fence at the bottom of slope backing the lot and install interpretative signage explaining the protected eagle habitat, which he thinks will have a better chance at survival once it’s fenced off from the public. Giese also obtained a report from Current Environmental to assess the eagle nest tree, as required by the Official Community Plan. The report states that “the reduction in buffer size will not result in a significant loss of valuable vegetation” and the “reduction from 60 to 37 metres will not result in an increased risk of the tree falling and damaging buildings or threatening human safety.” However, the report did note that while the tree is active, no eggs have yet been laid. If there is no incubation by May 22 and the adult eagles are not displaying behaviours consistent with the presence of an egg, Giese can build up to January 1, 2014. If, however, incubation or brooding behaviour is observed by May 22, construction must be postponed until the young have fledged or an eagle tree construction plan is established under the guidance of a qualified environmental professional. Council is currently in the process of establishing fines for anyone who cuts down an eagle nest tree after a resident cut down a tree harbouring an eagle’s nest last year near Rockland Road.