Some residents of Racepoint, north of the Campbell River, are angry with the impact of land reclamation for nearby development, but developers say all regulations are being followed.
Ripple Rock Estate, a low-density 200-lot home development, will be built on approximately 40 hectares of land on the 6805 Island Highway.
A hearing on the Rezoning Ordinance for Development was held in January 2021. The Campbell River City Council approved this rezoning on May 10, 2021, contrary to advice from city officials.
Land reclamation began in February 2022, causing a rude awakening to some of the Racepoint residents.
Seasonal Steen Christensen, who has lived in Racepoint since 2004, said she was drawn to the neighborhood for its natural beauty.
“That’s why I bought a house. It’s a very natural place, and then the whole area is being destroyed by logging it in very large quantities,” he said.
Christensen is concerned about the impact of clearing on some nested pairs of eagles on the site.
“What happened there doesn’t look very good, and it’s sad for me,” he said. “I’m more worried about eagles.”
Amy Lottis, a resident of another race point, said one morning he was informed by the sound of a chainsaw that the land had been cleared. Since then, she said the removal of trees has affected the view from her property.
“We know that tugboats always come to where we live, but suddenly there’s something more industrial in our view,” she said. “I understand that when you live in the city, the pain will always increase, but this was so dramatic and sudden. Suddenly, the Menzies Bay forest is gone.”
Real estate developer Nicolas Haglund said in an email that all regulations were followed while the land was cleared.
According to a notice from the Campbell River City on January 21, 2021, “The site has several environmental features that require an environmental development permit, such as waterside setbacks, foreshore, and eagle nest trees. I have.”
However, there is no such environmental permit.
Haglund said that the “simple answer” to this is a “long, costly and complex permit application process” combined with “immediate and current use of land for timber harvesting subject to different permit systems”. Said that.
Specifically, the property is legally designated as a former Private Forest (PMFL) owned by Hagrand.
“Such businesses are already very strict and subject to world-class state environmental regulations, so they do not require redundant local government environmental development permits,” he said.
Around Privately managed forest land law, Local governments cannot issue permits under Part 14 (Planning and Land Use Management) of the Local Government Act for PMFL-designated real estate. This means that the city will not be able to issue real estate permits until the land has been removed from the PMFL designation, city planner Meghan Norman said in an email.
Haglund said he complied with all regulations regarding clearing under the PMFL designation under the supervision of a “locally reputable” registered professional forestry worker.
He said all streams on the premises were forced to retreat 15 meters, exceeding the current minimum requirements for “class D” streams. In addition, PMFL regulations allow clearing up to the highest water level mark on the foreshore.
Regarding the eagle trees on the premises, Hagrand said he would ensure state compliance. Wildlife Law, A third-party registered professional biologist was hired to implement the eagle management plan. This required a biologist to be on site when logging took place within 200 meters of the eagle. He said the biologist enacted a 100-meter retreat around one of the nests.
“It is a well-known fact that we have a vision to develop this property into a vibrant and beautiful community, but in the meantime, while waiting for the necessary permits, I am cautious and diligent according to the Legacy designation as a private forest. “I manage it,” Hagrand said.
sean.feagan@campbellrivermirror.com
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