The public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 6, was the last chance for the public to weigh in on a proposed bylaw that will allow the area at Adams/Cromie Road to be designated for civic institutional use. The site has been earmarked and already prepared for the construction of a satellite fire hall.
After sending the plan to several outside agencies, the advisory planning commission has recommended that the rezoning proceed subject to the following: proof of adequate potable water, satisfactory location of the septic field, consent of the adjacent property owners to reduce setbacks. The commission was also concerned about drainage and suggested involving an environmental consultant in the construction process.
Fire chief Brian Biddlecombe said, "There has been a little bit of process that's been taken out of step here. Having to do this in the summer predicated that we proceeded with some site preparations. There has been an extensive amount of work done to the driveway and site preparation for the building and the placement for the culvert. Knowing that the main concerns about the site are the environmental aspects, we've been working with Alan Whitehead and also the ministry of environment."
Biddlecombe said the unmanned satellite hall will have two bays and will house a tanker truck to address the risk of fire in areas without hydrants. It will also enable the fire department to respond effectively to wildfire threats. Build time for the 50' by 50' prefab steel structure is approximately eight months. The hall is envisioned to be operational next spring.
The property at Cromie Road is a former gravel pit with a man-made pond that will be kept. Biddlecombe said, "We've heard comments that the truck will be filled at the site but that is not the case. The truck will be housed at the building ready to go. There are no field storage tanks at the site. We have placed a well that has a huge water flow it is servicing just one toilet and one sink in the fire hall."
Biddlecombe added that the only activity at the satellite fire hall would be in case of a call or some training activities. He stressed that this did not lessen the need to replace the main fire hall. An analysis of long-term requirements for the island's fire protection had suggested a two-fire-hall model with the main hall close to the cove and the satellite hall located on the west side.
Bill Newport said the Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club had a few concerns about Explosives Creek and drainage. Newport suggested that the water flow from the parking lot should be diverted into the wetlands before it entered Explosives Creek to protect fish-bearing streams and the water licences. He wished his organization to be included in municipal consultation processes.
Anne Chollat asked why some of trees that were cut to prepare the lot were not set aside for firewood for needy families?"
Biddlecombe said, "In clearing the lot we removed a number of pieces of scrap metal, old barbeques and tires and rims and everything else. A lot of the logs are fairly rotten and not that good." But he conceded that some alder logs could be suitable for firewood.
Raef Grohne owns the property next door and downhill. He said, "In the way the site has been prepped, the ditches and the drainage run into a concrete retaining tank and the outflow of this is directed to our property." He suggested the creation of a culvert that feeds into the ditch on Adams Road.
Grohne said, "The building is perfect for the needs of a fire hall. But because it is an industrial style, metal-clad building, about 18 feet high, we are concerned about two things: visually, we are looking at this big steel building, and also the noise that is associated with it."
Grohne wanted details on fencing and planting that weren't included in the report. He said, "It would be nice to address noise and visual pollution by creating a burn and a fence on top. With foliage, that's going to help cut down on those two elements that affect our property... You could put up a chain-link fence and with the metal-clad building, it sort of ruins the whole flavour of having a home, compared to a commercial space."
Biddlecombe said that "there is no thought to add a chain-link perimeter fence. And there are not going to be any lights on the back side of the building; there will be light in the front in case of activity having to take place in form of a call." He added that the water probably only flows from that property to the ditch from October to May. He expressed the wish to be a good neighbour and saw additional planting as a definite possibility.
CAO Brent Mahood noted that the work at the Cromie Rd. site happened in advance of a development permit which will be the next step in the process. But with the conclusion of the public hearing, council will not receive any further input from the public.
