Trees have been cut in Seymour Landing Park and a new culvert has been created to facilitate stormwater drainage of the neighbouring properties. Sue Ellen Fast, head of the municipality's Greenways Advisory Committee says that the work has considerably affected the park. Bowen Island Properties, the developer that transferred the parkland to the municipality, says that it was necessary to stabilize the hillside and that the municipality and other agencies have been notified throughout the process.
Larry Adams, business manager of Bowen Island Properties, said that in 2003, as part of the rezoning process of Cowan Point, the discussion about community amenities had been initiated. He said, "The passive park at Seymour Bay was identified as the amenity with the highest priority. There was a note that the stabilization of the land because of erosion is an issue for consideration."
Wolfgang Duntz, principal of Bowen Island Properties explained, "Over decades, Seymour Bay has been used for local log storage. The logs come from Gambier and are towed to the sawmills along the Fraser River. When they can't enter the inlet because of weather conditions, they get stored in Seymour Bay. There is a tremendous wave action that constantly pounds the shore that is an earth, gravel and clay deposit. Over the last 30 to 50 years, the shoreline has receded 15 feet."
"When I was asked to donate the land, I said you better be aware that this is a highly erosion-prone area," Duntz said. "And the whole area to the north is draining into Seymour Creek."
Adams referred to the master covenant document from June 2003 that states that "Seymour Bay Landing Park shall be subject to such restrictions, covenants, easements and rights of way as are required by any governmental authority or public utility as a condition of approval of the initial Seymour Bay Landing subdivision plan. The municipality covenants and agrees that if, after title to Seymour Bay Landing Park are transferred to the municipality, [Bowen Island Properties] reasonably requires covenants, easements or right of ways to facilitate the subdivision and development of the lands, the municipality shall grant such charges forthwith upon the request of [Bowen Island Properties] provided that such restrictions, covenants, easements and rights of way shall not negatively interfere with use of Seymour Bay Landing Park."
Duntz added that the municipality has granted easement to Bowen Island Properties to work on the infrastructure necessary for the Cowan Point development and the stormwater drainage completion was one of the conditions. Adams said that the easement refers to water lines, sewer lines, hydro lines and storm sewers on the condition that they are not negatively interfering with the park.
Adams explained that Bowen Island Properties was asked for a stormwater management plan and it was prepared by Webster Engineering Ltd. in 2004. Duntz said, "The plan shows that the storm sewer is exactly where the old creek was. That plan went to the Ministry of Environment, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Bowen Island Municipality. The stormwater plan was part of the remediation plan for the golf course development."
Fast says that, in her opinion, the work that was done affects the park. "Removal of the trees and the installation of these over-the-top wastewater works will interfere, especially over the long term," she said. Fast explained that covered culverts are normally not allowed in parks. "This is not a good situation. Edmonton is actually trying to take [covered culverts] out because they stink. They are also dangerous for pets and children because in heavy rainfall, water comes gushing out." Fast says that at the moment, it is not a big issue but the municipality has to look toward the future and take the proposed density and the inn into account. She said, "The water leaves the constructed course and flows under earth and rock to the middle of the beach is this safe and stable? And when or if the marina is built, this will leave little usable dry beach."
Duntz explained that the work is backed by expert reports. He said, "Over the years, the stream had eroded. The trees started to lean and were falling down. There was considerable wash-out and something had to happen. The hillside was at risk of collapsing and sliding down to the beach." Duntz said that Bowen Island Properties hired three consultants. The environmental consultant, Pottinger Gaherty, prepared an assessment and Duntz pointed to the photos in the report that document the sloughing of the foreshore embankment.
Adams said, "In July, we had a geotechnical consultant, exp, who suggested geotechnical work to stabilize the slope. Webster Engineering Ltd. designed the outfall. They specialize in steep rocky terrain." Adam added that the design by the engineer asked for a covered culvert. He said, "The stabilization work was necessary - we couldn't do the stormwater sewer without stabilizing the soil. On July 27, 2011, we sent notifications to the Ministry of Environment and the DFO. On August 2, 2011, the information went to the municipality."
Duntz added, "And the trees were leaning. They were derelict and had to be removed so we could stabilize [the hill]. Now it is accessible and it actually looks good." Adams said that Wil Hilsen, the municipality's manager of engineering and operations was involved in the work and visited the sites regularly. And a labourer in the Bowen Island Properties crew was paid by the municipality for removing the trees.
Yet Fast says that it was Hilsen who approached the Greenways Advisory Committee last October to find out what could be done to replant. "I have been involved in numerous park restoration projects," she said. "That's why I started to investigate what happened. In order to see what we can fix, we need to know if the disturbance is going to continue." Fast is also wondering about the specifications on water quality and quantity. She said, "Are there projections how much water is going to be in there?"
Fast is disappointed about the cutting of the trees and the big drainage channel. "It leaves so little of the park for park use," she said. "In the fall, it looked different. It seems like the park is disappearing in front of us."
