Saanich East History, 2010
May 12, 2010 CALWMC Presentation
On May 12, the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee gave a presentation on the resource recovery options available for a Saanich East wastewater facility.
Read the CALWMC Presentation (PDF 
)
Public Consultation for Saanich East-North Oak Bay Residents
The CRD held an open house on the possible site adjustment of the Finnerty-Arbutus wastewater facility to a different area on the Finnerty-Arbutus property. Residents were invited to learn about the considerations related to moving the site, to talk with staff and consultants and to give feedback.
Neighbourhood Open House
Date |
Time |
Location |
| Tuesday, April 20 | 3-9pm | Queenswood Centre Chapel 2494 Arbutus Road |
After the feedback and input from the open house has been recorded, the CRD held a neighbourhood validation session to report back to the public on what was heard.
A report on the consultation findings will be available in June 2010.
Neighbourhood Validation Session
Date |
Time |
Location |
| Wednesday, May 12 | 7-9pm | Queenswood Centre Chapel 2494 Arbutus Road |
Details on the Saanich East Potential Siting Adjustment
In early 2010, the CRD considered relocating the Finnerty-Arbutus plant. Below, you will find information about the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) done on the property and some of the advantages and drawbacks of relocating the facility.
The possible facility relocation was a direct result of residents’ previous participation in 2009 public consultation sessions, when moving the site was suggested as a way to mitigate environmental impacts. Public comments triggered a research and review process and ongoing discussions with the District of Saanich; a decision was then made by CALWMC to consider a relocation of the site.
Why is the CRD considering adjustment of the Finnerty-Arbutus facility site?
The plan for the Finnerty-Arbutus wastewater plant in early 2010 called for the facility to be located in the northeastern corner of the CRD property. During the site selection process, staff, consultants and residents identified advantages to relocating the Finnerty-Arbutus facility from the CRD-owned property onto the adjacent Saanich-owned property.
An Environmental and Social Review (2009) and an Environmental Impact Study (2010), suggested that the environmental impacts of facility construction could be reduced if the facility was relocated onto the adjacent Saanich-owned property. In early 2010, environmental and land use experts collected additional information on the Saanich and CRD properties. Native vegetation, wildlife habitat, invasive plants and site drainage zoning, existing trails and other signs of community use were also mapped and recorded. Public input was then essential to an informed, responsible decision on any potential siting adjustment.
Advantages of a Finnerty-Arbutus Site Adjustment
- Portions of the Saanich property were previously disturbed by the installation of sewer trunks and collection pipes, overflow piping to the existing Finnerty outfall and a wastewater meter station.
- The forest structure on the Saanich property is has less ecological integrity than the CRD property, which would reduce wildlife and vegetation impacts.
- Trees on much of the Saanich property are smaller; less vegetation clearing would be necessary to accommodate a treatment facility. Wind throw risk would be lower and fewer trees would need to be removed to satisfy Work Safe BC requirements.
- The Saanich-owned site is flatter and less grading and slope stabilization would be needed.
What did the Environmental Impact Study discover?
Land Ownership & Zoning
The properties at Finnerty-Arbutus are owned by the CRD, Saanich, and the University of Victoria; they are all zoned for detached residential development. Covenants affect the future use of the University of Victoria and Saanich properties, which are 1.5 hectares and 2.9 hectares, respectively. Because all of the properties are zoned for housing, rezoning to permit a wastewater facility will be required regardless of its location; the facility will require approximately 1 hectare of land. The UVic covenant is more restrictive, preventing subdivision or clearing, and this portion of the site is not under consideration for relocation of the wastewater facility.
Vegetation Sensitivity
Vegetation sensitivity relates to the ecological integrity of the site and the sensitivity of plant communities and wildlife habitat to development.
The CRD property is rated as having high vegetation sensitivity as it is a mature second growth forest with good forest structure. Although there has been extensive disturbance of soil and understory plants, the mature trees support wildlife habitat and help form a contiguous corridor for wildlife.
The north western portion of the Saanich property was cleared within the last 50 years to construct a sewage meter station and underground wastewater infrastructure. This area has a young forest and shrub ecosystem with extensive ground disturbance, cleared areas and trails. To the southeast, the Saanich-owned land is less disturbed and supports more mature vegetation.
Invasive Plants
Invasive plant species are present on the CRD, Saanich, and University of Victoria properties. The Saanich property has the fewest invasive plants because of successful ecosystem restoration efforts by the local community, as shown on the map. The successful restoration efforts on the Saanich property show that, with some effort, plant and wildlife ecosystems on the CRD property may also be restorable.
Present Community Uses
All three Finnerty-Arbutus properties are used extensively by local residents. Community use of the parcels is reflected in the extent of trails, bicycle jumps and recently cleared areas. Some trails appear to be purely recreational, and others (particularly the trail between the CRD and Saanich properties) connect neighbourhoods to bus stops, the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Goward Park, and the University of Victoria. Trails affected by building a wastewater treatment facility could potentially be replaced by new trails, allowing for continued community use.
What are the tradeoffs when considering relocation of the facility?
There are always tradeoffs when siting a new facility. When considering where the Saanich East plant should go, please consider the following:
- Leaving a treed buffer around the facility would provide visual screening, but blowdown risk could be high and more trees could be removed for safety reasons.
- Locating the facility next to a road would reduce the number of trees to be cleared, but the facility would be more visible from the road.
- Locating the facility at a street corner would minimize tree clearing, but the facility would be closer to residences and schools and would be more visible.
- The shape of the facility footprint need not be rectangular, and could be adjusted to reduce impacts, but the costs of construction for an irregularly shaped facility are likely to increase.
- Leaving the facility at its present proposed location would not achieve the environmental benefits of moving the facility onto the Saanich property.
- Placement of the facility will affect the total area of greenspace and connectivity of habitat for wildlife.
What will happen with the residual land?
A wastewater facility on either the Saanich or CRD-owned property at Finnerty-Arbutus will not require the entire parcel of land. The CRD would like to know your thoughts about what should happen with the residual land.
The property is presently zoned for detached residential development and demand exists for housing. Sale of the lands for housing could be a way of recovering some of the public cost of acquiring the property, but such development would result in removal of most of the forest.
Residual lands could be turned into a park or green space, but public use of the parcels has caused ecological damage and liability risk for landowners. These effects would need to be reduced if the land were to become a public space. Ownership of residual lands should also be considered, including decisions on which body should pay to maintain the selected use.
© Bottom image courtesy of Evan Leeson
Maps: Saanich East Facility Site Adjustment Maps
Click on maps to enlarge.
For high resolution images of each map, please see the PDF version of each map.
Saanich East Presently Proposed Facility Location Map (PDF )
Saanich East Land Ownership and Zoning Map (PDF )
Saanich East Vegetation Sensitivity Map (PDF )
Saanich East Invasive Plants Map (PDF )
