Date:
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Sackville Heights Community Centre Silver and Gold Room, 45 Connolly Road, Middle Sackville
Agenda
1. CALL TO ORDER
ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 3, 2018
3. APPROVAL OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND APPROVAL OF ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
4. BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES
5. CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
6. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS – NONE
7. CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
7.1 Correspondence
7.2 Petitions
8. INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD – NONE
9. REPORTS/DISCUSSION
9.1 STAFF
9.1.1 Case 21402: Sackville Rivers Floodplain
Council initiated project to amend the appropriate planning documents to reflect the most recent floodplain mapping for areas surrounding the Sackville and Little Sackville Rivers.
On August 14, 2018, the municipality published the findings of the Sackville Rivers Floodplains Study (2017). This study involved an assessment of the Sackville River and the Little Sackville River, and their watersheds, to produce updated floodplain maps. Areas at risk of flooding were evaluated using updated information and computer modelling that accurately predicts the impact of rain storms on the rivers.
The new floodplain mapping shows a larger flood impact for the 1-in-20 and 1-in-100-year weather events when compared with older (1980s) flood risk mapping. The 1-in-20 flood event refers to floods that have a 5% chance of occurring in any given year, while the 1-in-100 flood event refers to floods that have 1% chance of occurring in any given year. The municipality is using this new information to update planning documents to regulate the type of new development that may be allowed to take place in the identified floodplain areas.
The major aspects of the project being considered are:
• the appropriate range and scale of new development to permit within the updated floodlines; and
• controls on the re-use and expansion of existing uses and structures located within the updated floodlines.
Relevant Policies:
The HRM Charter and Municipal Government Act sets out six Statements of Provincial Interest and requirements for all municipal planning documents to be reasonably consistent with these Statements. The Statement of Provincial Interest Regarding Flood Risk Areas specifically identifies the Sackville and Little Sackville Rivers and requires the Municipality to identify floodplains and establish land use policies and regulations that limit development and respond to flood risks.
Section 2.3.4 of the Regional Plan provides direction to limit development in floodplains to protect the public from property damage, potential loss of life and to reduce the need for costly flood control measures. Specific restrictions on development are to be implemented through the secondary Municipal Planning Strategies (MPS) and Land Use By-laws (LUB).
The Sackville and Little Sackville Rivers run through four different plan areas: Bedford, Sackville, Sackville Drive, and Beaver Bank/Hammonds Plains/Upper Sackville. While the specific names and provisions of the existing floodplain zones differ between the four Community Plan areas, all four Community Plans generally limit development to uses that are consistent with the Provincial Statement of Interest regarding Flood Risk Areas. These include conservation related uses, public and private parks and playgrounds, recreation uses, roadways, transit shelters and other uses of a similar nature. The existing zoning in the four plan areas is based on the 1980’s floodplain mapping.
In preparing the recommendation to North West Community Council, the Committee is being asked to assess the potential impact on the community of updating the floodplain zoning and associated planning documents.
The following is before the Committee:
- Initiation Report
- Interactive Map showing existing and updated floodplains
- Sackville Rivers Floodplain Study – Phase II (2017)
- Statement of Provincial Interest Regarding Flood Risk Areas
https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/regional-community-planning/sackville-floodplains
Information at the above link will be updated as required. For a copy of the materials presented to the Planning Advisory Committee, please contact the Clerk’s Office.
9.1.2 Proposed 2019 North West Planning Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule [PDF]
Motion:
That the North West Planning Advisory Committee approve the proposed 2019 meeting schedule as outlined in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated October 29, 2019.
10. ADDED ITEMS
11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – February 6, 2019 at 7:00 p.m., BMO Centre Boardroom, 61 Gary Martin Drive, Bedford
12. ADJOURNMENT
INFORMATION ITEMS – NONE