Zoning Bylaw Precedent: West Vancouver integrates Water Balance Solutions into Site Development Decision Process
Neighbourhood character, rainwater management and regulatory change in West Vancouver
A defining issue in West Vancouver is dramatic alteration of the residential landscape due to property redevelopment. Concerns are two-fold: neighbourhood character and watershed health (because the natural ‘water balance’ is out of balance)
After more than a decade of consultation, the District of West Vancouver has found an innovative way to respond to community concerns with tangible action. The municipality has applied longstanding legislation – S.523 and S.527 of the Local Government Act – and amended its Zoning Bylaw to make a landscaping plan a building permit requirement for every lot in residential zones.
This bylaw requirement encompasses on-property drainage and irrigation, such that it integrates a water balance approach to site development. The West Vancouver bylaw is believed to be the first such application of S.523 and S.527 in the province. The bylaw also partially fulfills a region-wide regulatory commitment to implement rainwater management in Metro Vancouver.
“It is fair to characterize the District’s use of S.523 and S.527 as a basis for private property stormwater management and landscaping requirements as ‘cutting edge’, though staff would prefer to be more humble and use ‘progressive’ to describe our approach to this matter,” explains Chris Booth, Manager of Development Planning. “The District is simply creating regulations that are within the scope of portions of its enabling legislation (S.523 and S.527) that have not been extensively used for these regulatory purposes in the past.”
To Learn More:
Visit Neighbourhood character, rainwater management and regulatory change in West Vancouver to read the complete story posted on the Rainwater Management community-of-interest.
Download Amendment to West Vancouver Zoning Bylaw.
Hollyburn Mews – boulevard rain garden integrated with site landscaping on Esquimalt Ave