Campbell River is looking to make it easier for residents who want to carry out small building projects near city ditches.
A public hearing is coming on amending the official community plan and zoning to allow things like sheds closer to ditches on city rights-of-way without triggering costly red tape.
Builders would normally have to hire a qualified environmental professional for an assessment and submit the assessment report to the B.C. government for approval and then apply for a development permit.
All ditches are considered streams under the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation and have protections in place.
The current setback is 30 meters and the proposed changes would make it 2 or 5 meters based on location.
Development Director Ian Buck told council this is five years in the making.
“In 2020, the city commissioned this report, has yet to be implemented through bylaws…long overdue but will save homeowners a lot of time especially on small projects where you’re building minor shed or things within those setback areas,” Buck said.
The changes won’t apply to ditches on private land, which are still subject to controls under the Riperian Areas Protection Regulation (RAPR).
A date for the public hearing hasn’t been set.
