DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT2007 YEAR-END REPORT

Historic Quilchena Hotel

Thompson-Nicola Regional DistrictDevelopment Services Department

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1.

OVERVIEW

2007 was a busy year for the Development Services Department. High activity in boththe electoral areas and participating municipalities continued through 2006 and into 2007as the enclosed statistics will show. Our overall staff complement was enhanced withthe recruitment of two new members, Mr. Alex Kraus in Planning Services and DawnLindenbach in Building Services. The incorporation of Barriere and Clearwater keptdevelopment staff busy, especially in the GIS division with the preparation of new sets ofmunicipal maps for the new councils. Building Inspectors found the year challenging withthe onset of construction at the Tobiano Resort, the Lytton hospital and continued SunPeaks expansion.

Bylaw enforcement was also very busy and culminated with many Section 57s beingfiled on properties subject to the building bylaw and; the clean-up of fire-ravagedproperty in the 70 Mile area, under the auspices of the Unsightly, Untidy Premise Bylaw.

Development Services staff have worked diligently in meeting the demands of growingdevelopment within the TNRD and look forward to a similar challenge in 2008.

1. BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES

2007 continued with very strong construction activities relative to the previous 10 yearperiod. Total construction values at $118.2 million are the highest annual total everrecorded in the TNRD. These values are attributed to a number of substantialcommercial and residential projects such as the Interfor sawmill renovation at AdamsLake, commencement of the Tobiano project and a continued high level of activity atSun Peaks resort. Most other electoral areas and municipalities have also seen verysteady building development similar to 2006. In general the costs of construction haverisen dramatically over the past several years and at the same time, single family homesare increasing in size and quality leading to extraordinary construction values.

The total number of permits issued in 2007 was 660 compared to 722 in 2006. Thisrepresents an 8.5% reduction in permits of all categories. This 8.5% lag was fairlyconsistent from month to month throughout 2007 and does not seem to indicate asubstantial declining trend.

The largest increases in activity were seen in Cache Creek, Lytton, Area "J", Area "P",and Clearwater; all experiencing increases in construction values in excess of 100%over the previous year. The following charts indicate the level of construction for 2007 aswell as a comparison to the previous ten years.

20

80

140

120••c§ 100::;;-••E!••>co;;u

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2.

TNRD - Total Construction Value

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

3.

TNRD - Residential Units Created

450

400

350

J!! 300i::J 250~0~".cE::I 150z

100

50

01997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

TNRD - Permit Fee Revenue

700

600

•• 500."c:••••::I0 400.c:t-.5" 300::Ic:">" 200a:

100

0

621

!527

421 ,

383 I

287244

'" ~6 ~9

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

4.

2. PLANNING SERVICES

ACTIVITIES:

2007 activity levels continue to demonstrate confidence in the region. Zoningamendments, subdivision and AlR applications and/or referrals all demonstratedcomparable or increased levels of activity over the previous year. Overall, thecumulative activity levels in 2007 increased by 6.5% over those experienced levels in2006, nevertheless, staff was able to shift some of its energies to address the increaseddemand from a number of regional resort projects such as Active Mountain, Sun Peaks,Tobiano, Nicola lakeshore, Marshall Springs, Coquihalla Pass, Trasa lodge andQuilchena Ranch. In addition, new emerging mining sector ventures, specifically newAfton underground gold-copper mine west of Kamloops and Highland Valley's proposedcopper smelter project near logan lake; continue to position themselves to capitalize onthe region's resource opportunities. At the GIS level, staff has made considerableprogress upgrading the organization's new operating system and developing the region'snew Tempest land management and Web-based mapping software. Moreover, theincorporation of the Districts of Barriere and Clearwater kept GIS staff busy in providingcomplete new mapping for both municipalities.

Tobiano Resort Development

450

400

350

300

250

# of Applications200

150

5.

Activity levels 2003-2007

OZoning AmendmentII SubdivisionOAgriculturalland Commissiono Integrated Land Management Branch Referrals• Bylaw Compliance ComplaintsDTotal ApplicationS/Referrals

2004 2005Years

2006 2007

TYPE OF APPLICATION 2003 2004 2005 2006 20072003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Rezoninn Annlications 18 19 21 19 25Develo"'ment Variance Permit Aoolications 9 7 14 10 11Develonment Permit Annlications 0 0 0 0 1Temnorarv Use Permit Annlications 0 0 0 2 18vlaw Enforcement Comnlaints 32 33 36 33 25Subdivision Annlications 33 42 44 78 68Official Communihl Plan Amendment 8 6 7 7 8Manufactured Home Park Annlications 1 1 0 0 1Anricultural land Commission ADolications 12 16 28 30 28Land and Water BC Referrals 40 70 32 48 98Ministrv of Enernv & Mines Referrals 10 3 3 9 4Temnorarv and Additional Dwellinn Annr. 17 9 13 6 14Camnnround Annlications 1 2 1 0 3BcaUnn Restrictions Annlications 0 0 0 0 0Linuor Licensinn Annlications 5 1 1 0 3Strata conversion Annlications 0 1 2 0 2Buildinn Insnection Services Referrals 96 170 138 145 123TOTAL 282 380 341 387 415

6.

Crystal Forest - Sun Peaks Resort

ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Continued progress on Amendments to Zoning Bylaw No. 940• Continued progress on Amendments to the Region's 10 Official Community

Plans• Progressing with a tri-partite Official Community Plan exercise for the Green

lake - 70 Mile House Area with the Cariboo Regional District and Ministry ofCommunity Services.

• Continued Planning/GIS support to the region's smaller member municipalities.• Continued support for the 3 regional incorporation initiatives (Barriere,

Clearwater, Sun Peaks).• Provided on-going support to the Region's Emergency Management Program.• Continued acquisition and/or management of regional property interests.• Designed and implemented substantial upgrades to our Tempest land

Management, Internet based Web Mapping and GIS Operating systems.• Improved coverage of our E-911 House Numbering System to approximately 95

percent of the region.• Updated our cadastral mapping to include most subdivision/survey plans and

completed the digital conversion of the region's 10 OCPs.• Organized and hosted a number of local and regional GIS/E-911 development,

training and user group sessions and on-going support to the 911 service.• Supported the Board of Directors Fraser Basin Council, Watershed Planning,

Mountain Pine Beetle and Environmental Monitoring committee initiatives.• Recruited a new Planner to help alleviate current planning workload and to assist

with focus on the department's long range planning commitments.

7.

3. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES

THE EARTHQUAKJ: IS COMING!THE TERRORISTS ARE COMING!THE FLOOC>5 ARE COMING!THE SKY 15 FA.LLINGf

The past year saw the TNRD Emergency Operations Centre activated 4 times, withother program activities continuing to focus on preparedness, training, volunteerrecruitment and risk assessment.

.1. Emerqencv Events in 2007

1.1 EOC Activation

a) March 11-15, Lytton/Spences Bridge mud siides. There were four separateslides in the area that closed the Trans Canada Highway and the CPR mainiineand took out phone and electrical service to a number of residents in the Gladwinarea, just north of Lytton. plus the Nicomen Indian Reserve. EOC activitiesinvolved addressing the needs of affected residents during the road closures andutility outages and assisting area water utility operators with disaster financialassistance claims. Following an extensive debriefing after this event and reviewby the Emergency Management Committee. staff was requested to makecommunity liaison a priority in all responses within the iimits of availableresources and to investigate possible emergency program communicationimprovements.

b) April 9-11, Flooding in Louis Creek. Tucker Creek, a small tributary of the NorthThompson River, reached unprecedented flow levels over the Easter weekendfollowing a brief warm spell. The lack of forest canopy in the watershed due tothe 2003 McLure wildfire plus the sudden release of a log jam caused thedramatic and damaging increase in flow rate.

8.

There were 8 area homes that received flood damage or loss of road access dueto water damage. EOC activities included provision of ESS to some residents,supply of sand and sandbags and liaising with contractors to facilitate roadrepairs.

c) June 2-7, North Thompson River High Water Flows. Following a wintersnowpack that was about 35% above average, the TNRD was prepared forpotentially damaging high water flows between Louis Creek and Birch Island.Sand and sandbags were stockpiled, three Incident Commanders were retainedto monitor water levels, area residents were advised what to expect and what todo during high water and the EOC was ramped up to Level 3 for 6 days. About25-30 homes were sandbagged but, fortunately, water levels peaked at justbelow flood levels and began to recede before any structural damage occurred.

d) July 13-16, lightning, high winds and forest fires led to power failures affectingutilities and a potential evacuation threat in the Blackpines area. EOC activitieswere stood down when the situation was quickly brought under control.

1.2 Level One Emerqencv Social Services

Area ESS teams provided assistance to victims of the following events in 2007:o January 27 mobile home fire in Cache Creeko May 6 house fire in Monte Lakeo September 25 house fire in Lower Nicolao November 13 mobile home fire in Blackpoolo December 17 mobile home fire in Ashcrofto December 21 mobile home fire in Clearwater

1.3 Other Events

Other emergency events in 2007 that involved participation of the TNRD EmergencyPreparedness Program included:

o Ice jam on the Coldwater River in January and minor flooding at the MerrittMountain Music Festival site.

o Minor flooding in some yards in Lower Nicola in February when an irrigation ditchfroze over and backed up.

o 27car train derailment just north of Blue River on March 3'd. The cargo wasinitially not known and watershed contamination was a concern, but the rail carsturned out to be hauling grain. CN cleaned up spill and hauled it back to Albredafor disposal.

o March 16 and 23 - mud slides in McLure and Big Bar respectively. No structuraldamage or utility issues; however, significant clean up efforts required at bothsites.

9.

• April 20-21, Aylmer Lake Dam. There was concern that a temporary loggingroad across a small dam at the outlet of Aylmer Lake near Chase could causethe dam to fail and result in flooding on the Adams Lake Indian Band Reserve.BC Environment had the logging contractor take corrective measures and nofailure occurred .

• November 15 a landslide on Chisholm Canyon Road isolated a ranch at a remotelocation west of the Fraser River in the Big Bar area. The TNRD assisted incommunications between area residents and the Province to expedite roadrepairs and worked with BC Ambulance to have a medivac helicopter on standbyuntil the road was fixed.

2. TraininQ

Training exercises conducted and/or attended during the year included:

• January 18 Coldwater River ice jam/flooding exercise hosted by the City of Merritt.• March 6-7 1. Kress and L. Cornwell attended a "Communicating with the Media

during a Crisis" training session in Kelowna.• May 8 all day joint TNRD/City of Merritt functional EOC interface fire training

exercise.• October 13-14 Incident Command Level 200 training in Cache Creek attended by 1st

Responders, Interior Health and municipal staff.• November 14-15 PEP/BC Environment haz-mat emergency response training

session in Kamloops.

3. Communitv Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)

Davies Wildfire Management was retained in July to prepare a region wide CWPP. Thisplan, which will include an assessment of wildfire risks throughout the TNRD andrecommendations to reduce the hazard, is scheduled for completion and presentation tothe Board early in 2008. In cooperation with the Ministry of Forests Protection Branch,the TNRD also participated in the completion of a small scale fire hazard reductionproject that saw the removal of dead pine trees in the Mile High/Paska Lake area, thusreducing the fire hazard.

4. Search and Rescue (SAR)

In 2007, the Manager of Emergency Services assumed an administrative role inmanaging the new SAR funding program that provides funding grants to qualified SARteams for vehicles, equipment and training. A total of $136,000 in funding grants to sixSAR teams was approved by the Board, with the largest being $77,000 for a newcommand vehicle for Kamloops SAR.