Marine Policy Planning

Overview

Ongoing climate change is expected to lead to many changes including increased temperatures and as a result, increased ice melting and rising sea levels. Although the pace of these effects is still uncertain, the District of North Saanich (DNS) is undertaking planning work to assess, evaluate and plan for the expected effects of rising sea levels and the likely consequences around the shoreline of the District. The current flood risk for the District of North Saanich is projected to increase in some areas of the coast of North Saanich during the lifespan of buildings being developed now. Planning for this now, will reduce impacts and costs down the road as the risk is projected to increase with time.

The marine policy Planning project relates to the following District of North Saanich strategic goals:

• Preserve and Protect Sensitive & Significant Environmental Areas & Ecosystems
• Preserve and Protect Sensitive Marine & Inter-tidal Habitats
• Climate Change Impacts Mitigated

The marine policy planning project advances the following District of North Saanich strategic plan projects and Initiatives:

• Identify Roles for the District of North Saanich in the Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
• Review and develop policies to guide marine and shoreline development (including planning for sea level rise
• Consider the Marine Task Force recommendations and work plan
• Review District bylaws and policies that affect waterfront property owners

The District retained SNC-Lavalin Inc. (SLI) to define the Flood Construction Levels (FCL) for the District of North Saanich, considering site-specific conditions such as wave exposure and shoreline type.

Project Documents and Reports

2018

• Staff Report (Nov 28/18) Marine Policy Planning Bylaws 1439 and 1442 for Information and Decision, December 3, 2018 Council
• DRAFT Guideline to: Coastal Flooding Hazards Mitigation Bylaw 1439 – District of North Saanich, November 2018
• Staff Report (Aug 15/18) Marine Policy Planning Process/Bylaws 1442 & 1439, August 20, 2018 Council
• Staff Report (Aug 10/18) Marine Policy Planning – Dates for Workshop, August 20, 2018 Council
• Staff Report (July 20/18): Marine Policy Planning – For Decision, July 30, 2018
• Staff Report and Appendixes (Jun 19/18): Marine Policy Planning, June 25, 2018 Council
• North Saanich Coastal Mitigation Flooding Bylaw No. 1439 (2018) North Saanich Official Community Plan Marine Policy Bylaw No. 1442 (2018) For Information and Decision

Public Consultation/Workshop Information

• District of North Saanich Flood Construction Levels for 0.5 m and 1.0 m Sea Level Rise Report (prepared by SNC-Lavalin, Inc. Jan. 4, 2017)
  • June 7, 2016 Presentation
• District of North Saanich OCP Marine Policy and Guidelines Recommendations for Sea Level Rise Planning and Adaptation Report (prepared by SNC-Lavalin, Inc. Jan. 24, 2017)
  • January 26, 2017 Presentation
• Marine Policy Planning – Draft OCP Policies Consultation – updates and introduction of Special Development Areas Tsehum Harbour and Lochside Drive and Shoal Harbour Bird Sanctuary – October 19, 2017 Report (prepared and revised by SNC-Lavalin, Inc. October 13, 2017).
  • October 19, 2017 Presentation
  • OCP Marine Polices and Guidelines Report updated October 13, 2017 with track changes from January 2017 version
• Marine Policy Planning – An information session on the District’s proposed marine area Official Community Plan amendments and Coastal Flooding Mitigation Bylaw was held  Wednesday, November 7, 2018 in the Council Chambers, North Saanich Municipal Hall, 1620 Mills Road, North Saanich BC. The session was held to provide information on the proposed amendment bylaws and to answer questions from interested and affected members of the community. Below are the documents and feedback form distributed at the session.
  • DRAFT Guideline to: Coastal Flooding Hazards Mitigation Bylaw 1439 – District of North Saanich
  • DRAFT Bylaw 1442 – A Bylaw to Amend the District of North Saanich Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1130 (2007)
  • DRAFT Bylaw 1439 – A Bylaw to Mitigate Coastal Flooding Hazards
  • Frequently Asked Questions: District of North Saanich Marine Policy Review (November 2018)
  • Frequently Asked Questions: District of North Saanich Marine Policy Review (December 2018)

Notice to Developers – Flood Hazard Area Land Use Management Guidelines

The Provincial Government update to the Flood Hazard Area Land Use Management Guidelines (FHALUMG, 2004) to include guidance on land use and development in areas that will be affected by sea level rise will come into effect on January 1, 2018 to allow a transition period for local governments. This update is based on a technical report commissioned by the Province and published in 2011, which demonstrates how sea level rise will influence setbacks and flood construction levels in coastal areas and recommends incorporating sea level rise into planning and development to ensure a standard of public safety into the future. The Flood Hazard Area Land Use Management Guidelines have been prepared by the provincial government to help local governments, land-use managers, and approving officers develop and implement land-use management plans, and make subdivision approval decisions, in areas subject to flood hazards.

This update represents a significant policy change that will impact land use and development decisions made by local governments in coastal areas. The update amends sections 3.5 (The Sea) and 3.6 (Areas Protected by Standard Dikes) based on a series of technical studies, Climate Change Adaptation Guidelines for Sea Dikes and Coastal Flood Hazard Land Use (Ausenco Sandwell, 2011), as well as discussion with local governments and stakeholders over several years.

A technical working group of local government professional staff was established by the Province to review written submissions on the FHALUMG proposed amendments and make recommendations to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations regarding changes to the draft amendment. 

The Local Government Act:

Section 298	where building regulations are established or under S.305 where the building inspector considers that construction would be subject to flooding and flood proofing conditions are not established in any of the above
Section 488	where a development permit area has been designated under the provisions of Section 488 a development permit may specific areas of land that may be subject to hazardous conditions;
Section 479	can regulate parcel configuration, the density of the land use, siting and standards of buildings and structures;
Section 524	of the Local Government Act to enact either flood construction level or floodplain setback standards.

Additional Resources

Adapting to Climate Change – BC Coast Engineers & Geoscientists BC Legislated Flood Assessments in a Changing Climate in BC

Relative Sea level Project in Canada & Adjacent Mainland US

Canada’s Marine Coast in a Changing Climate – 2016

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Coastal Floodplain Mapping – Guidelines and Specifications (June, 2011) PLEASE NOTE: this is a large file and may take time to download

BC Ministry of Environment Sea Level Rise Adaptation Primer A Toolkit to Build Adaptive Capacity on Canada’s South Coasts (January 2013)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada An Examination of the Factors Affecting Relative and Absolute Sea Level in Coastal British Columbia Canadian Technical Report of Hydrography and Ocean Sciences 260 (2008)

BC Ministry of Environment Professional Practices in Assessing Flood Protection Guidelines (June 30, 2014)