With flood season approaching fast, a new Floodplain Management Bylaw is in the works at the District of Kent.
At their June 13 meeting, council approved a report from district staff which requested that the district’s flood control regulations be updated by the inclusion of the Floodplain Management bylaw.
Currently, the only bylaw in place regarding flooding is the Flood Control Provisions section of the District Zoning Bylaw, which was implemented in 1981 and hasn’t been updated since.
“Over time, these regulations should be reviewed and updated,” explained Director of Development Services Darcey Kohuch, who presented the report to council at their June 13 meeting.
The new bylaw will include regulations for construction on floodplains, regulated by data gathered by an engineer hired by the district in January. The study suggested that the district update their current minimum flood setback from watercourses amount of 15 metres be changed to 30.
The 30 metre amount will only be a starting point as builders will be able to build closer to watercourses, if permitted by an approving officer.
Aside from updating the flood setback requirements, the bylaw will also relieve property owners of the requirement to apply for a Development Variance permit for livestock housing renovations and additions, as well as small additions to single family residences.
“Those are two examples where we want to make the process less onerous for property owners,” Hohuch said.