Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
At its regular meeting Aug. 26, Northern Sunrise County Council directed Administration to update the Environmental Sensitive Lands Emergency policy and bring back to a future council meeting for review and approval.
There is already a policy in place within the County that was created in Feb. 2017 to provide emergency grant funding for legally non-conforming primary residential developments.
“Any resident that is in the designated areas of the Thurber Report are eligible to apply for this funding,” explains Reeve Corinna Williams.
“Northern Sunrise County requested input from a geotechnical engineering firm (Thurber Engineering Ltd.) to determine the parameters involved in establishing safe setback distances for development in the vicinity of key river and creek valleys in the more populated areas of the county. Using the information collected Thurber developed recommended setback distances which were adopted by NSC Council in 2013.”
The policy allows Northern Sunrise County to offer a one-time grant for legally non-conforming residential properties that have been damaged or destroyed to the extent of more than 75 percent of the value of the building above its foundation and are required to have a geotechnical report to rebuild in accordance with the land use bylaw.
There are two provisions in the policy that allow grant distribution, including covering up to $50,000 for commissioning of a geotechnical report or purchasing the property from the owner if the geotechnical report deems the land not developable.
“These are residences that were built prior to the Top of Bank study conducted by Thurber in 2013, which are located closer to the top of banks than what is allowed under the report,” explains Williams, noting that the county is trying to help residents who may be affected by this.
“Multiple locations within the County are included in this. Wherever the Thurber Report has identified a greater distance in setback than what was previously existing.”
A copy of the Thurber Report can be obtained by contacting the Northern Sunrise County office.
To be considered for the grant, the property cannot be sold because of perceived risks identified by the report.
Various stipulations must be met in order for the grant money to be doled out, to the maximum of $50,000.
Council has asked administration to bring back to council at a later date for review.