“MEMORANDUM

Mayor and Council June 20th, 1975

L.D. Pollock
City Administrator

Re: Building Levels in the Flood Plain

The Council will be considering a report from the City Engineer regarding an amendment
to the Zoning By-law covering building levels in the flood plain. This was discussed
by the Planning and Zoning Committee at their last meeting,

The Committee asked me to canvass the adjacent municipalities to see if Water Resources
had placed similar restrictions on these municipalities. We contacted Surrey, Richmond,
Delta, Burnaby, Pitt Meadows and Coquitlam. In the case of Surrey and Burnaby, their
flood plain lands are not developing as residential and therefore there is no particular
problem. In the case of Delta, they have had no experience with a request for any
changes in their By-law and have had Zoning By-laws approved without protest. In the
case of Richmond and Pitt Meadows, they have established building levels, in each case,
to suit their own requirements. These requirements are not quite as strict as those
“Suggested by Water Resources, but they are deemed to provide adequate protection, in

the case of Pitt Meadows, it runs about six feet above high water mark for the habitable
floor level. In the case of Coquitiam and ourselves, it appears that we are being
requested to provide similar provision from the effects of the Coquitlam and the Pitt
Rivers. Coquitlam are, at the present time, refining an amendment to their Zoning
By-law which would cover building in all of the flood plain area. Their Building
Department has not stopped issuing permits in the flood plain area but they are
requesting applicants to comply with certain building levels and are generally receiving

co-operation. ,

The above refers to building permit applications where no rezoning or subdivision is
involved.

In connection with rezonings, Land Use Contracts, or subdivisions, the requirements
seem to be pretty consistent in all municipalities. Water Resources, in the course of
approving subdivisions or Land Use Contracts, are making the requirement that a clause
be included saving the municipality and Province harmless from any claims resulting from
flood damage. They are requiring that buildings be designed to withstand flood and in
addition they are requiring some provision for adequate insurance.

_

De anal,
L.D. Pollock