Developing Around Environmentally Sensitive Areas
As one of the outcomes of the City of Burnaby’s Environmental Policies for Community Development and Ecosystem Protection, the Environmental Review Committee (ERC) was established in 1999 in order to review development applications in environmentally sensitive areas in a coordinated manner among various departments and regulatory agencies. The ERC consists of City staff from the Planning and Building, Engineering and Parks Departments. Staff from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Ministry of Environment may also be consulted through the ERC.
The mandate of the ERC is to review development applications to ensure:
- Compliance with federal, provincial and City environmental legislation and policies;
- Coordinated and streamlined review of development applications;
- Protection and enhancement of sensitive ecosystems, while allowing for development opportunities consistent with the City’s broader strategic plans.
The City’s Streamside Protection and Enhancement Areas Bylaw (see 6.23 on page 23) mandates setbacks for development from streams, ravines, wetlands and lakeshores, in accordance with federal and provincial fisheries legislation. In situations where development is proposed within a streamside protection and enhancement area, an application must be made to the ERC for a relaxation (variance) to the setback. The Director of Planning and Building reviews and approves ERC recommendations for setback relaxation.
See the following documents for more information:
- Guide for Developing Near Streams provides a detailed overview of the background and process for environmental review
- ERC Guide for Applicants guides applicants through the ERC process
ERC Application Forms (refer to ERC Guide for Applicants to confirm which Type of form to use):
- ERC Type 1 Application Form for Local Areas Plans, Rezoning, Subdivision and Fill Permits
- ERC Type 2 Application Form for single and two-family developments
- ERC Type 3 Application Form for general applications and infrastructure development
