Gibsons council has approved $5,000 for a study to review existing drainage infrastructure as it works to address issues in the Spyglass area subdivision.
The funding, approved at the Feb. 21 committee of the whole meeting, will be used for the study that will attempt to determine if the existing infrastructure can accommodate the increase in runoff from the development if the use of individual rock pits on the properties is discontinued.
"The impetus behind having this study completed is to address concerns voiced by Abbs Road residents regarding subsurface water flows," said director of engineering Dave Newman. "It has not been established whether the Spyglass subdivision is the cause of their concerns; however, the discontinued use of individual rock pits for this development, regardless of the findings of a more detailed engineering study, may provide the comfort the residents are looking for."
The 16-lot subdivision was developed in two phases between O'Shea Road and Abbs Road from 2004 to 2007, including an expansion of Spyglass Place. According to Newman's report, the development has slopes in excess of 12 per cent and, prior to development, was fully treed.
Late last year, residents on Abbs Road approached the Town with concerns about impacts from groundwater on their properties, which they suspected was resulting from stormwater flows generated from the Spyglass subdivision.
The previous council in October 2011 directed staff to address several issues of concern to the residents. They included: a review, which is ongoing, of the subdivision and development bylaw; and that staff take immediate steps to improve the inspection of individual lot stormwater management systems during the subdivision and building permit process. This is also underway and ongoing according to Newman, and staff have detailed some internal procedures, meet at least once a month to review projects and are working together on improving communications. Staff have also temporarily capped off the rock pits for three homes currently under construction.
Staff were instructed to inspect the lots within the Spyglass subdivision to make sure they were graded in a manner so that the surface flow is not directed onto adjacent private or public lands. This is ongoing, as well, according to Newman.
Staff were also instructed to install a perimeter drain adjacent to a sidewalk fronting several Abbs Road residences in order to intercept subsurface groundwater flows. According to Newman, this project is complete and is working well.
Following Newman's report, several councillors expressed concerns that this study was just a Band-Aid solution to a more ongoing and growing problem.
"I think what we need to do is become very comfortable going forward that we have a good solution for future development," said Coun. Gerry Tretick. "I don't know how we get there, but we need to work on it."
Mayor Wayne Rowe said the objective of the funding request by staff for this study is to moderate the immediate situation.
"If the engineers can determine the system can handle this, then the water would be diverted off Abbs Road. We had a short-term and a long-term objective. I think the short-term objective needs to be dealt with first," Rowe said.
