A development that could see another 162 one-acre lots in east Maple Ridge has cleared first reading at council.
Creus Engineering, applying on behalf of a numbered company, 640724 B.C. Inc., wants to put in the homes just south of Blue Mountain forest, between 269th and 272nd streets.
A staff report says the one-acre lots fit the official community plan but describes the area as an “environmentally complicated site.”
Two creeks, Copper and McFadden, that run through the site are fish-bearing, while there also are five tributaries to the latter on the site.
The proposed development also sits atop the Blue Mountain aquifer and is adjacent to properties that rely on well water.
However, the proposal for the site is to have each one-acre lot served by Metro Vancouver water while septic systems would treat sewage.
Another concern is that the site lies within Maple Ridge’s wildfire development permit area. That would require using development and construction practices that don’t contribute to forest fire hazards.
Building materials and maintenance practices that would minimize the spread of fire also would have to be used.
A staff report says “more detailed analysis” particularly concerning protection for streams and the environment is needed before second reading, while developing a road concept “for this large site will be necessary and challenging.”