Onni Group’s work toward expanding the Golden Ears Business Park in Pitt Meadows has been suspended over environmental concerns.
An environmental consultant, hired by the city, found that fill brought to the site washed into Katzie Slough.
The developer’s soil removal and fill deposit permit at 19265 Airport Way has been temporarily suspended until all the environmental problems noted by Dillon Consulting Ltd. have been corrected.
“I am disappointed the developer would have been so apparently cavalier in its attention to the details of the permit,” said Mayor John Becker.
South Bonson residents raised questions about Onni’s practices. Council responded by asking for a third-party environmental consultant review and critique of the developer’s work to date. The review started in early January, and a report came to council on March 25.
Among the deficiencies reported were collapsed and improperly installed silt fences. As well, water on the site did not pass through a settlement pond.
“Sediment-laden water exceeding B.C. Water Quality Guidelines for the protection of aquatic life was observed entering Katzie Slough from a culvert conveying water from 19265 Airport Way,” said the report.
That was hard to take, said Becker, noting that Katzie Slough has been the subject of a citizen initiative to restore the polluted waterway to a healthy natural state.
“On behalf of the city, I’m embarrassed that this has happened under our watch,” Becker added.
The South Bonson residents who oppose the expansion of the Golden Ears Business Park were glad to see Onni’s permit suspended.
“It’s a small victory for the people against big business,” said Corinne O’Handley. “The residents of South Bonson are ecstatic.
She said they feel validated.
The residents oppose the development of another two million square feet of light industrial space in the area, claiming it does not fit in the residential area.
But Becker said the issue is bigger than the South Bonson neighbourhood.
“The level of anger about this issue is common to people for and against the project,” noted Becker.
He added that the problems are ones which should be easily rectified.
Work at Onni’s site at 19451 Sutton Avenue, for which 245 townhomes are proposed, was also reviewed and no issues were reported.