Natural Environment

Policy 14.1.1. Motor Vehicle Use and Air Quality.   
Promote land uses that reduce reliance on motor vehicles.  Restrict land uses and activities that require idling such as new drive through developments.

Policy 14.1.2. Land Uses and Point Sources of Air Pollution.
Encourage land uses that accommodate vulnerable populations (e.g. seniors, children, people with health challenges) to locate away from major point sources of air pollution, such as industry.  If not feasible, consider building design features that will reduce exposure, such as placement of air intakes or additional air filtration.

Policy 14.1.3. Active Transportation and Air Pollution.
Design Active Transportation Corridors to reduce exposure to exhaust pollutants from motor vehicles or traffic related air pollution by considering routes, physical separation, or vegetation to filter pollutants from congested roadways.

Policy 14.3.1. Okanagan Lake Ecosystem Health.  
Preserve the ecosystem health of Okanagan Lake, recognizing the ecosystem functions it provides to all local species, not just humans.  Encourage stewardship of the lake for future generations.

Policy 14.3.2. Natural Shoreline Conservation.  
Conserve the natural shoreline of Okanagan Lake to preserve areas of archaeological and cultural significance, shore spawning fish habitat, wetlands, stream corridors, steep slopes, rock outcrops, cliffs, species at risk, and to maintain natural ecosystem processes that sustain local flora and fauna.

Policy 14.3.3. Foreshore Structures.
Ensure structures that obstruct public access along the foreshore are brought into compliance with current regulations prior to the approval of an upland  development application.

Policy 14.3.4. Shoreline Erosion Protection.   
Where possible, use green infrastructure and natural asset management to protect the foreshore during flooding (e.g. expanded riparian areas, stabilize foreshore with natural materials, etc.).  Avoid hard armoring shoreline with retaining walls.

Policy 14.3.5. Okanagan Lake Water Quality.   
Protect the water quality of Okanagan Lake by managing activities in upland source water areas to reduce pollutants entering the Lake.

Policy 14.5.1. Development Design in Environmentally Sensitive Areas. 
Design new development to prioritize protection of environmentally sensitive areas as identified in Map 21.1 Natural Environment Development Permit area. Design the development to not disturb natural ecosystems, preserve environmentally sensitive features, adapt to natural topography and to avoid overall environmental impact. For those developments also in a Wildfire Development Permit Area (Map 20.2), ensure the development is also designed to minimize wildfire risk.

Policy 14.5.2. Native Vegetation Retention.
Maximize the retention of existing native vegetation and restore native vegetation wherever possible during site development in environmentally sensitive areas as identified in Map 21.1 Natural Environment Development Permit area to enhance ecosystem services, maintain biodiversity and minimize erosion and runoff. In Wildfire Development Permit Areas (Map 20.2) vegetation loss may be necessary as recommended by a qualified professional, to minimize risk.

Policy 14.5.3. Environmentally Sensitive Area Protection Tools.
Protect and preserve environmentally sensitive areas using one or more of the following measures at the time of development:

• Dedicating land as a City park or natural areas and managed to prioritize their sensitive features in balance with public use;
• Returning to Crown Land;
• Placing a covenant for conservation purposes with the City, the Province and/or a nongovernmental organization (e.g. Central Okanagan Land Trust) eligible to hold Conservation Covenants;
• Incentivizing development within PGB (e.g. density transfer, cluster housing, etc.) that will facilitate the protection of all or significant portions of ESAs;
• Protecting of ESAs or portions of ESAs as amenity contributions when new development requires a change to zoning that increases density over present zoning within PGB; and
• Ensuring setbacks on adjacent developments are adequate to maintain the integrity of the ESA and to minimize hazards created at the interface between natural areas and development.

Policy 14.5.4. Voluntary Environmentally Sensitive Area Protection. 
When an owner of land offers voluntary protection of an ESA, consider allowing increased density on the balance of the subject property by including the dedicated area in the density calculation; transferring density to another property; trading land; purchasing land; offering grants-in-aid; or granting tax exemptions.

Policy 14.5.5. Site Density Calculations.  
Allow the owner(s) of land affected by dedications for environmental protection to use the original site area in computing density and floor area ratios and minimum area for development or subdivisions purposes.

Policy 14.5.6. Riparian Area Restoration.   
Restore negatively impacted riparian areas prior to subdivision or rezoning approval. 

Policy 14.5.7. No Net Loss of Terrestrial Habitat.
Require land use and development projects to have “no net loss” of natural ecosystems and their functions  as determined through environmental assessment for those properties identified on the Natural Environment Development Permit Map 21.1. In the long term the City will strive for a net gain in overall productivity of terrestrial habitats.

Policy 14.5.8. No Net Loss of Aquatic Habitat Productivity.
Require land use and development projects to have “no net loss” of aquatic habitat productivity, based on the principle of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans “no net loss” policy, as determined through environmental assessment for those properties identified on the Natural Environment Development Permit Map 21.1. In the long term the City will strive for a net gain in overall productivity of aquatic habitats.

Policy 14.5.9. Habitat Management Hierarchy.
Ensure the following sequence of management actions for all public or private projects be adhered to, in areas identified in Natural Environmental Development Permit Map 21.1, to achieve the “no net loss/net gain” principle of ESA:

• AVOID impacts to habitat through appropriate project siting and design;
• MITIGATE minor or temporary impacts by minimizing impacts, and repairing and restoring damaged habitats to their former state or better;
• COMPENSATE only when residual, permanent loss of habitat is unavoidable, acceptable and compensable. Habitat compensation proposals will not be accepted as a trade-off for incomplete on-site mitigation where effective mitigation efforts are feasible. Development proponents are responsible for proving that all measures to avoid or mitigate potential habitat impacts have been exhausted prior to proposing habitat compensation measures on or off-site.

Policy 14.5.10. Varying Riparian Management Area Requirements.
Retain the option to vary the width of Riparian Management Areas to accommodate the maximum retention of desirable natural vegetation and wildlife habitat, ground formations, and water features through a “no net loss” approach.

Policy 14.5.11. Environmentally Sensitive Area Linkages.
Ensure that development activity does not compromise the ecological function of ESAs and maintains the integrity of plant and wildlife corridors.

Policy 14.5.12. Transportation Environmental Impacts.   
Reduce the impacts of transportation infrastructure on the natural environment by:

• Reducing runoff through infiltration and retention using green infrastructure practices as low impact development controls;
• Capturing pollutants and sediments from storm water runoff before they enter the natural environment;
• Planting native vegetation along streets and pathways;
• Providing wildlife passages at key locations; and
• Modifying road layouts and alignments, where feasible, to protect environmentally sensitive areas.

Policy 14.5.13. Reduce Light and Noise Pollution. 
Encourage development to buffer along adjacent ESAs to reduce light and noise pollution that may negatively affect wildlife.