Regulations governing development and subdivision of properties in the South Saskatchewan River floodplain south of Saskatoon will be getting updated in the near future.
Corman Park Council adopted a resolution at a meeting on Monday, January 18 to contract with Stantec consultants to prepare a policy framework for new bylaws specific to the area.
The contract, in the amount of $68,557.20, will consist of five phases: background review and analysis; community and stakeholder consultation; draft options and bylaw regulations; draft policy options; and final preparation of amendments to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and Zoning Bylaw.
The South Saskatchewan River floodplain area is home to a number of recreational facilities, market gardens and other agricultural operations, and cultural venues.
In 2018, a comprehensive two-dimensional hydraulic model and flood hazard mapping study was completed by Barr Engineering. The study determined that some sections of the flood fringe could accommodate limited development provided adequate safeguards are in place.
In a report to the January 18, 2021 Corman Park council meeting, the municipality’s planning department indicated the OCP and zoning bylaw for the area needed updating to reflect the findings of the 2018 hydraulic study.
“Updates are required to provide an adequate policy framework to regulate development and subdivision in the flood plain,” stated the report to council.
Competitive bids to provide updated regulations were received from several qualified engineering firms. Stantec was among the firms submitting bids.
Over the course of the next several months, the firm will produce bylaw maps that identify the floodplain, flood fringe and floodway areas; conduct research to draft policy and development standards regarding permitted, discretionary and prohibited uses for both the floodway and flood fringe; and stipulate the types of flood-proofing measures and other standards to ensure both environmental and infrastructure protection.
The RM council agreed to provide funding for the project. However, an application may also be made to the federal government’s National Disaster Mitigation Program to offset some of those costs.