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MattersEnvironmentFirst seen Feb 7, 2022Last discussed Jun 5, 2023

Proposed dust regulation bylaw

A notice of motion asked staff to draft a dust regulation bylaw with tools to address construction dust. The proposed rules could help the city respond to dust impacts on residents.

Where it stands: A request for staff to draft the bylaw was noted Sep 6, 2022; no decision is recorded.

Background

Earlier and later steps of the same initiative.

  1. Sep 6, 2022

    Dust control rules discussion

    The city discussed whether to create rules to control dust, including dust from construction. The record does not specify proposed requirements or enforcement measures.

  2. Jun 5, 2023

    Construction dust control rules

    The City is reviewing how to reduce dust from construction activities such as demolition, excavation and hauling. Staff were directed to draft construction impact guidelines and broaden dust-control requirements for further review.

Timeline

Every time this matter appeared in council records, newest first.

  1. June 5, 2023·Public comment
    • Wendy Hobbs (Luxon Road)Concerned · Dust bylaw and Luxton Road sidewalks
      Urges a separate, enforceable dust bylaw and prioritizing dangerous Luxton Road sidewalks as traffic from nearby development increases.
    • S. Rossender (Ravensview Drive)Asks · Open meeting video recordings
      Asks why complete recordings of open council meetings are not made public so residents can verify meeting minutes and proceedings.
    • Michael Sunshine (Lang Vista Drive)Mixed · Dust control bylaw
      Supports a construction-impact strategy but urges a separate, near-term dust bylaw covering existing projects and businesses.
    • A residentSupports · Dust control bylaw
      Urges immediate enactment of the draft dust bylaw, stronger enforcement, and possible stop-work orders for repeat offenders.
  2. September 6, 2022· Council

    Notice requests a draft bylaw to address construction dust

    Councillor Szpak's notice of motion requested staff draft a Dust Regulation Bylaw to provide enforcement tools for construction dust mitigation.

  3. September 6, 2022·Public comment
    • A resident (Phelps Avenue)Supports · Dust-control bylaw
      Supports the dust-control bylaw, citing neighborhood construction dust and residents’ concerns about what families are breathing.
    • Wendy Hobbs (Luxton Road)Supports · Environmental committee; dust controls
      Supports automatic dust controls rather than complaint-driven responses and urges environmental committee members to have relevant expertise.
    • A residentSupports · Dust-control bylaw
      Urges council to enact effective dust controls, citing years of heavy neighborhood dust and inadequate developer and city enforcement.
    • A residentOpposes · Dust-control bylaw
      Questions the timing of the proposed dust bylaw, describing it as election-season grandstanding after years of unmet concerns.
    • Mary Wagner (Deville Road)Mixed · Environmental committee; dust bylaw; Naughty Pine Road
      Urges environmental oversight beyond city-owned lands, expert committee members, proactive dust controls, and adequate green-space planning for Naughty Pine.
    • B. Armstrong (Rodney Road)Mixed · Dust bylaw; Naughty Pine Road development
      Supports dust controls for impacts from denser development and urges adequate green space and separation at Naughty Pine.
    • A residentConcerned · Gravel parking variance
      States: Flags an incorrect property boundary in the notice and warns a long-term gravel lot could create dust, noise, and access impacts.
    • Patsy Hamilton (Granderson Road)Asks · Dust and construction impacts
      Reports severe dust, traffic, idling-truck emissions, and blocked access, and asks which authority can address the impacts.
    • N. Joel · Off-agenda allegations
      States: Alleges that another participant’s household contributes dust and has used asphalt and contaminated materials near a creek.
    • A resident (Prospector Way)Supports · Dust-control bylaw
      Urges council to take the dust bylaw seriously, citing public-health risks from silica dust and the city’s responsibility to protect residents.
    • Tanya Sunshine (Langvista Drive)Supports · Environmental committee; dust-control bylaw
      Urges environmental recommendations to cover all Langford lands and supports the proposed dust-control bylaw.
    • A resident (Goldstream Avenue)Opposes · Dust-control bylaw
      Opposes a new dust bylaw, arguing existing cooperative mitigation strategies are effective and development sites have different conditions.
  4. August 15, 2022·Public comment
    • A residentMixed · City Center Park and dust bylaw
      Requests greater public engagement in mezzanine financing decisions and supports a dust bylaw to improve neighbourhood livability.
    • A resident (Luxton Road)Concerned · City Center Park mezzanine
      Questions the absence of provincial funding and warns repayment terms could effectively extend the operator’s contract for 15 years.
    • A residentConcerned · City Center Park mezzanine
      Notes that withholding mezzanine rental revenue until repayment carries a cost for residents and asks for a fuller staff report.
    • Wendy Hobbs (Luxton Road)Mixed · City Center Park and council chamber access
      Clarifies the space serves a private academy, not Belmont Academy, and asks council to review limits on residents attending chamber meetings.
  5. August 15, 2022·Notice of motion

    Notice of motion from Councillor Szpak regarding a Dust Regulation Bylaw.

  6. February 7, 2022·Public comment
    • Tanya SunshineOpposes · Lang Vista parking
      Opposes restricting shared city-frontage parking, notes other options may be available, and offers to meet with staff to discuss the site.
    • A residentOpposes · Lang Vista parking
      Opposes reducing cul-de-sac parking, describes conflict over city-frontage spaces, and offers an on-site meeting to address neighbours’ concerns.
    • L. PlompMixed · Dust control, code of conduct, borrowing
      Urges dust-control consultation, supports a council code of conduct, and questions 25-year borrowing without clear repayment timelines.
    • S. GearyConcerned · Bear Mountain amendment, dust control
      Asks whether the Bear Mountain lot-line amendment could affect forested land and urges effective dust controls against silica exposure.
    • A residentSupports · Dust control, attainable home ownership
      Supports the current complaint-based dust response and the proposed attainable home-ownership policy, citing effective staff collaboration and developer interest.
    • A residentMixed · Dust control, code of conduct, borrowing
      Urges enforceable dust controls, supports a council code of conduct, and questions borrowing for private development when other developers pay infrastructure costs.
    • A residentConcerned · Lang Vista parking
      Warns that reducing parking could worsen ongoing bylaw complaints and parking problems on Lang Vista.
    • A residentMixed · Borrowing, code of conduct
      Questions the risks, collateral, and administrative costs of the proposed borrowing, and supports a council code of conduct.
    • Mary WagnerMixed · Dust control, borrowing, public participation
      Supports a dust-control bylaw, questions borrowing risks and rationale, and asks for clearer code-of-conduct details and later public comment.
    • B. ArmstrongConcerned · Dust control, homelessness services
      Urges enforceable dust controls and a plan for people experiencing homelessness, including appropriate local services.
    • A residentConcerned · Dust control, code of conduct
      Asks what measures protect residents from silica dust and urges a council code of conduct covering interactions with the public.
    • A residentMixed · Dust control, borrowing, code of conduct
      Urges dust-control accountability, questions the community benefit of developer borrowing, and supports conduct standards for council and public interactions.
    • A residentConcerned · Dust control
      Urges council to assess silica dust’s public-health impacts rather than dismissing concerns, noting existing mining and workplace rules.