Development Variance Permit 284 – Vacant Cranberry Street

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Consultation has concluded

The property owner of a vacant parcel of land on Cranberry Street, which is located four lots northeast of the entrance to Lindsay Park, has applied for a development variance permit. This application is seeking to remove the requirement to provide and install new sanitary, water, and storm water service connection upgrades, and a new fire hydrant when the property is developed.

In early spring of 2024, an application for a preliminary works and services request (PWSR) was submitted to the Engineering Services Department for Lot 4 Cranberry Street to help determine the servicing costs of building a residential dwelling on the property. Once the property owner had reviewed the PWSR, they submitted a development variance permit application to request a relaxation of three different servicing requirements.

The first variance is related to sanitary servicing requirements. The owner is requesting to tie-in a new sanitary service connection to the City’s sanitary sewer system without providing the required 100mm service connection. Every property that ties into the City's sanitary sewer system must have a service connection, the only way to avoid this cost would be if the property had an existing connection, and City records indicate that this property does not have an existing connection.

The second variance is related to water servicing, the owner is requesting to tie water service directly into the City's trunk main on Cranberry Street, and to remove the requirement to install a new fire hydrant. Engineering Services staff are generally not supportive of tying water services into trunk mains because this can increase vulnerability and disruptions to the broader network. The City is requesting a new fire hydrant since the existing fire hydrant does not meet the current standards. While staff do understand that the subject lot is small and is the last one along its portion of Cranberry Street, staff note that the same requirements would be requested if the vacant lots southeast of the subject lot were being developed.

The third and final variance is related to the requirement to provide a 100mm storm water connection. The property owner is able to design and install on-site storm water management if they wish as part of the building permit process.

While minor variations to servicing requirements are possible, varying the requirements to provide the necessary installations or upgrades would not meet the minimum servicing level set out in Bylaw 2225. Due to this, staff are not supportive of any of the above requested variances. The final decision rests with Council, and they have the ability to approve some or all of the variances if they wish.

Council will consider granting approval for issuance of Development Variance Permit 284 at its May 8, 2025, regular meeting. Anyone who feels they may be affected by the proposed variance can make written submission to Mayor and Council. Submissions may be emailed to planningservices@powellriver.ca, mailed to City Hall, 6910 Duncan Street, Powell River, BC, V8A 1V4, or delivered in person to City Hall. All written submissions must be received no later than 2 pm on May 8, 2025.

As always, residents are welcome to reach out directly to Planning Services staff with any additional questions or concerns. Our offices can be reached at 604-485-8650 or planningservices@powellriver.ca.


The property owner of a vacant parcel of land on Cranberry Street, which is located four lots northeast of the entrance to Lindsay Park, has applied for a development variance permit. This application is seeking to remove the requirement to provide and install new sanitary, water, and storm water service connection upgrades, and a new fire hydrant when the property is developed.

In early spring of 2024, an application for a preliminary works and services request (PWSR) was submitted to the Engineering Services Department for Lot 4 Cranberry Street to help determine the servicing costs of building a residential dwelling on the property. Once the property owner had reviewed the PWSR, they submitted a development variance permit application to request a relaxation of three different servicing requirements.

The first variance is related to sanitary servicing requirements. The owner is requesting to tie-in a new sanitary service connection to the City’s sanitary sewer system without providing the required 100mm service connection. Every property that ties into the City's sanitary sewer system must have a service connection, the only way to avoid this cost would be if the property had an existing connection, and City records indicate that this property does not have an existing connection.

The second variance is related to water servicing, the owner is requesting to tie water service directly into the City's trunk main on Cranberry Street, and to remove the requirement to install a new fire hydrant. Engineering Services staff are generally not supportive of tying water services into trunk mains because this can increase vulnerability and disruptions to the broader network. The City is requesting a new fire hydrant since the existing fire hydrant does not meet the current standards. While staff do understand that the subject lot is small and is the last one along its portion of Cranberry Street, staff note that the same requirements would be requested if the vacant lots southeast of the subject lot were being developed.

The third and final variance is related to the requirement to provide a 100mm storm water connection. The property owner is able to design and install on-site storm water management if they wish as part of the building permit process.

While minor variations to servicing requirements are possible, varying the requirements to provide the necessary installations or upgrades would not meet the minimum servicing level set out in Bylaw 2225. Due to this, staff are not supportive of any of the above requested variances. The final decision rests with Council, and they have the ability to approve some or all of the variances if they wish.

Council will consider granting approval for issuance of Development Variance Permit 284 at its May 8, 2025, regular meeting. Anyone who feels they may be affected by the proposed variance can make written submission to Mayor and Council. Submissions may be emailed to planningservices@powellriver.ca, mailed to City Hall, 6910 Duncan Street, Powell River, BC, V8A 1V4, or delivered in person to City Hall. All written submissions must be received no later than 2 pm on May 8, 2025.

As always, residents are welcome to reach out directly to Planning Services staff with any additional questions or concerns. Our offices can be reached at 604-485-8650 or planningservices@powellriver.ca.