
A new subdivision has been approved in Rayleigh despite some concerns.
Last week, council approved a development variance permit for up to 11 new homes on Davie Road and Mattock-McKeague Road, near the North Thompson River, with a new septic system to be built as well for each lot. An exact construction timeline has not been made clear.
Director of development services, Marvin Kwiatkowski, says an expert report on the proposed septic system made stipulations to ensure there’s no harm to the river.
“Looking at the soils makeup, and from what the professionals have stated, there doesn’t seem to be any concerns. There’s enough room, there will be a covenant put on for a second septic field, should there be any problems with the first field in the future. So all those precautions and necessary steps have been put into place.”
Councillors Dale Bass and Arjun Singh voted against the development permit, which passed by a 7-2 vote at the table.
Singh voiced several concerns, including potential issues with the new septic fields.
“I also have questions around density and how this aligns with our OCP [Official Community Plan]. And also with the use of agricultural land there, and sort of taking up agricultural land by development. I think the developer has some development rights, but I don’t think they necessarily extend to the fact of council necessarily approving this.”
Despite 11 new homes in Rayleigh now approved, the city’s OCP expected Rayleigh’s population to grow by just 10 residents between 2018 and 2039.
Bass also brought up a concern raised by at least one resident on traffic at rail crossings in Rayleigh, something that councillors have voiced for years to CN Rail officials.
“As far as traffic goes, there’s 11 new homes. Capacity of the roads would not be a problem as far as what they’re designed for. That’s not a heavy burden on the homes. But yes, adding some extra traffic, due to the trains, that is a situation that is of concern. And it’s being looked at, at a higher level,” Kwiatkowski told council last week.
It appears the noise council has made over the years on residents’ concerns of Rayleigh at CN Rail crossings have not made their way up the ladder. Last year, a new spokesperson for CN talked to Kamloops council and said she’d never heard of that issue.
Meanwhile, while an expert report gave a greenlight for a proposed septic system for the new development, the city is studying the option of bringing Rayleigh onto municipal sewer service in several years from now. The city has spent $75,000 on a study, and city staff indicate it could cost $30,000 to $40,000 to switch from septic to city sewer lines.
“The Rayleigh Waterworks District has not expressed any concerns with the proposed on-site septic, and the future water service extensions will be addressed at the subdivision stage,” a city staff report says.