Community Responses

In the interest of Longlands’ commitment to ensuring transparency of process and open dialogue, we have posted the following question and answer summary of community feedback provided through public information meetings and various stakeholder meetings outlined on the Community Consultation To Date page. This information has proven vital to shaping the development scheme, and has enabled Longlands’ design team to respond to community concerns and values.

Will the golf course be retained in the proposed development?  The existing 18 hole, Par 3 Longlands golf course will be retained and upgraded.

How will the golf course be maintained, particularly with respect to the use of chemicals?   Two of wettest golf course holes are being realigned to mitigate requirement of fungicides. The golf course will be maintained and operated in accordance with guidelines prescribed in, “Greening your Golf Course – A Guide to Environmental Management”, published by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.  Irrigation of the course will include the use of reclaimed wastewater and harvested rainwater.

Will steps be taken to retain much of the site’s existing tree cover and prevent post-development blowdown?  The design process will aim to locate buildings and roads in areas with sparse tree cover, and will aim to retain as much of the existing forest as possible, particularly wooded marginal buffers.  The project’s arborist will recommend prescriptions for the management of newly created forest edges that will include consideration of prevailing winds when removing trees, and selective pruning and new plantings along new edges.

Will the existing functionality of the Brooklyn Creek watershed be impaired by the development?  The existing condition of the Brooklyn Creek watershed will not be affected by the development due to the adoption of innovate on-site stormwater management protocols to ensure that post-development peak flows will be significantly lower than pre-development peak flows.  A three-pronged approach to stormwater will be employed: 1) use Low Impact Development (LID) Principles in site design; 2) use source control Best Management Practices (BMPs); 3) Retain peak flow storm events in excess of source control design capacity.

Will the site’s existing wetlands and wildlife corridors be maintained?  Existing wildlife corridors will be maintained through the retention of linear, wooded greenways along the west margin and through the centre of the site, and through the preservation and enhancement of existing treed wetland complexes in the site’ southwest and north sectors.

Will the creation of trails and parking areas adjacent to Galleon Way residences affect privacy and the area’s existing rural character?  Wooded buffer strips will be maintained between all developed areas and existing residences along Galleon Way to ensure that privacy is maintained.  Trail systems created in this area will be deeded to CVRD Parks as part of the project’s expansive parkland dedication, which will be maintained in perpetuity by municipal authorities.

Will affordable housing be made part of the development?  The development is open to including an affordable housing component in its portfolio of residential dwelling options.  We will engage with community stakeholders on this issue to better understand community need.

Will Longlands retain its present rural feeling while maintaining the privacy of adjacent properties?  Longlands is being designed to be a “village in the forest” with numerous community gardens that will be integrated into the site’s servicing infrastructure. The present treed entry from Anderton Road will be largely preserved, as will wooded buffers along all property margins.

Will Lannan Forest be preserved? Lannan Forest is privately owned, but the Longlands development will be contextually planned such that existing drainage patterns, vegetation ecotypes, and wildlife corridors, and trails between Lannan Forest and Longlands are preserved.

How will noise and pollution be controlled on the site? Areas of the development proposed for congregation and public interaction are focused internally on the site, and will be isolated from neighbouring properties by wooded buffers.

How will non-native/invasive species be managed on the site?  Longland’s landscape management plan will include provisions for the control and eradication of invasive plant and animal species.

Will the site’s native vegetation be protected? Based on inventories of the site’s vegetation, efforts will be made to preserve and/or enhance the functional conditions of all identified rare or endangered plant communities and forest stands.

Will educational opportunities be created relating to the site’s environmental features?  Site design includes the construction of two trail systems and educational / interpretive centres adjacent to the site’s existing wetland complexes and proposed environmental enhancement projects.

Will the development include a commercial component that will service its residents?  The Longlands development will include a commercial and recreational components intended to allow its future residents to live, work, and play within the boundaries of the property, and will encourage reductions in the use of private transportation to obtain essential foodstuffs and health / wellness goods and services.

Will the proposed community be people-oriented?  The development will include a centralized village plaza that will foster a senses of place and community and will be a focal point for the future residents’ relaxation and recreation.

Will the development accommodate people who wish to “age in place”?  The Longlands development will include a range of retirement and assisted living residential options of various sizes and price ranges, and will provide on-site health care facilities.

How will the development control light pollution?  Site lighting will be designed in accordance with guiding principles advocated by the “International Dark-Sky Association”, so that the enjoyment of neighbouring properties are not adversely affected by light-related issues.

Will building heights be maintained below the tops of the site’s trees to protect privacy of adjacent properties?  The development plan will not include buildings higher than four storeys, which is well below the tops of the site’s mature tree stands. This key design feature, together with the retention of wooded buffers along the site’s margins, should ensure that neighbour privacy is protected.

Will there be through traffic from the site to Galleon Way?  An emergency-only road link is proposed between the site and Galleon Way.