Archeological sites are a hot topic in the news these days. They can be controversial, but they are an essential part of developing property these days on the coast of BC so it is important to know what needs to be done.
Some properties have already had assessments done and have marked archeological sites on them. Understanding the implications of these sites is important, as an owner, or potential owner, needs to know what can and can't be done with the property.
If you wish to build on a property or make major alterations to a property, then an archeological assessment is generally required. You can first determine if there are any known sites on the property by contacting the provincial government through their
Archaeology Branch. Most municipalities and regional districts will require an assessment during the permitting process.
From the Archaeology Branch's FAQ document, these are two things they see as important to property owners:
"The
current use of the property is seldom affected unless the use involves
significant land alteration. A house on a fully developed lot is not affected
by overlapping with an archaeological site. An active gravel pit is a concern,
because this current use will damage or destroy a site.
New development, such as changing the building footprint, major landscaping, or
installation of an in ground swimming pool, will be a concern, because the new
activity may damage the archaeological site. When planning for land use change,
ensure that a professional consulting archaeologist is part of the planning
process. They can determine if the new development will have an effect on the
archaeological site.
In many cases, the archaeological site is not within the development zone. As
an example, sites on waterfront properties are usually close to the water and
are often contained within zoning setbacks set up to protect other environmental
values."
Owning property on the BC Coast is a dream for many, and it is important to have all the information on hand when making those dreams reality.
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