LOWER MAINLAND STEEL

SURREY, B.C.

CLIENT:  LOWER MAINLAND STEEL (1998) LTD. 

When new residential development began to be constructed on the hillside to the south of the Lower Mainland Steel (LMS) facility they became concerned that their long term operation would become the target of noise complaints from the new residents.  As a long established manufacturing facility along the 64th Avenue industrial corridor, this concern was shared by other operators in the area.  

Our firm was retained by LMS to represent them and other adjacent operators in an approach to the City of Surrey to address their concerns and ensure their long term viability at their existing locations.  A review of the new Neighbourhood Plan and Zoning Bylaw confirmed the City’s commitment to the industrial users and we approached the City with a program to create a long term good neighbour relationship between the new residential use and the long established industrial uses.

The City ultimately adopted our proposal requiring heavy berming, fencing and landscape buffering along the residential/industrial interface.  Each new development also had to register restrictive covenants on all new parcels making purchasers aware of the pre-exiting presence of the industrial uses and the likelihood of noise emanating from those sites possibly being more than they might have anticipated.

We also undertook our own acoustic studies to ensure that the noise emitted from the LMS site did not exceed bylaw standards.  As a good neighbour LMS also undertook some on-site modifications to their operations to ensure their continuing compliance with noise standards.  During the development process we also monitored each new development for adherence to the legal requirements and reviewed each new buffer plan for similar compliance.  We also carried out regular site inspections to ensure that all buffer installations were being constructed according to the approved plans.