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protecting the natural environment, its
ecosystems and biological diversity;
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protecting development from hazardous
conditions; and
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establishing objectives for the form
and character of intensive residential,
multi-family residential, commercial and
industrial development.
A Development Permit is required for the following
works and activities:
1. Subdivision of land with 20% or greater slopes
and zoned for residential, commercial, industrial
or institutional use; or
2. New earthworks and construction on land with
20% or greater slopes zoned for residential,
commercial, industrial or institutional use.
In addition a third party review of the application
will be required per the City’s Development Approval
Information Bylaw where the subject development
proposal involves 30% or greater slopes.
A Development Permit is not required where:
1. The subject property contains only areas with
natural slopes less than 20 percent;
2. Development activities are restricted to areas
with natural slopes less 20 percent, and any areas
with slopes of percent or more are permanent-
ly protected through dedication, registration of a
covenant, or other acceptable method; or,
3. Construction only involves fences or single-tier
retaining walls of less than 1.2 metres in height.
Rationale for DPA Establishment
The establishment of this Development Permit Area is
to ensure that development, while it may be accom-
modated, must respond to the steeper slope context
in a sensitive and flexible manner. It emphasizes the
protection of the natural environment, the protection
of development from hazardous conditions, and the
preservation of the character and beauty of Chilli-
wack’s hillside areas.
Nothing in the following DP Guidelines require the
City to issue a DP where it remains concerned that the
requirements have not being satisfactorily addressed.
Objectives
The objectives of DPA 8 are to ensure that new hill-
side development:
1. Positively contributes to Chilliwack’s hillside char-
acter;
2. Integrates seamlessly with its hillside context
through context-sensitive design approaches;
3. Preserves the aesthetic values of Chilliwack’s sce-
nic “green backdrop”;
4. Respects views both to and from the hillside;
5. Provides safe access and services that fit the hill-
side context;
6. Maintains many of the unique features of the hill-
side, such as rock outcrops, watercourses, ravines,
mature trees and vegetation, and ridgelines;
7. Protects wildlife habitat and environmentally sen-
sitive areas;
8. Avoids unstable or hazardous portions of the hill-
side and provides protection against slope insta-
bility and erosion; and,
9. Uses economic and efficient approaches to con-
struction and maintenance.
Guidelines
1. Unique Natural Characteristics
1.1 In the development concept plan, identify
and integrate natural site characteristics such
as rock outcrops, watercourses, wetlands, ra-
vines, mature stands of trees, and significant
wildlife habitat.
2. Ridgelines:
2.1 Preserve the natural qualities of ridgelines
for the benefit of the community-at-large. To
minimize view impacts to the ridgeline, devel-
opment should:
Implementation Guide