Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Expand Green Fleet Parking – Richmond Armoury

June 30, 2023 — The Department of National Defence must decide whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, the Department of National Defence is inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by July 19, 2023 to:
Angela Manweiler, Environment Officer
Mailing Address:  5535 Korea Road, Chilliwack
BC, Canada, V2R 5P2
E-mail:  Angela.Manweiler@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Department of National Defence (DND) has proposed a project. Parking lot improvements are required to support on-going operations at the Colonel Sherman Armoury. Proposed activities include expansion of the existing parking lot to the north of the armoury building (Lot #1) and the reallocation and improvements of two additional parking lots south of the armoury building (Lot #2 and Lot #3).

Expansion of Lot #1 will include the construction new paved parking lot with a total of 68 parking stalls. Construction of the parking lot will require grubbing and vegetation removal, including the removal of manicured grass, shrubs, and trees. Associated construction activities to accommodate the new parking lot will include removal and installation of curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, installation of new catch basins and utility access holes, concrete works, line painting, signage installation, and irrigation system connection. The anticipated excavation depth during construction is expected to be 500 millimeters and a total construction area of approximately 740 square meters. The total estimated material to be removed during construction is approximately 370 cubic meters for this Lot.

Proposed activities at Lot #2 include the construction of 18 new paved parking stalls. The area is currently occupied by a landscaped area and existing pavement used for non-parking purposes. Associated infrastructure activities will also be completed including but not limited removal of existing asphalt infill, installation of new asphalt surface, adjustment to existing curbs, and changes to drainage infrastructure. The proposed excavation depth is 275 millimeters to the top of the subbase layer (Area 2), and 675 millimeters down to the subbase layer (Area 1). The proposed construction area is approximately 302 square meters and the estimated total material to be removed is approximately 138 cubic meters.

Activities at Lot 3 are proposed to include the removal of existing fence line, removal of existing parking wheel stops (to be re-used in Lot #2) and removal of existing and construction of a new fence line along the south, west and north perimeter of the parking lot. Approximately 138 meters of existing fence will be removed and replaced. The new fence will be of heavy-duty mesh 2.70 meters in height, with an additional 0.30 meters of barbed wires above the top rail, totaling 3.0 meters above ground. The fence post will be buried down to 1.22 meters below ground, which includes the 0.15 meters of concrete footing. The degree of excavation and material removal as the result is expected to be marginal due to the small footprint of the existing fence line.