A TEN THOUSAND-FOOT hydraulic hammer, owned and operated by Leavoy Excavating Ltd., is ane of only two in use in British Columbia. | Rocky terrain challenges builders REGARDLESS OF whether hydraulic rock breaking replaces blasting as a more acceptable form of preparing lots for development in West Vancouver, residents re- main opposed to any de- velopment that turns forested slopes into *‘Junar landscapes.”’ By Maureen Curtis Contributing Writer West) Vancouverites, wha have paid tep dollar to live in the picturesque community, usually like things the way they are; and they don’t want the annoyance of listening to dril- ling or to have their properties damaged by fallout from rock blasting, which is still consid- ered by many to be unsafe, despite the considerable precautions the municipality now requires developers to take. High land prices and im- proved rock removal techno- logy have combined to open up new land on steeper, rockier terrain in West Vancouver for development. While blasting technology has enabled developers to create buildable lots on many of these sites, a number of blasting accidents have resulted in frightened residents demand- ing West Vancouver District Council curb the use of blasting in the municipality. Last spring. council in- stituted a blasting moratorium on lands in the Caulfeild Land Use Area. Municipal staff were also ordered to produce a report focusing on current blasting technology and the need for blasting in West Van- couver. West Vancouver's director of operations, Barry Lambert, has insposed more rigorous controls and has produced a_ blasting report that has been referred to the municipality’s public works committee. ee ee oe . >! NEWS photo Mike Waketield “} have confidence in the blasting companies currently working in West Vancouver and in the consulting geo- technical engineers that are now required to check their blasting plans," Lambert told the News. In addition, the blasters themselves are certified by the Workers’ Compensation Board, But many residents argue that blasting could be avoided by designing homes to ‘fit’ into the jandscape, cathe: than fitting the landscape to ac- conimodate the homes. Municipal staff, led by diree- tor of planning Steve Nicholls and Ald. Rod Day, have also initiated the extensive work in- volved in drafting ground- breaking ‘‘bulk housing’’ bylaws, which are designed to discourage overbuilding and large-scale disturbance of the natural topography. The first two phases of the bylaws have been passed. The third phase will rackle the con- troversia! issue of regulating Friaav Aprit 5, 1991 - North Shore News - 3 Between West Van and a hard place Developers looking for blasting alternatives WITH CONCERNS over safety and environment turning public opinion against rock blasting in mountainous West Vancouver terrain, the search for alternative methods of rock removal for development in the municipality has in- tensified. And Norm Leavoy of Leavoy Excavating Ltvl says that Khydiaulic hammers, or rock breakers, cam be ane of those alternatives. But developers say rock break- vis have various drawbacks that limit theic use in some areas, The family-ov.ned Leavey com- pany has been active on the North Shore since 1957. Hs main piece of equipment is a 10,000 foot/ pound hydraulic hammer that is One of two in use in British Col- umbia, and the only onz availabie to the general public. “The West Coast."" Leavoy said, ‘is just about the last place to catch on to ‘breakers.’ *” The hammers, he added, are widely used in eastern Canada, where several cities have banned rock blasting. West Vancouver has con- templated a similar ban, and there is currently a blasting moratorium in West Vancouver’s Cauifeild Plateau area, except on sites specifically approved by council. Elsewhere, a blasting permit must be obtained from West Van- ~ouver’s head engineer, director of operations #arrs; Lambert, who requires developers to have plans prepared by experts and checked out by geo-technical consultarts. The precautions were instituted last year after a blasting accident in the Caulfeild area sent a nuge boulder crashing into an area house. Blasting is not an exact science, according to Leavoy, because undetected cracks and dirt seams in the rock can affect blasting patterns in unpredictable ways. Many precautions can and are being taken, but there is still) an element of chance, he said. Leavoy added that ‘ta hydraulic hammer is more controlled."” He claims that his machine is not only safer than blasting, but faster and Jess expensive than ei- ther blasting or using rock-eating cheinicals, The hammer has many other applications, including read build- ing, digging ditches or trenches, installing pipelines, mining aad CONTRACTOR NORM LEAVOY of Leavoy Excavating Ltd. wiih his hydraulic hammer at a site in West Vancouver. which is ex- to do on housing height, tremely — difficult varied terrain. Even if builders were forced to construct smaller houses that wouldn't require rock removal, Lambert says that) very few people would be interested in that size of house ut West Vancouver prices. While rising land prices and populaden growth throughout By Maureen Curtis Contributing Writer demolition. It can ‘tmake’” its it goes. ““As peonle become more aware of environmental concerns, break- ing will become an even more viable alternative to blasting,”’ said Leavoy. He has therefore met the reces- sion head-on by expanding his business elsewhere in the Lower Mainland. Last November, Leavoy staged a demonstration or. a West Van- couver lot where three kinds of rock breakers were used. About 50 experts and other in- own road as terested people attended from Quebec, Ontario, Washington, Oregon and B.C, Leavoy said his **Rammer” hammer from Finland compared well with the competition. The result of the exercise was a terraced Jot that allowed for a road-level garage on Pinetree Crescent. But hammers have their limita- tions. Local Land Surveyor Bill Chapman agrees that the rock hammer may be faster on some small jobs. “But where the rock is really hard, using a hammer would be like using a plastic butter knife to cuta carrot. You chip away slow- ty,” he says. According to Fred Russell, an agent for Howard Martin Corp., developers have used the rock hammec where appropriate, but the success of the hammers depends largely on the quality of the rock they're up against. Lambert, who attended Leavoy's demonstration as the municipality’s head engineer, said the hammer created considerable vibration and noise. But Leavoy argues that the noise may be no louder than that caused by a passing bus, but it is noticeable because it is unusual. a) ato Mike Wakefield the Lower Mainland exert greater pressure to make more “efficient’’ use of land (by building (bigger houses and more multiple family dwell- ings), West Vancouver Council is trying to meet resident de- mands to preserve the kind of “ambience’’ they are used to: large lots with spacious yards that characterize such areas as the British Properties.