What goes up, must come down.

Colwood council approved new regulations at their May 11 meeting that will require a permit for retaining walls higher than 1.2 metres (roughly four feet). The change follows the voicing of public concerns about the safety and aesthetics of several walls climbing up Colwood developments including the one on Latoria at Wishart Road.

Council discussed early drafts of the regulation with the Greater Victoria Residential Builders Association, and an open house on the issue took place at Colwood City Hall on Feb. 25. Council approved a draft recommendation to be forwarded to residents and stakeholders for consultation this past January.

Until now, there were no regulations on retaining walls, which are constructed to hold back soil or rocks. The structures are typically used in areas with steep slopes, where building construction happens at a higher point.

In addition to height restrictions, terraced walls must maintain a 1:1 ratio between the height of the wall and the distance between levels of terracing. Applicants considering walls higher than 1.2 metres in height or at a different ratio for terraced walls must apply for a development variance permit. For more information or questions about the regulation, call the Colwood planning department at 250-478-5999.

alim@goldstreamgazette.com