Local knowledge of existing industry and businesses in the region in combination with visual inspection of satellite images were used to assign each parcel a score from 0 to 4 with 4 having the “least” current use and therefore the “most” potential for development.

1. In use long term (eg. Teck Operations, Utilities)
2. In use long term by known entity. (eg Teck, Atco Wood Products)
3. In use, term unknown (eg. House or small business present
4. In use, term unknown, potential for redevelopment (eg. Partially empty lot, abandoned structure, easily relocated business)
5. Vacant lot, appears not to be in use (empty field, forested lot)

Each zone was assigned a zone priority from 1 to 3 with 3 having the highest priority for development. Priority was given to industrial > commercial > agricultural zoning. Zone Descriptions

50m Buffers were created for water, sewer, natural gas, electrical, and connectivity (internet) services to both obscure the precise locations of the services and to include parcels which may not be currently serviced, but which have services close enough to have minimal costs involved with connection. Parcels that intersect with a given service are given a “Y”.

Service Score is an aggregation of all services which results in a score of 0 to 5 with 5 having all services within 50m (with the below exception for connectivity) and 0 having no services within 50m.

The Connectivity data also employs a 50m buffer as with other services, however, extra caution should be used when basing decisions on this factor as the data uses statistical demographic data which is distributed within dissemination blocks along roadways and is only accurate to within 250m. In addition, all speeds were aggregated as the data uses an average per block and dose not specify speeds available at any specific address. Greater confidence can be applied to more densely populated areas.

Average slope is calculated using a digital terrain model with an accuracy of 1m and a zonal statistics tool. The result is an average slope over the whole parcel and should be treated as such. (eg. a mostly flat parcel with one small but very steep section may result in the same average slope as a parcel that is moderately sloped over its entirety.)

Using the average slope, an average slope score of 0 to 3 is assigned to each parcel with 3 being the lowest average slope, and therefore most ideal for development.

Slope Score

1. greater than 25 °
2. greater than 15 ° and less than 25 °
3. greater than 5 ° and less than or equal to 15 °
4. average slope of less than or equal to 5 °

A score of 1 has been added to parcels that are greater than 0.3 acres as parcels larger than this threshold are better suited to most industrial applications.

A score of 1 has been added to sites that do not fall within the 200 year flood plain as determined by the Provincial floodplain maps generated between 1987 and 1998. This score should be used as a general indicator as to whether a site may be at risk of flooding and should be used to indicate if further investigation is required.

A score of 1 has been added for sites that have information relating to the screening, investigation, and cleanup of a given parcel. This score of 1 does not necessarily indicate that remediation has occurred at a given site, but only that information regarding its contamination and current status has been gathered and is available for further investigation.

A score of 1 has been added to parcels that do not intersect with Microsoft's computer generated building footprints which are derived from Bing satellite images of varying vintages. A score of 1 indicates no building, and a score of 0 indicates some building footprint present.