COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3 rd , 2006

1. UBCM’s NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS’ SEMINAR ELECTORAL AREA DIRECTORSAS LAND USE PLANNERSFEBRUARY 3RD, 2006

2. Topics we’ll cover: • Planning and why we plan • What a plan is • Preparation of plans • How they’re implemented COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

3. Topics we‘ll cover: • The role of elected officials in planning • Decision making • Public participation • Advisory Planning Commissions COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

4. Topics we’ll cover: • Regional Growth Strategies • Official Community Plans - OCPs • What is a zoning bylaw? • Permits, what permits? DPs, DVPs, temporary permits • Boards of Variance (BOV) COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

5. Topics we’ll cover: • Role of the Approving Officer • Trends, current issues • Provincial land use planning • Sources of information • Questions & Answers • THEN THERE’S THE TEST!! COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

6. Most people’s idea of a Plan COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

7. The faces of a Plan • Arranging uses on the land • The allocation of scarce resources • A guide for development in the community • A process where a community establishes its future vision • A basis for sound land use decision making and more COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

8. The Plan as we know it • An Official Community Plan (OCP); Local Area Plan (LAP) • A long range community vision • Adopted by bylaw by local government • A document of objectives, policy statements, maps and figures • The predominant guide to future development in a community COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

9. Who/What drives an OCP? • Deficiencies in an existing OCP • Driven by the elected official • Community concern • Significant development proposals • The need for improved land use decision making • To satisfy legislative requirements COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

10. Hey! We have an OCP! SO!!?? • Follow through on community vision • Develop Local Area Plans • Parks & Greenways Plans • Zoning Bylaws; Subdivision Servicing Bylaws; Flood Hazard Management Bylaws • Used to guide community infrastructure development COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

11. OCP’s and Local Government Decision Making • OCP approval and amendment • Enables initiatives such as Liquid Waste Management Plans • Guides permits and zoning • Implemented first & foremost through zoning • Recognize that an OCP is flexible COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

12. Regional Growth Strategies (RGS) • A regional strategic planning vision • RD-enacted with municipal, provincial and other agency participation • Deals with regional issues - water supply, transportation, settlement patterns, sewer servicing, etc. • OCPs must conform to an RGS COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

13. Your Role in the Planning Process • Work with the community to determine planning needs • Work with staff to get public input • Guide policy implementation initiatives • Know the development happening in your community COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

14. Your Decision Making Responsibilities • Lead decision makers on EA planning matters • Decisions guided by OCP policies, zoning and the Local Government Act • Development Variance Permits and Development Permits • Consider, hear and decide on bylaw amendments COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

15. Public participation • Desirable in OCP and many Zoning Bylaw approval processes • Community meetings and Open Houses held in preparing OCPs • Public participation enables the community to speak • Can be a benefit or a bane • Required for public hearings COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

16. Advisory Planning Commissions • Established by RD Board bylaw • Advises only on land use planning matters • Elected officials cannot be APC members, only ex officio • When development applications are heard, applicant can attend • Minutes to be kept & made available to the public COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

17. Zoning Bylaws • Regulatory bylaws enacted to prescribe specific land use • Must conform to the OCP • Permit and prohibit uses • Deal with uses on a lot by lot basis, are very specific • Uses generally need to conform • Can be varied by DVP or Board of Variance • Amended by public process COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

18. Boards of Variance (BOV) • Required if a zoning bylaw is adopted • An RD BOV has three members • A BOV may issue a minor variance based on ‘hardship’ • Cannot vary use or density • Other conditions apply – not inappropriate development, does not defeat the bylaw’s intent COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

19. Development & Development Variance Permits • Permitted through OCP policies • DP’s establish conditions for development based on LGA • DVP’s permit a variance when no ‘hardship’ exists • DVP cannot vary use or density • DP can include a variance • Only the RD Board issues DP’s and DVP’s COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

20. Other types of Bylaws • Tree protection bylaws - not an option for RD’s • RD’s can adopt bylaws to regulate: Parking requirements Flood Hazard Management Subdivision Servicing • Local governments assume responsibility with every bylaw adopted COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

21. Additional Information • RD OCPsrequire Ministerial approval from MCS • Zoning bylaws affecting land within 800m of a controlled access highway require MOT approval • RD subdivisions are approved by the Provincial Approving Officer • Municipalities have their own Approving Officer COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

22. Trends & Current Issues • Green infrastructure • Alternative development standards • Complete communities • Sustainable development COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006

23. Other Sources of Information: • Your Planning Department • Ministry of Community Services, UBCM, AVICC and their websites • CivicInfo’s website • Local Government Act • The Regional District Tool Kit • Fellow directors especially those with Board experience COUNCIL & BOARD AS LAND USE PLANNERS FEBRUARY 3rd, 2006