An official community plan reflects the long-term community vision, objectives and policies
used to guide decisions on how land is used and developed. The plan is a bylaw created with community input that provides a 20-year vision for the growth and development of the community and should be reviewed and updated every five years. The plan needs community input both at the beginning of the planning process and when making updates to the plan.
This official community plan has several functions:
- provides a vision, principles, objectives and policies to assist the Regional
District in guiding future growth and development opportunities that best fit the plan area - provides guidance and direction for decision-making on matters related to land use, planning and development, but does not prevent amendments to the plan based on changing circumstances
- provides a policy framework for residential, infrastructure, economic,
environmental, cultural and recreational needs - includes maps of existing and future land use designations within the plan area.
The purpose of the official community plan is to provide high-level policy direction for how Electoral Area A should evolve. The plan does not commit the Regional District Board of Directors to proceed with any project specified in the plan, but it can be used to inform capital and operating budgets, and grant applications. The implementation of policies within this plan will be guided by the Board, based on priorities, funding and feasibility.
Major components of an official community plan
Land use designations and maps
The official community plan identifies how lands can be used through the land use designations within the document. Each land use designation has a description of its purpose, and each parcel has a land use designation. Parcel designations are shown on the Schedule B plan maps.
Development permit areas and maps
Parcels may be subject to development permit area regulations in the plan. Sites within a development permit area require a development permit approved by the Regional District before development can proceed.
Environmentally sensitive areas and flood plain maps
Lands with known environmental values, like wildlife corridors, critical habitat at risk, wetlands and steep slopes, and/or within a known floodplain are shows on the official community plan maps.
How to use the official community plan
This official community plan is a bylaw adopted by the Board of Directors that guides land use and development planning decisions for Electoral Area A for the next 20 years. It aims to support sustainable and responsible development, while prioritizing the overall wellbeing of the community. When interpreting the policy statements within the plan, the document should be read in its entirety to provide context.
When reviewing a development proposal, Regional District administration and Board will use the official community plan to verify that the development proposal aligns with the vision, principles, objectives, policies and land use designations contained in the plan.
Recognizing that areas evolve and change over time, amendments to the official community plan should be viewed as an exception rather than a regular occurrence. If a proposed development application is not supported by the applicable land use designation or conflicts with policies, an amendment may be required. Plan amendments can only be made with Board approval of an official community plan amendment bylaw.