Home
news.htm
Meeting Minutes.htm
member.htm
weblinks.htm
Links.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes of General Meeting

November 15, 2006

Parksville Community Centre

12 noon

 

In Attendance:           Bruce Cownden, Chair              Egon Kuhn      

Michelle Jones                        Bill Katerenchuk                                              

Susanne Hale                            Dan Jack                                             

                                    Jeff Hale                                   Helen Sims                              

Dave Scott                               Caroline Grover                                   

                                                                                                      

                                    Marilyn Hayden, Recording Secretary

 

Guests:                       Councillor Wendy Maurer, Town of Qualicum Beach

                                    Councillor Mike Wansink, Town of Qualicum Beach

                                    Councillor Charles Robinson, City of Parksville

Guest Speaker:          Paul Thompson, Senior Planner, RDN

                                                           

Bruce Cownden called the meeting to order at 12:05 P.M., introduced Paul Thompson and turned the meeting over to him. 

 

Paul Thompson reported that the Regional Growth Strategy Review is scheduled to begin next year.

·        The Growth Strategy is working towards sustainability.

·        The RDN developed the Growth Strategy in the 1990’s and it was adopted in 1997.  A full review was adopted in 2003.

·        RGS purpose is to “promote human settlement that is socially, economically, and environmentally healthy (LGA s. 849)”.  To work towards:

o       Avoiding urban sprawl

o       Minimizing car use

o       Protecting the environment

o       Maintaining resource base

o       Economic development

o       Reducing pollution (air, land, water)

o       Protecting ground & surface water

o       Promoting energy efficiency

o       Preserving parks & open space

o       Cultural stewardship

·        RGS Key Goals:

o        Strong urban containment

o        Compact mixed use communities

o        Rural integrity

o        Environmental protection

o        Improved mobility

o        Vibrant & sustainable economy

o        Cost efficient services

o        Cooperation among jurisdictions

·        RGS Key Policies

o        Designation of Urban Containment Boundaries consistent with RGS (1A)

o        Limitation of new urban development to land inside Urban Containment Boundaries (1B)

o        Limitation on minimum parcel sizes in RGS Rural Residential and Resource Lands & Open Space (3A).  (Minimum parcels can be increased or stay the same)

·        Current Pressures

o        To move the UCB to allow for urban scale development in fringe areas

o        To permit smaller rural residential parcels in rural areas

o        Achieving projected densities inside UCB

o        There is limited land available around Nanaimo, Parksville & Qualicum Beach so the review will be looking to expand boundaries.

·         Tools to Address Pressures

o        Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw Change (1 year)

o        Regularly scheduled Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw Review (2007)

o        Urban Containment Implementation Agreement (3 month – 1 year+)

o        Regional Context Statement (3 months) (in all OCP’s)

·         Procedure to Change Urban Containment Boundaries through OCP

o           Municipality/EAPC receives Development Application that requires UCB Change

o           Municipality/EAPC decides if it wants to request UCB change. 

o           If no, the development application cannot proceed. 

o           If yes, the Municipality/EAPC prepares UCB change proposal & submits to RDN.  IAC reviews proposal & provides recommendation.  RDN Board Decision.

o           If no, the development application can’t proceed.

o           If yes, the municipality grants OCP Bylaw 1st, 2nd, 3rd Reading and adopts it.  The      EAPC initiate RGS Bylaw change.

·         Review

o           Step 1 – Terms of reference consultation Plan with municipalities.

o           Step 2 – Develop changes to RGS & consult (all parties have to be in agreement)

o           Step 3 – Grant 1st & 2nd Reading to RGS Bylaw (municipalities have 120 days to accept the Bylaw.

o           Step 4 – Public Hearing for RGS Bylaw

o           Step 5 – Member municipalities & adjacent Regional Districts accept RGS Bylaw

o           Step 6 – Grant 3rd Reading and adopt RGS Bylaw

·        Urban Containment Implementation Agreement

o        Created in 1998 to provide flexibility to respond to emerging needs for urban development.  Signed in 1998 by Nanaimo and Parksville, Qualicum Beach in 2000.

o        Establishes criteria & process for UCB changes

o        Used 3 times

o        Presently being refined and will be reviewed

·        Regional Context Statements, adopted in February 2004

o           Must be included in all OCP’s if RGS Bylaw applies

o           Board approval required

o           Must identify consistencies between OCP & RGS

o           Must identify inconsistencies between OCP & RGS, and how they will be addressed

·        Regional Growth Strategy Review

o           Regional Growth Strategy Review to commence in 2007

o           Topics that could be addressed:

§         UCB location

§         Rural parcel size

§         Utilization of land inside UCB

§         Affordable housing

§         Others?

 

Questions from around the table:

The municipality receives the development permit, what is the time frame needed to change the RGS?

o           Amendment 1 year

o           Changes 3 months – 1 year

What is the RDN doing about the water situation for future growth?

o           RDN looks at all urban and all rural situations.

o           The document does not include this type of strategy.

o           RDN does not look at the whole region at one time.

Is the Land Study inventory going to be reviewed?  Suggest ditching “Open Space”.

o           Some kind of land sturdy will be undertaken, but not decided on to date.

Area F has 7 urban containment boundaries with no sanitary sewer.  Area H has 3 urban containment boundaries with no sanitary sewer.  Is anything going on to develop sanitary sewers?

o           No, but it is recognized as an issue by the RDN

Regarding inventory of lands & potential future housing, what type of time line will be taken for the review?

o           If there are few issues the review could take 1 year, if more issues the time line could be longer.

The area between Parksville and Errington erodes Parksville and Qualicum Beach development.  What is the classification of the area, which is mostly industrial/commercial?

o           Rural Separation Area.

o           Helen Sims reported that this area was subdivided in the 20’s & 30’s into small lots that are now being developed.

Could you give a brief update on the Area G, OCP Review?

o           6 public workshops have been held.

o           Attendance was not great, but many relevant points were put on the table:

§         More environmental protection needs to be put in place

§         Keep rural areas rural

§         Servicing of the area

§         Potential park areas developed

o        The RDN is producing a document on the results of the workshops, which will be available on the website in December.

Will studies on demographic changes be under taken?

o        Yes, not a full review, but the most pertinent issues will be addressed.

 

Bruce Cownden thanked Paul Thompson for his relevant presentation and invited him to stay for the business meeting.

  25/01/2012