Share Area C/Christina Lake Zoning Bylaw Review Project on FacebookShare Area C/Christina Lake Zoning Bylaw Review Project on TwitterShare Area C/Christina Lake Zoning Bylaw Review Project on LinkedinEmail Area C/Christina Lake Zoning Bylaw Review Project link
Project Background
The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) is re-writing the zoning bylaw for Electoral Area C/ Christina Lake to align with its recently updated Official Community Plan (commonly referred to as the "OCP" or "Area C OCP"). Along with translating the policy in the OCP into regulations, this project will also involve updating the zoning bylaw to make it easier to interpret and enforce.
On April 10, 2024, the (RDKB) Board of Directors adopted Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1855 for Electoral Area C/ Christina Lake. It replaced the previous Official Community Plan that had originally been adopted in 2007. The OCP is a guiding document to the RDKB, and includes policies, objectives and principles to direct and inform planning and land use decisions. A Zoning Bylaw is one of the ways to put into action the direction of the OCP.
Project Scope
After a lengthy process to adopt the updated OCP, the work for the zoning bylaw update is scoped to be done by the end of 2025. The scope is limited to:
"Must Do's"
Implementing the policy directives in the OCP that are related to zoning regulations
Updating any zoning regulations that are inconsistent with current legislation or case law
and some "Want to Do's"
Addressing key issues (emerging topics)
Updating the bylaw to simplify, clarify, and improve
Project Process
The zoning bylaw update will include items that are "must do's", and those that are optional ("want to do's"). "Must do's" are items that are necessary to align with the OCP or provincial legislation. There are also some "want to do" items. "Want to do" items are things that can be done to improve the zoning bylaw but are not required.
Public Consultation
Members of the public will be invited to provide comment on all parts of the zoning bylaw. If you want to stay informed about this project, sign up to receive email notifications (see sidebar to the right-Follow Project). If you don't want to receive emails about this project, keep your eye out for upcoming events like open houses in the Christina Lake e-blast, on our website and social media.
We will be seeking more involvement with some parts of the zoning bylaw than others. Keep in mind that the "must do's" will have less discussion than the "want to do's" because the "must do's" are either coming from clear direction in the OCP (which already had extensive public consultation) or are "not on the table" because of a legislative duty. The level of participation you can expect for each task is detailed in the table below.
#
Task
Description
Level of Participation
Opportunities for public to participate
What's Available Now
1.
Zoning Map Update
Reviewing the OCP Land Use Designation map and applying zones based on the OCP designation.
Inform
We will share the draft zoning map on this webpage and in future public meetings. You can comment on the map and we will listen to any concerns but any changes will need to be consistent with the OCP (which is a reflection of the public collaboration efforts already made during the OCP review).
Aligning the text of the zoning bylaw to the OCP based on the OCP designation/zone. This includes:
Reviewing each zone to the specific OCP policies in the overarching OCP designation for that zone. This includes aligning the list of uses and lot sizes for subdivision.
Reviewing other policy directions under each overarching OCP designation.
We will share the draft bylaw text on this webpage and in future public meetings. You can comment on the drafts. We will make adjustments to the drafts as appropriate and will provide updates on what changes were/were not made based on feedback received.
3.
OCP Corrections
Making adjustments to the map or text, as needed. (This is not to re-review the OCP but to make corrections or clarify policies as their application is being translated into zoning regulations. An example for mapping updates would be correcting alignment errors that don't match parcel boundaries).
Inform
We will share any draft amendments to map or text on this webpage and future public meetings. You can provide comments. Any corrections are meant to be narrow in scope.
4.
Bylaw Update
Aligning the text of the zoning bylaw to the OCP based on policies that apply to more than one designation. The update will also include alignment with provincial legislation.
Involve & Collaborate
We will be actively seeking advice and recommendations on how to address key topics.
We will be holding public events (open houses, workshops) for discussion. We will invite feedback in several ways(meetings, written comments) and will provide updates on what changes were/were not made based on what we heard. We will broadly advertise these opportunities to the community to encourage a wide spectrum of participation.
5.
Other Updates
As the zoning bylaw gets drafted, there will be other items that will be changed to improve the bylaw for clarity and better implementation.
Collaborate, if any major shifts
For any major shifts, we will include these topics in public events (same as #4). For minor edits, we will keep you informed.
Legislative Context
In addition to the OCP, and consultation with the public, interest-holders, First Nations and government agencies, there are other factors that must be kept in mind when re-writing a Zoning Bylaw. Below are some examples of the legislative framework:
This is overarching Provincial legislation that sets the stage for what a zoning bylaw can contain, the process for adopting a bylaw and the requirement to be consistent with the OCP.
This is overarching Provincial legislation for land within the Agricultural Land Reserve. There are associated regulations like the ALR Use Regulations, and provincial guides, like guides for edge planning
This is overarching Provincial legislation that mandates a minimum of attached secondary suites to be allowed in any zone that was previously restricted to one single family dwelling.
The policy manual includes suggested standards for regulations of residential zones like setbacks, parking minimums, height. These suggested standards must be considered but they are not mandated.
This is overarching Provincial legislation requiring Provincial approval before a zoning bylaw is considered in effect (In practice, this means the Ministry of Transportation and Transit signs the bylaw after 3rd reading if their interests are satisfied)
Project Background
The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) is re-writing the zoning bylaw for Electoral Area C/ Christina Lake to align with its recently updated Official Community Plan (commonly referred to as the "OCP" or "Area C OCP"). Along with translating the policy in the OCP into regulations, this project will also involve updating the zoning bylaw to make it easier to interpret and enforce.
On April 10, 2024, the (RDKB) Board of Directors adopted Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1855 for Electoral Area C/ Christina Lake. It replaced the previous Official Community Plan that had originally been adopted in 2007. The OCP is a guiding document to the RDKB, and includes policies, objectives and principles to direct and inform planning and land use decisions. A Zoning Bylaw is one of the ways to put into action the direction of the OCP.
Project Scope
After a lengthy process to adopt the updated OCP, the work for the zoning bylaw update is scoped to be done by the end of 2025. The scope is limited to:
"Must Do's"
Implementing the policy directives in the OCP that are related to zoning regulations
Updating any zoning regulations that are inconsistent with current legislation or case law
and some "Want to Do's"
Addressing key issues (emerging topics)
Updating the bylaw to simplify, clarify, and improve
Project Process
The zoning bylaw update will include items that are "must do's", and those that are optional ("want to do's"). "Must do's" are items that are necessary to align with the OCP or provincial legislation. There are also some "want to do" items. "Want to do" items are things that can be done to improve the zoning bylaw but are not required.
Public Consultation
Members of the public will be invited to provide comment on all parts of the zoning bylaw. If you want to stay informed about this project, sign up to receive email notifications (see sidebar to the right-Follow Project). If you don't want to receive emails about this project, keep your eye out for upcoming events like open houses in the Christina Lake e-blast, on our website and social media.
We will be seeking more involvement with some parts of the zoning bylaw than others. Keep in mind that the "must do's" will have less discussion than the "want to do's" because the "must do's" are either coming from clear direction in the OCP (which already had extensive public consultation) or are "not on the table" because of a legislative duty. The level of participation you can expect for each task is detailed in the table below.
#
Task
Description
Level of Participation
Opportunities for public to participate
What's Available Now
1.
Zoning Map Update
Reviewing the OCP Land Use Designation map and applying zones based on the OCP designation.
Inform
We will share the draft zoning map on this webpage and in future public meetings. You can comment on the map and we will listen to any concerns but any changes will need to be consistent with the OCP (which is a reflection of the public collaboration efforts already made during the OCP review).
Aligning the text of the zoning bylaw to the OCP based on the OCP designation/zone. This includes:
Reviewing each zone to the specific OCP policies in the overarching OCP designation for that zone. This includes aligning the list of uses and lot sizes for subdivision.
Reviewing other policy directions under each overarching OCP designation.
We will share the draft bylaw text on this webpage and in future public meetings. You can comment on the drafts. We will make adjustments to the drafts as appropriate and will provide updates on what changes were/were not made based on feedback received.
3.
OCP Corrections
Making adjustments to the map or text, as needed. (This is not to re-review the OCP but to make corrections or clarify policies as their application is being translated into zoning regulations. An example for mapping updates would be correcting alignment errors that don't match parcel boundaries).
Inform
We will share any draft amendments to map or text on this webpage and future public meetings. You can provide comments. Any corrections are meant to be narrow in scope.
4.
Bylaw Update
Aligning the text of the zoning bylaw to the OCP based on policies that apply to more than one designation. The update will also include alignment with provincial legislation.
Involve & Collaborate
We will be actively seeking advice and recommendations on how to address key topics.
We will be holding public events (open houses, workshops) for discussion. We will invite feedback in several ways(meetings, written comments) and will provide updates on what changes were/were not made based on what we heard. We will broadly advertise these opportunities to the community to encourage a wide spectrum of participation.
5.
Other Updates
As the zoning bylaw gets drafted, there will be other items that will be changed to improve the bylaw for clarity and better implementation.
Collaborate, if any major shifts
For any major shifts, we will include these topics in public events (same as #4). For minor edits, we will keep you informed.
Legislative Context
In addition to the OCP, and consultation with the public, interest-holders, First Nations and government agencies, there are other factors that must be kept in mind when re-writing a Zoning Bylaw. Below are some examples of the legislative framework:
This is overarching Provincial legislation that sets the stage for what a zoning bylaw can contain, the process for adopting a bylaw and the requirement to be consistent with the OCP.
This is overarching Provincial legislation for land within the Agricultural Land Reserve. There are associated regulations like the ALR Use Regulations, and provincial guides, like guides for edge planning
This is overarching Provincial legislation that mandates a minimum of attached secondary suites to be allowed in any zone that was previously restricted to one single family dwelling.
The policy manual includes suggested standards for regulations of residential zones like setbacks, parking minimums, height. These suggested standards must be considered but they are not mandated.
This is overarching Provincial legislation requiring Provincial approval before a zoning bylaw is considered in effect (In practice, this means the Ministry of Transportation and Transit signs the bylaw after 3rd reading if their interests are satisfied)
Thank you for your contribution!
Help us reach out to more people in the community
Share this with family and friends