Christina Lake Official Community Plan Review

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Consultation has concluded

Christina Lake OCP Bylaw, No. 1855 adopted by the Board of Directors

At the April 10, 2024 Board of Directors meeting the new Christina Lake Official Community Plan (OCP) was adopted, replacing Bylaw No. 1250.

The OCP Bylaw No. 1855 and its maps have been uploaded onto the RDKB Bylaws website here and the land use designations and development permit areas have been uploaded onto RDKB's interactive web map, which can be found here. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the process! Your input was essential!

OCP Open Houses and Public Hearing

In Person: Christina Lake Community Hall

Christina Lake OCP Bylaw, No. 1855 adopted by the Board of Directors

At the April 10, 2024 Board of Directors meeting the new Christina Lake Official Community Plan (OCP) was adopted, replacing Bylaw No. 1250.

The OCP Bylaw No. 1855 and its maps have been uploaded onto the RDKB Bylaws website here and the land use designations and development permit areas have been uploaded onto RDKB's interactive web map, which can be found here. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the process! Your input was essential!

OCP Open Houses and Public Hearing

In Person: Christina Lake Community Hall for an Open House and Public Hearing on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.


4:30-5:30pm (OCP Open House): RDKB staff will be on hand to answer questions about the Bylaw.

6:00pm (Formal Public Hearing): RDKB staff will record your comments to share with the Board of Directors. 


Written comments can also be submitted ahead of the Public Hearing. All written comments can be sent to plandept@rdkb.com. Those received before 2pm on March 26 will be shared at the public hearing and included in the minutes that go to the Board of Directors for when they consider Bylaw No. 1855 for 3rd reading and adoption.

An online 'Open House' was held on Wednesday, March 20, 6-7pm. RDKB Planning staff presented briefly, followed by Q&A about the OCP Bylaw No. 1855. Written comments are encouraged to be submitted ahead of the Public Hearing if members of the public are not able to attend in person. A recording of the online Open House is provided below.


Removal of the Riparian Development Permit Area

The RDKB Board of Directors passed a resolution at their Wednesday, February 14 meeting which is as follows:

“That staff be directed to remove Section 22 from the draft "Electoral Area C/Christina Lake Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 1855" and bring the amended document to a future meeting of the Board of Directors along with a staff report.”

A new version of the OCP Bylaw has been posted under the Documents section and can be seen here.

The Christina Lake Official Community Plan (OCP) review is nearing its finish!

The proposed Official Community Plan Bylaw is available in the documents section along with draft maps. 

If you would like a printed draft sent to you, contact Liz Moore at srplanner@rdkb.com or 250-368-0252, and we will mail you a copy.

An Open House was held at the Christina Lake Community Hall on July 5 starting at 4pm.

Director Grace McGregor, RDKB Planning staff and the Steering Committee were available at the Open House at Christina Lake Community Hall to discuss the OCP and the review of Development Permit Areas. (See the video below)


Presentations (5.30 – 7pm) were available in hybrid format to enable participants to join remotely via Teams.

  • A representative from Interior Health presented on how septic systems work
  • RDKB staff presented on the importance of Riparian Areas and what Development Permit Areas do
  • Sign up for FREE water assessments with RDKB’s WaterSmart Ambassador for those living within the Christina Lake Water Utility

For more information on Development Permits visit: https://rdkb.com/Portals/0/Planning/Docs/RDKBPlanningDP.pdf

Printed copies of the draft OCP were available at the Open House, as were copies of the draft maps.

How an Official Community Plan (OCP) goes into effect

Before an OCP is enacted into law it will go to the local area Advisory Planning Commission, then the Electoral Area Services Committee.

With a recommendation from the EAS Committee, a draft OCP will go to the Board of Directors for 1st and 2nd reading. After 2nd reading, the Board will direct Planning staff to hold a Public Hearing to gather comments from the public. These comments will be recorded in minutes that will be sent back to the Board to consider.

 The Board may ask for changes to be made to the draft OCP before reading it for a 3rd time and adopting it as a new OCP.

What is an OCP review?

An OCP sets out an area’s long-term strategy for physical, economic, environmental and social development. Each OCP includes policies that reflect community goals and objectives. Our Board adopts OCPs as formal bylaws.

The current Electoral Area C/Christina Lake OCP Bylaw was passed in 2004, so it's time to go through it and see what still works and what needs to be added or updated.

The review includes assessing the OCP for whether it meets legislated requirements and whether it still reflects the values that Christina Lake residents hold for how your community will develop in the next ten years. Policies laid out in the OCP will then be reflected in the Zoning Bylaw, when it is updated.

A Steering Committee leads the process

A steering committee was formed to undertake the review. The committee is made up of Christina Lake community members, including local business owners, retirees, long-time residents, summer residents and everyone in between.

The current committee members are:

Jennifer Horahan, Phil Mody, Kathy O'Malley, Suzanne Paquette, Annie Rioux, Jason Taylor, Dianne Wales, Jeff Sim, and Director Grace McGregor

This committee has met regularly with the local area director and Planning staff to discuss the ideas and policies in the OCP, propose changes and discuss changes proposed by staff. The committee members provide guidance to the process through highlighting the desires and concerns of their community.

Tell your story

Christina Lake is an important place for full-time residents, summer time residents, visitors and guests. Many people have come here as individuals and families for many years creating a unique community and one that loves this place dearly. Please share your story of this place and how you would like to see it be in 10 years time. 

Are there changes you would like to see? 

What would you like to see stay the same?

Your stories help everyone understand their neighbours and relate concerns and wishes for your community!

Your story is important to the story of Christina Lake. Thank you for taking the time to include it!

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
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    Young families

    by Lifer, over 3 years ago

    I am a full time resident of Christina lake and have been most of my life. I grew up here and am now raising my family here.

    Something I think this community could benefit greatly from is a multi use community building.
    the welcome centre and Community halls are great both for tourism and cultural reasons and even certain gatherings. What I propose is a building that can be used for all different types of indoor/outdoor sports for both kids and adults. We’ve done such a great job paving the way with the new pickle ball courts. Let’s keep that... Continue reading

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    Old folks

    by dwmulligan, over 3 years ago
    My wife and I are getting to the stage in life where we need to start thinking about a smaller home with no stairs. We have been looking at apartments in the Fraser Valley but would love to be able to stay at the lake.


    Maybe the time has come for some property at the lake rezoned for senior housing or multi family apartment type housing?

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    Jet Boats, Noise and Enforcement

    by arogers, over 3 years ago
    Hello!

    I am beyond fortunate to have a lakeside cabin which my grandpa built in '48-'53. It's still in the family and I spent my entire childhood summers at the lake ('86-'03). My parents, retired, spend 5 months each year there and my fiance and I just returned from one week vacation. This has been the clearest August (o smoke!) I can remember and I'm very happy you pre-warmed the lake for us :)

    Like many below, I too share the concern that the stereos in boats are getting a little out of hand. Our cabin is mid-lake, and we... Continue reading

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    Fireworks

    by Denise, over 3 years ago

    We need to ban the personal use and sales of fireworks in Christina Lake.
    The Summers are getting busier every yesr with more people letting off fireworks/firecrackers usually under the influence of alcohol which is a deadly mix.

    They cause huge fire and noise hazards for our beautiful, peaceful community. They also affect the environment and are extremely stressful for the wildlife and pets we cherish.
    There could be a "hotline" set up for people to report infractions and fines levied as a deterrent.
    Also, laser firework shows should be considered for community events.


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    60+ years at the lake

    by evwilliams, over 3 years ago

    My family acquired a lot and built their cabin on Alpine Rd. 65 years ago and we are still enjoying it. What we most like is the quiet, being able to breathe clean air, see wildlife, and swim. What ruins it is the people who play music from their boats, which one cannot escape from. I would like to see noise bylaws limiting use of acoustics on boats, and limiting noise in general at night. We also need to keep restricting all fires when the fire hazard is extreme. I would also propose that we limit outdoor illumination at night... Continue reading

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    Best place on earth!

    by Seamarsh, over 3 years ago

    I have enjoyed Christina Lake since 1969 in our family cabin and probably before that when I was younger. I love the rural peace and the enjoy the nature surrounding the area. I would prefer to keep the lake area "untouched" by human consumption that comes in the form of more development. I would like to see Interfor closely monitored as they log closer and closer to the lake and within lake view. It is happening. It would be great to create some reasonable by-laws that have some teeth for enforcement. I like the peace of the lake which means... Continue reading

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    Regulations on the lake

    by mmkatthelake, over 3 years ago

    Something happened on my early morning lake paddle today that I’d like to bring up. Each summer I feel I need to get on the lake earlier and earlier and stay closer to shore to avoid boats. So, I do. While I was heading back to my starting point at 7 am, where Christina Creek meets the lake, one lone boat (the only one I saw) came from the north towing a skier and following close to the shoreline. I might have been 50 feet from the buoys at the nature park when said boat decided to cut between me... Continue reading

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    Business Signage

    by Sand Dollar Store , over 3 years ago

    Hi, I'm Julie Randall from the Sand Dollar Store.

    We first opened our business 5 years ago. At that time, I could not find an answer to our "highway signage" request. I basically was told ,you can put them up where you want but dept of highways might take it down for plowing and you could find you sign In the ditch.

    This past winter, the Dept. Of highways took the signs down ( sawed the posts down), didnt advise, and removed them from site. After having to make several phone calls, we tracked them down at the highways' yard... Continue reading

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    Protect the lake

    by jsc, over 3 years ago

    Changes -

    Stop the damage to the shoreline by restricting the flooded wake boats' wave impact. These boats create storm size waves all day long ruining the shoreline environment. Healthy shorelines are important to the overall health of the lake. I would like to see the police boat effectively keep these boats further away from the shoreline.

    The police boat could also be helpful in managing the level of music and un-muffled engines.


    Stay the same - keep the shoreline healthy and natural. Protect the peace and quiet.

    Most residents prefer the quiet, clean atmosphere and are willing to work... Continue reading

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    Quiet and smoke free

    by jmc, almost 4 years ago

    I love it here and have been coming here for 60 years. I like the suggestion of another writer for a safe bike/walkway from the Alpine area to the Chritina Lake town. It's not a good bike ride on the highway so going to the 'other end' requires getting in the car. I would love to ride my bike if it was safe. It would be great to have more/some monitoring of boom boats - the boats that sit on the lake with their stereos booming on summer days. I would like to see burning banned during the summer months... Continue reading