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Bulkley-Nechako land with a plan

RDBN Area A (Smithers rural) Director Mark Fisher explains land use planning and some of its issues
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Land use planning is a large part of what the Regional District (RD) does in Electoral Areas, particularly in Area A which has a large, active, and engaged population. Here are just a few of the things involved:

1. Temporary Use Permit (TUP) may be issued to allow a property to be used for something that is not normally permitted in its zoning. TUPs are often controversial and the decision to grant a TUP is difficult and complex. Many of you are interested and concerned about how, when, and why TUPs are issued and therefore I will specifically talk more about this in a future article.

2. Referrals are when the provincial government requests comments on a proposed activity within or close to Electoral Areas. Many referrals are simply administrative, such as confirming a property is outside a fire protection district, or in the ALR. For complex issues the RD clearly states its concerns. For example,

a. The past few years the RD has been frustrated with the pipeline referral process, as the Province does not require proponents to adequately work with the RD on things such as invasive weeds (on corridors), protective services, and solid waste management (from work camps). This lack of engagement and fragmented process across the province has unnecessarily cost you, the property taxpayer, thousands of dollars in time and other expenses. The RD does not take a ‘support or against’ position on these projects, but is becoming increasingly leery of proponents and higher governments that are not proactively working with the RD to address real and practical local concerns.

b. There have been an increasing amount of referrals related to the Bulkley River. The RDBN has requested that the Province look at the concept of ‘cumulative impacts’ of all activity on the river. Any particular operation, be it tourism, agriculture, or gravel pits is not the issue. The impact of all activities together is the concern (noise, traffic, impact on agriculture). Leadership from the Province is lacking in this area. The RDBN will continue to call for an understanding of the cumulative impacts of activities on the economic value of the river, existing business, the environment, and on the health of residents in the area.

3. Public feedback is a large part of land use planning and includes the following:

a. APC. The Advisory Planning Commission is made up of eight Area A residents of diverse backgrounds who review land use applications (rezoning, subdivisions, TUPS) and makes a recommendation to the RDBN Board. The APC meeting provides applicants a chance to explain their application and answer questions.

b. Public hearing. Once a change in bylaw has passed first and second reading, then a public hearing is held. This is the final chance for anyone to give information about a proposal or express concern or support.

c. Many people have expressed concern to me that the amount of time the public is given to comment is not sufficient, and that not enough people are contacted directly to give feedback. The Province legislates the distance from subject property for which people are to be notified and when and how meetings are advertised. This was a discussion at a recent APC meeting with the suggestion the RDBN board look at options for going beyond what is required.

Land use planning entails much more than this. For more info visit www.rdbn.bc.ca/planning-department, call me at 250-877-8434 or email mark.fisher@rdbn.bc.ca.

Mark Fisher is the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako director for Area A (Smithers rural).