Development Permit and Temporary Use Permit Areas Standardization

At their December 4th meeting, the RDN Board adopted amendments to the 7 official community plans and 2 zoning bylaws in the RDN electoral areas. The bylaws restructure the development permit area and temporary use permit area policy and guidelines, to streamline the process and make them easier to understand.

Over the coming weeks, updated consolidated versions of the OCPs and zoning bylaws will be posted to the RDN website, and the online mapping system "RDN Map" will be updated.

To read the staff report and view the bylaws, you can access the December 4th Board agenda here: https://www.rdn.bc.ca/events/2018-12-4/

The Public Hearing for the official community plan and zoning amendment bylaws that make up this project will be held on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 6:00 pm. Public and agency input has been received throughout this project, and this is the last opportunity for the RDN Board to hear from the public on these bylaws.

Please see the notice of public hearing at this links: https://www.rdn.bc.ca/development-permit-and-temporary-use-permit-standardization-project

Thank you to everyone who attended an open house or Pop Up Office, who wrote to us or called. Your input has been valuable.

On September 4, the Electoral Area Services Committee received a staff report on the consultation period for this project including recommended changes to the draft bylaws. The report can be found on the RDN website at this link. The 7 standard DPAs and the section on TUPs showing changes as a result of consultation are in the Document Library of this website. Minutes of the Electoral Area Services Committee meeting will be available in the coming days.

The same staff report will be on the RDN Board meeting agenda for September 18th, with recommendations of 1st and 2nd readings to the bylaws that will make the changes to the DPAs and TUPs.

Visit a Pop-Up Office or Open House happening around the region to find out more, discuss with RDN staff, and provide input. Click the image to expand and view all dates and locations.

A DPA is an important tool used in the development process to protect the natural environment, to protect development from hazardous conditions, to guide the form and character of development, to promote energy or water conservation, or to promote reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The RDN designates DPAs in its seven official community plans (OCPs) for a variety of purposes as enabled by the Local Government Act. Current DPAs can be accessed within each OCP from this webpage: www.rdn.bc.ca/community-plans

In an area where a DPA is designated, a development permit must first be obtained prior to certain types of development such as subdivision, construction, or land alteration. A map in the OCP indicates where the DPA is designated and text of the DPA indicates for what types of development a permit is required.

In the RDN, there are currently forty-nine development permit areas in seven OCPs adopted between 1997 and 2017. Due to changes to best practices, experience of working with existing DPAs and changes in the region, the DPA guidelines established for the same purpose vary from one area to another.

All seven OCPs designate TUP areas but vary in terminology, uses and conditions. Standardizing DPAs and TUP areas will ensure today's best practices are adopted throughout the electoral areas which will result in consistent requirements for applicants and a more effective means of implementing the of the DPAs.

At the Regular Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, the Regional Board approved the draft development permit and temporary use permit areas. Furthermore, at this meeting, the Regional Board approved the initiation of First Nation, public and stakeholder consultation in accordance with the approved public consultation program for the Development Permit and Temporary Use Permit Areas Standardization Project.

At the Regular Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, the Regional Board approved the initiation of the "Development Permit and Temporary Use Permit Areas Standardization” project including associated amendments to official community plans and zoning bylaws. Furthermore, at this meeting, the Regional Board approved the Terms of Reference, including the Consultation Plan for the “Development Permit and Temporary Use Permit Areas Standardization”, project.

A review of development permit areas to streamline development processes is identified in the RDN 2017 Operational Plan as an action to support the RDN 2016-2020 Strategic Plan's focus on service and organizational excellence and focus on the environment.