RDCO Planning Changes

Time is running out for people looking for approval of development applications within the boundaries of the new Westside Municipality.

With incorporation of the new municipality scheduled to take place December 6, the Regional Board has adopted some new procedures to assist both the Planning Department and applicants.

The Planning Department will now notify those applying for development permits, variances or designation changes within the new municipal boundaries whether those applications will likely be concluded prior to incorporation.

Regional District Communications Coordinator, Bruce Smith, says all applications still in the system at the time of incorporation would have to go back to first reading.

"The Regional District will continue processing applications through first reading. If an application has to go back to first reading, at least all of the paperwork and staff reports will have been done," says Smith.

He says if an application has gone to second or third reading, then a public hearing would have been held, and that information would also be available to the new municipal council and staff.

Smith says all Regional District by-laws will revert to the new municipality and will be in place until such time as the new council decide to make changes.

At the present time there are 21 Official Community Plan or Zoning applications with the Planning Department.

Staff has indicated only seven of those are expected to transfer to the new municipality because of the complexity of the applications.

Smith says applications for areas outside the new municipal boundaries will continue to be processed through existing means.

Meantime, the Regional Board has given first reading to a by-law aimed at amending the Westbank Official Community Plan. The amendment would incorporate a neighbourhood plan for the Lower Glenrosa area.

The plan outlines future land use and servicing for the area located upslope of Glenrosa Road, between Gorman's Mill, Gates Road, MacIver Road and the Morningside neighbourhood.

A public hearing will be held at a later date.

Smith says he expects the Westbank OCP amendment to be in place prior to incorporation.