` National Land Use Maps and Plans Project National Physical Development Plan for the British Virgin Islands February 1, 2019 P. O. Box 1360 ● Valley ● Virgin Gorda ● British Virgin Islands DRAFT In Collaboration with Dillon Consulting Limited + Acacia Consulting & Research ● P. O. Box 1360 ● Valley ● Virgin Gorda ● British Virgin Islands ● Email: [email protected] or [email protected] 177 Colonnade Road, Suite 101, Ottawa Ontario, K2E 7J4, Canada 430 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 1H1, Canada Financing agreement No.: RCA/FED/024-114 Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA Project on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Sustainable Land Management Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States DRAFT ● P. O. Box 1360 ● Valley ● Virgin Gorda ● British Virgin Islands ● Email: [email protected] or [email protected] February 1, 2019 Greg Adams, AICP Joseph Smith-Abbott Chief Planner Deputy Permanent Secretary Town and Country Planning Department Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Premier's Office and GCCA/SLM Project Leader Government of the BVI Government of the BVI Road Town, Tortola, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Road Town, Tortola, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Regarding National Land Use Maps and Plans Draft National Physical Development Plan Dear Sirs: Environmental Systems Ltd. of the British Virgin Islands (ESL) is pleased to submit this Draft National Physical Development Plan (NPDP) for the National Land Use Maps and Plans project. The NPDP reflects the research and analysis of the consulting team, in addition to the significant input of stakeholders through extensive consultation that was conducted, as well as feedback from the National Planning Workshop participants. The NPDP contains four key deliverables that are required under the Terms of Reference. These include: (1) the NPDP, (2) the institutional framework plan, (3) the investment action plan, and (4) the monitoring and evaluation framework. Each of these deliverables are provided in this single document so that the relationships between them can be effectively captured. The NPDP is at the forefront of this package (Parts A and B), comprising a summary of how the Plan came about, its vision and functional policies, and the investment action plan which stems from the policies outlined in the NPDP. The other two deliverables form the latter portion of this document (Part C) and represent the institutional strengthening and plan monitoring that will help the BVI achieve the NPDP’s vision. We trust that you will find this Draft Plan in order. Should you have any questions or require any clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at the coordinates provided in our letterhead or telephone +1.284.541.6288. Yours truly, Environmental Systems Ltd. DRAFT Table of Contents Table of Contents Part A 1.0 Message from the Chief Planner ...................................................................... 2 2.0 How to Read and Use the NPDP ........................................................................ 3 3.0 Background and Purpose of the NPDP ............................................................. 6 3.1 History of National Plans in the BVI ................................................................................................ 6 3.2 The Legislative Authority Supporting the Creation of a New BVI NPDP ................................. 7 3.2.1 The Planning Act Acknowledges the Importance of Planning for the Future ........... 7 3.2.2 The Planning Act’s Requirements for the NPDP ............................................................... 7 3.3 Purpose of the New BVI NPDP ........................................................................................................ 9 4.0 Preparing the Plan ............................................................................................ 10 4.1 How the Plan Was Formed ............................................................................................................ 10 4.2 Situation Analysis, 2017 & 2018 ..................................................................................................... 10 4.2.1 Summary of Physical and Environmental Characteristics ............................................ 10 4.2.2 Summary of Existing Land Uses .......................................................................................... 12 4.2.3 Population and Socio-Economic Characteristics.......................................................... 12 4.2.4 Summary of Connectivity ................................................................................................... 12 4.2.5 Summary of Utilities and Infrastructure ............................................................................. 13 4.3 Framework Report .......................................................................................................................... 14 4.3.1 Visioning Workshop: On the Way to A Plan by and for BV Islanders.......................... 14 4.4 Population and Growth Forecast ................................................................................................ 15 4.5 From Draft to Final Plan: Stakeholder Consultation .................................................................. 18 Part B 5.0 The NPDP’s Vision for the BVI ........................................................................... 20 5.1 Vision for the BVI .............................................................................................................................. 20 5.1.1 A National Vision .................................................................................................................. 20 British Virgin Islands | i NationalDRAFT Physical Development Plan Table of Contents 5.1.2 Five Regional Visions ............................................................................................................ 21 5.2 Themes for the BVI .......................................................................................................................... 22 5.2.1 Three National Development Themes ............................................................................. 22 5.2.2 Five Regional Development Themes ............................................................................... 22 5.3 How We Will Manage Development and Growth in the BVI ................................................. 24 6.0 NPDP Policies and Land Use Maps ................................................................. 25 6.1 Orderly Development with a Settlement Area Hierarchy ....................................................... 31 6.2 Managing Land Use Conflict and Risk ........................................................................................ 34 6.3 Areas Where Development is Prohibited to Ensure Resiliency and Environmental Protection ......................................................................................................................................... 34 6.4 Permitted Uses in Each Settlement Area .................................................................................... 35 6.4.1 Primary Settlement Areas ................................................................................................... 35 6.4.2 Towns and Villages .............................................................................................................. 36 6.4.3 The Countryside .................................................................................................................... 36 6.4.4 The Remaining Islands and Cays ...................................................................................... 37 6.5 Specific Land Use Development Policies ................................................................................... 40 6.5.1 Residential Uses .................................................................................................................... 40 6.5.2 Retail and Service Uses ....................................................................................................... 44 6.5.3 Office Uses ............................................................................................................................. 45 6.5.4 Institutional and Community Facilities Uses..................................................................... 47 6.5.5 Mixed Uses ............................................................................................................................. 49 6.5.6 Industrial Uses ........................................................................................................................ 51 6.5.7 Open Spaces, Parks and Recreational Facilities ........................................................... 52 6.5.8 Hotels and Resorts ................................................................................................................ 54 6.5.9 Tourism Facilities.................................................................................................................... 56 6.5.10 Transportation Services ....................................................................................................... 57 6.5.11 Marina and Harbor Uses ..................................................................................................... 58 6.5.12 Public Utilities ......................................................................................................................... 59 6.6 Policies that Further Guide Us to a Resilient and Sustainable Future .................................... 62 6.6.1 Climate Change Resiliency Policies