Slocan Valley Official Community Plan Process Initiated by Jan Mcmurray Presentation That Gave People a OCP in Place
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October 25, 2006 The Valley Voice Volume 15, Number 21 October 25, 2006 Delivered to every home between Edgewood, Kaslo & South Slocan. Published bi-weekly. “Your independently-owned regional community newspaper serving the Arrow Lakes, Slocan & North Kootenay Lake Valleys.” Slocan Valley Official Community Plan process initiated by Jan McMurray presentation that gave people a OCP in place. Crown land In South Slocan, there were 17 public hearing, the RDCK board will Area H Director Don Munro general understanding of the planning applications in the regional district stars beside ‘no plan/no zoning’ and either adopt or reject the OCP bylaw. and Dave Wahn from the RDCK process. The second half was for are referred to the planning nine beside ‘we need a plan.’ During the process, Wahn and planning department recently people to ask questions and identify department for comment, and Munro At the three meetings in the Munro explained, an Advisory hosted a series of four meetings planning issues. “We won’t solve said, “I have observed that they listen south, there was a lot of concern Planning Commission (APC) plays about land use planning in the problems tonight, but we will identify more if you have an OCP.” about the process. Many felt there a key role by soliciting public input Slocan Valley, starting in New them,” he said. The issues were At the three meetings in the was a lack of democracy with no and making recommendations to the Denver and moving down the valley posted around the room and people south, there were people who made referendum or other kind of vote on RDCK board on key issues. The APC to Winlaw, Slocan Park and South were given five stars to stick by the it clear they wanted no planning or the process or on the plan. Wahn and is appointed by the RDCK board on Slocan. The flavour of each meeting issues most important to them. zoning. “We moved here because we Munro both explained that the the recommendation of the Director. was different, but the most marked There were over 50 issues don’t want people telling us what to planning process was citizen driven. It can have up to 15 members and 2/ difference was between the north identified in New Denver, with a do in our own backyards,” said one “You will decide at the end of the day 3 of the APC must be Area H property and the south. By the end of the general feeling of eagerness to begin from this group. Others, however, what we will have or won’t have. owners. Munro said he was looking series of meetings, it was quite clear the planning process. A proposed expressed interest in the planning We’re not here to impose anything for a “cross section of residents” on that there will probably be two lakefront development at Enterprise process in order to protect the Slocan on the residents. If the community the two APCs – one for the north and Official Community Plan processes Creek for 30 cottages worth between Valley lifestyle. The two attitudes does not want zoning, there will be one for the south. – one for the north and one for the $400,000 and $700,000 has people were reflected in the results of the no zoning. If the community wants Some people in the southern south. in the north keen to do what they can ‘stick the star on the issue’ exercise. status quo and no OCP, that’s what valley felt strongly that there should Although the New Denver to stop these kinds of things in future. At the Winlaw meeting, there you’ll get,” Wahn said. He said the be a referendum on the OCP bylaw. meeting was the most well attended, The issue with the most stars at the were 28 stars beside ‘no zoning/OCP process usually involved about 15 to Wahn’s problem with a referendum with about 160 people there (Wahn end of the night was ‘Slocan Lake – get the hell out,’ and 19 stars beside 20 public meetings and took for an OCP is that it would not be commented that it was by far the use and development,’ followed by ‘scale and scope of development over anywhere from six months to four binding – only referendums on largest planning meeting he had ever ‘limitation of development’ and next 20 years.’ Other important issues years or longer. “We work with and money issues are binding. Munro seen), one meeting goer commented ‘continuous domestic watershed were: ‘water quality (lake, river, at the speed of the community.” explained that his problem with the he was surprised at how “docile” the protection.’ Other important issues drainages),’ ‘protection of river,’ The process involves the drafting referendum idea was that only crowd was. The three meetings in the were: ‘horsepower size limits on ‘maintain local food supply,’ ‘butcher of an OCP bylaw, which is taken to property owners can vote, so not southern valley all had about 40 lake,’ ‘limitation on development closing.’ the public and various government everyone affected would have a say. people in attendance and “docile” the sizes,’ ‘shoreline ownership,’ In Slocan Park, ‘no OCP and agencies for comment. “After we’ve Munro stressed that the democratic people were not. The same group of ‘affordable housing,’ ‘non-motorized zoning’ got 18 stars, while the pro- tweaked it to the satisfaction of process would be determined by the five or six people opposed to land use footpath between New Denver and planning issue (‘no to plan means everybody,” said Wahn, it goes to the APCs. planning showed up and were quite Silverton,’ ‘public access to beaches,’ somebody else’s plan’) got 21 stars. RDCK board for two readings. Then To express interest in serving on vocal at all three meetings. ‘avoiding junkyards at historical ‘Effective democratic process’ got 20 there is a public hearing that anyone one of the APCs, write to Don Munro, Munro initiated the meetings sites,’ ‘jet skis,’ ‘sound pollution,’ stars. Other important issues were who feels they are affected by the G-16A, C-22, RR #1, Winlaw, BC because of the unprecedented growth ‘ecological sustainable ‘logging related issues,’ and OCP can attend and voice their V0G 2J0, fax to 226-7076 or email the valley has been experiencing over development,’ ‘hospital services’ and ‘safeguarding values.’ opinions. Based on the minutes of the [email protected]. the last couple of years. Because of ‘preservation of what is.’ the demand for waterfront property, People wanted to know if the north end of the valley with anything could be done about the Slocan Lake has felt that growth more Enterprise Creek development. Wahn acutely than people in the south. This explained that without an OCP in is what has made the difference in the place, there was very little anyone planning priorities for the two ends could do. He said that as long as the of the valley. developer could meet building code Munro started each meeting requirements of the Province and explaining why he had initiated the provide water, sewer and access, meetings. “People are moving in with “anything goes at the moment. There new ideas and different values,” he are no regulations on the size of the said. “This doesn’t have to be cottages or the development.” With negative, but we want to be in a an OCP in place, however, he position to say ‘that’s a good idea but explained that any proposal that did it doesn’t fit in with the expectations not fit into the plan would go to a of the people currently living here,’ public hearing. or ‘we welcome new business, but This, Wahn said, was the most when you come in, you come in important reason to have an OCP in under our rules.’” his view – because it ensures public Statistics presented showed the input on land use issues. Another plus trend: there were 67 new lot about a plan is that it can stipulate developments in Area H - the Slocan that developers pay the incremental Valley in the first eight months of this costs of servicing new developments. year, compared to an average of 20 This way, existing property owners per year in the past. Over the past five do not pay through higher taxation. years, Area H has been the fastest Some people in the southern valley growing area in the RDCK, and 4,800 were skeptical about the ability of a properties in the valley are owned by plan to stop development. Wahn said people who do not live here. Munro that plans can and have stopped said his concern was that, given these development. He acknowledged, rapid changes in the community, however, that the development often “how do we continue to protect the does go ahead, but not until it is things we hold of value?” He said that acceptable to community members. he had received many calls in the past This often happens by cutting a deal two to three years about conflicts with the developer to provide the arising from the Area’s growth, and community with something it wants, he felt it important to come to the such as seniors’ housing or parkland. public to let them know about these Both Wahn and Munro also concerns. spoke about the better leverage a During the first half of each community has with the provincial Agnice Sophia Campbell, the first Sinixt baby to be born in Canada in over 100 years, celebrated her first birthday at session, Wahn showed a power point and federal governments if it has an the annual Thanksgiving weekend Barter Fair in Vallican this year.