SPROAT LAKE Official Community Plan Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Adopted February 23rd, 2005 Schedule “A” This schedule is attached to and forms part of the Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot Sproat Lake Official Community Plan By-law No. P1118. Table of Contents Chapter 1 The Sproat Lake Official Community Plan ........................................... 1 Chapter 2 Community Vision ..................................................................................... 3 Chapter 3 Plan Goals .................................................................................................. 5 Chapter 4 The Planning Process ................................................................................. 7 Chapter 5 History and Character of Sproat Lake .................................................. 9 Chapter 6 Environment and Conservation ............................................................ 11 Chapter 7 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ....................................................... 15 Chapter 8 Parks, Open Space and Trails .............................................................. 19 Chapter 9 Residential ................................................................................................. 23 Chapter 10 Commercial ............................................................................................. 27 Chapter 11 Industry and Employment ................................................................... 29 Chapter 12 Tourism and Culture ........................................................................... 31 Chapter 13 Transportation and Circulation ............................................................ 35 Chapter 14 Public Utilities ......................................................................................... 37 Chapter 15 Community Facilities and Services ..................................................... 41 Chapter 16 Heritage Conservation ........................................................................... 43 Chapter 17 Special Areas .......................................................................................... 45 Chapter 18 Plan Implementation and Staging ...................................................... 47 Chapter 19 Plan Map ................................................................................................. 55 Chapter 20 Development Permit Areas ................................................................. 57 PLAN MAPS 1. Plan Area 2. Heritage, Tourism, Commercial/Industrial Areas 3. Environment, Agriculture, Fisheries 4. Parks, Open Space, Trails 5. Public Utilities and Community Facilities 6. Plan Map 7. Development Permit Areas This plan was prepared by J. G. Masterton, MCIP, Planning Consultant with the help and guidance of the Sproat Lake Advisory Planning Commission and with assistance of the staff of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Planning Department and with substantial input from many local residents and groups, notably the Sproat Lake Community Association. Chapter 1 The Sproat Lake Official Community Plan Sproat Lake is located 13 km (8 miles) northwest of Port Alberni and adjacent to Highway 4, the road leading to the Pacific Rim National Park and the west coast communities of Tofino and Ucluelet. The Sproat Lake Official Community Plan is based on a long range vision developed by the community in 2003 and stemming from a previously-conducted “visioning” exercise. The plan is intended to guide and protect the community for the next 10 years after which there will be a plan review and adjustment to take into account subsequent changes in legislation, society and technology. The plan is a regional district bylaw adopted by the regional board expressing social, environmental and economic objectives and policies relating to the general form and character of future land use patterns and related servicing requirements. Sections 875-881 of the Local Government Act outline the required contents of the official community plan and section 882 of the Act defines the adoption procedures for official community plans. Adopted February 23rd, 2005 1 Adopted February 23rd, 2005 2 Chapter 2 Community Vision Any plan must be based on visions of the future, not necessarily tied to the past, with the ability to see opportunity and respond to the challenge. The “Sproat Lake Vision” as developed by the residents of the community in 2000 foresees a caring community where residents, businesses and visitors work together to maintain the natural environment , especially clean air and water, in a friendly, neighborhood atmosphere. People of all ages, abilities and cultures will interact together in a supportive way to work towards common goals. There will be a strong sense of community spirit with active resident participation towards the betterment of community well-being through improvements to both the community well-being and to the community’s facilities and services. The natural beauty of the area will be appreciated by all, recognizing the need for improved legislation to protect such beauty. A community focal point on Sproat Lake could increase community sense-of-place, such focus to include upland residential development, a marina, a community meeting place and new commercial activity combined with the continued presence of the water bomber base. Other aspects of the vision include protected lake and river foreshore, a community-based forest industry, low-impact outdoor recreational activities, increased housing choice especially for retirees, improved airport facilities and a strong economy based on a revitalized forest industry together with an enhanced tourist industry that caters to the region’s outstanding natural beauty in creating a local economic base that is truly sustainable. Adopted February 23rd, 2005 3 Adopted February 23rd, 2005 4 Chapter 3 Plan Goals Social - Creation of a vibrant, livable rural community with a variety of housing choice, rich in recreational opportunities, with convenient and affordable community services, an accessible lake frontage, open spaces and trails and with the provision of community services to expansion areas in a cost-effective manner. Environmental - Protection of and enhancement of the community’s unique environmental assets of lakes, wild mountains, abundant wildlife and fish resources, old growth forests, estuarine environments, plentiful freshwater rivers and streams, with the over-riding goal of increased environmental sustainabiIity while preserving and expanding the current parks system Economic - The provision of a socially balanced community with a diverse economic base that is not over dependent on primary resources but that recognizes the challenges and the opportunities of the new economy, especially the important role of environmental and cultural tourism, yet supporting the confirmation and strengthening of traditional primary industries such as agriculture and forestry. Transportation - Encourage the creation of a cost effective and environmentally sensitive transportation system that caters to residents, visitors and businesses alike in the provision of transportation choice. Adopted February 23rd, 2005 5 Adopted February 23rd, 2005 6 Chapter 4 The Planning Process Sproat Lake is included in two Official Settlement Plans (OSP’s) of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District - The East Sproat Lake OSP ( 1985, revised 1998), and the Sproat Lake OSP (1981, revised 1998). In December 2000, at a community meeting, the Sproat Lake community espoused the strengths of living near the lake and also identified key issues to be addressed in a new OCP. At the same time, a “visioning” strategy was drawn up to guide the new plan. The vision is included in this plan as Chapter 2. In May 2003, the Regional District, through the Electoral Area “D” regional director, requested the Sproat Lake Advisory Planning Commission to commence the OCP review process that resulted in this plan. The new OCP covers a much larger area, encompassing as it does the entire watershed of the lake and includes a portion of Great Central Lake as well as part of the watershed of Nahmint Lake and covers a total area of 39 075 hectares (150 square miles) as shown on Map 1. The OCP tries to reflect a consensus of opinions received but no plan is perfect and no plan can reflect all the divergent opinions received. However, planning is a dynamic process, just as the community it represents. The plan will be monitored on a regular basis and will also be extensively reviewed in 10 years time to ensure it is current and relevant to the needs of the Sproat Lake community. In the 2000 visioning session, characteristics of the Sproat Lake area which the community wishes to see retained, protected and enhanced are: S Lake activities, swimming, boating, fishing S A community focal point S Scenic values, lakes and mountains S Wild rivers and streams S Quiet, friendly, non-urban feeling S Community-oriented parks and trails Such stated vision is used in the development of this plan. Adopted February 23rd, 2005 7 Adopted February 23rd, 2005 8 Chapter 5 History and Character of Sproat Lake The lake is named after Gilbert Malcolm Sproat who arrived in the Alberni valley in 1860 and established the first sawmill in 1861 so starting the long and tempestuous relationship that the region has had with the forest industry. Prior to the European settlement of the area, the aboriginal peoples had a marked presence in the region, being as it was a desirable place to settle, with abundant harvests