Schedule “A” to Bylaw 2700 North Thompson Official Community Plan Foreword and Acknowledgements The North Thompson Official Community Plan is the outcome of over two years of research, public participation and planning. The Regional District is grateful to all those residents and groups who provided interest, passion, and support from all corners of the Plan area culminating in the Plan development. In particular, we wish to recognize the following people for the exceptional amount of time and energy they dedicated to the planning process. OCP Advisory Committee Director Carol Schaffer, Electoral Area “A” Director Stephen Quinn, Electoral Area “B” Director Bill Kershaw, Electoral Area “O” Tom Eustache – Simpcw First Nation Rick Dee Harley Wright Willow Macdonald (past member) Meetings, Conversations and Information Providers Anna Kay Eldridge – Simpcw First Nation Ashley Dyck – Planning Services Celia Nord – Little Shuswap Indian Band Chris Ortner Dan Winiski Doris Laner – North Thompson Arts Council James Demens and Brandon Gustafsen – Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Jenny Green and Clare Audet – Interior Health Authority Kelly Funk – Kelly Funk Photography Laura Ryser – Research Manager, Rural and Small Town Studies Program, UNBC Leanne Nystoruk Mike Scarff, TNRD GIS Services PIBC and the Planners from the local Interior Chapter Sarah Cooke and Mike Cloet – Ministry of Mines, Energy and Petroleum Resources Staff and students at Clearwater and Barriere Secondary Schools Staff from the Agricultural Land Commission Staff from the Ministry of Forest, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development with special thanks to both Robyn Reudink and Melissa Lalande Tania Simpson – Photography Through Tania’s Eyes Tourism Wells Gray TNRD Agricultural Advisory and Advisory Planning Committees The Salle Family The Teatro Family Therese Zulinick and Alison Rustand – Urban Systems OCP Effect The vision, goals, objectives, and policies set out herein comprise the appended ‘OCP Bylaw Schedule’; meanwhile, the balance of content such as photos, headings, numbering, statistics etc. is context or supporting information which may be updated if and as advisable. North Thompson Official Community Plan December 12, 2019 “Together, we must continue our efforts to turn hopes into reality. The long walk continues.” Nelson Mandela North Thompson Official Community Plan December 12, 2019 Contents Part 1 Our Plan Foundation 1.1 Context 1.2 Plan Role, Purpose & Legislative Context 1.3 Why we plan 1.4 Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) Part 2 Process, Vision and Goals 2.1 Context 2.2 Planning Process & Consultation 2.3 Community Vision Statement 2.4 Community Goals Part 3 This Place is Our Place – A Brief History 3.1 Context 3.2 First Nations 3.3 Furs, Forests & the Frontier Spirit – Early Placemaking 3.4 Sub-Regional Overview 3.5 Community Nodes & Rural Settlement Areas 3.6 Housing Trends 3.7 Population & Demographics Part 4 Towards a New Rural Economy 4.1 Context 4.2 Planning for Resiliency 4.3 Labour Profile & Income 4.4 Local Economy 4.5 Economic Development Planning 4.6 Temporary Use Permits (TUP) Part 5 Quality of Life – Our Community Amenities 5.1 Context 5.2 Community Social Infrastructure 5.3 Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces 5.4 Community & Institutional 5.5 Affordable, Rental & Special Needs Housing 5.6 Culture, Heritage & the Arts Part 6 Natural Resource Stewardship 6.1 Context 6.2 Agriculture North Thompson Official Community Plan December 12, 2019 6.3 Resource Management 6.4 Resource Extraction Part 7 The Natural Environment 7.1 Context 7.2 Natural Environment – Geography 7.3 Watercourse Amenities 7.4 Natural Hazard Areas 7.5 Sensitive Ecosystems & Biodiversity 7.6 Climate Change & Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Part 8 Utilities, Environmental Services & Infrastructure 8.1 Context 8.2 Water Supply & Distribution 8.3 Environmental Services & Infrastructure 8.4 Major Utility Infrastructure 8.5 Emergency Preparedness & Protective Services Part 9 Transportation & Mobility 9.1 Context 9.2 Transportation & Mobility – A Short History 9.3 Multimodal Transportation Systems Part 10 Future Land Use Strategy 10.1 Context 10.2 Community Nodes 10.3 Rural Settlement Areas 10.4 Electoral Area Planning Part 11 Development Permit Areas 11.1 Context 11.2 Riparian & Watercourse Protection Development Permit Area No. 1 Part 12 Implementation 12.1 Context 12.2 Implementation, Refinements & Amendments 12.3 Follow-up Initiatives North Thompson Official Community Plan December 12, 2019 Part 13 References List of Figures Figure 1 – Upper Thompson Valley and Wells Gray Corridor Map Figure 2 – Mid-Valley and Nehalliston Plateau Map Figure 3 – Lower Thompson Valley and Shuswap Highland Map Figure 4 – Dwellings by Structural Type (2011-2016) Figure 5 – Population Changes by Electoral Area (2001-2016) Figure 6 – Total Population by Age Group for Electoral Areas A, B and O (2006-2016) Figure 7 – Membership Growth of Simpcw First Nation (1986-2016) Figure 8 – Future Growth Projection Summary to 2035 Figure 9 – Agricultural Land Reserve Figure 10 – Mineral Tenures Figure 11 - Sand and Gravel Pits Figure 12 - Riparian Assessment Area Figure 13 – OCP Implementation Cycle List of Tables Table 1 – Regional and Community Parks (by Electoral Area) Table 2 – Public Schools Table 3 – Community Halls Table 4 – Change in Median Income (2006-2016) Table 5 – Growth by Industry in the Thompson-Okanagan Region Table 6 – Major Community Water Systems – Groundwater Table 7 – Major Community Water Systems – Surface Water Table 8 – Zoning Bylaw Updates Table 9 – Potential OCP Amendments List of Maps Map 1 - Electoral Area “A” Map 2 - Electoral Area “B” Map 3 – Electoral Area “O” Map 4 – Community Node – Blue River Map 5 – Community Node – Avola Map 6 – Community Node – Vavenby Map 7 – Community Node – Little Fort Map 8 – Rural Settlement Area – Wells Gray Corridor Map 9 – Rural Settlement Area – Blackpool Map 10 – Transportation Corridors North Thompson Official Community Plan December 12, 2019 Part 1 Our Plan Foundation 1.1 Context The purpose of the North Thompson Official Community Plan (OCP) is to provide a comprehensive set of objectives and policies for managing existing and future uses of land. The Plan area’s population and resource base is in a period of transition due to challenges not necessarily related to Plan area activities. Recognizing this transition, the TNRD has developed this OCP to help current residents prepare themselves for both the challenges and opportunities that lay in the future. The Plan is also written as a guide for those who have yet to move to the area. All told, the objectives and policies contained in the OCP are a reflection of research, analysis, current trends and community values. This OCP is not the first long range plan for the North Thompson. In 1979, the TNRD Board of Directors adopted the first Official Regional Plan in the TNRD. The Barriere and Clearwater Official Settlement Plans (OSP), adopted in 1982, represent the first long-range planning initiatives in the North Thompson Valley. The OSPs offered the first area specific objectives and policies to guide decisions on planning and land use. The two OSPs were reviewed in the early 1990s, culminating in the adoption of Barriere and Clearwater OCPs in 1996. Blue River and Avola OCPs were subsequently developed and adopted in 1994. North Thompson Official Community Plan December 12, 2019 Page 1 of 97 Much has changed since these long range plans were adopted. Although the Plan area abounds with opportunities, its communities share common rural development challenges including: a) stagnant or declining populations; b) a demographic profile considerably older than that of urban communities or of BC overall; c) low birth rates and in-migration trends; d) an older housing stock, comprising primarily of detached single family dwellings or manufactured homes; e) job losses in natural resource sectors; f) decreases of government offices, public services and private businesses; g) slower rates of new business creation and/or expansion; and h) limited financial resources and development capacity. These issues form a critical backdrop for this OCP as Plan area communities move forward into the next 25 years. A focus on creative adaptability and resiliency is required to encourage place-based renewal and to manage rural population decline as a result of the area’s weakened commodity- based resource economy. A revamped rural economy will continue to rely on traditional primary resource industries; however, more focus will need to be placed on the Plan area’s natural amenities and social assets present in its communities and settlement areas. The new OCP replaces the existing Blue River, Avola, Clearwater and Barriere OCPs and establishes long-range planning policy for the whole of Electoral Area “A” (Wells Gray Country), Electoral “B” (Thompson Headwaters) and Electoral Area “O” (Lower North Thompson). 1.2 Plan Role, Purpose & Legislative Context The Local Government Act sets out local government authority in British Columbia. The Act defines an OCP as a statement of objectives and policies to guide decisions on planning and land use management, within the area covered by the plan, respecting the purposes of local government. More specifically, the Act states that an OCP must include statements and map designations for the area covered by the plan respecting the following: a) the approximate location, amount, type and density of residential development required