Comox Valley Regional District

Background Info

04:47 14°C

September 2010

Regional District Board & Committee
Agendas
Minutes

RGS - BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) was mandated to lead the development of a regional growth strategy (RGS) for the Comox Valley as part of the provincial government’s restructure of the Comox Strathcona Regional District. A public consultation program will be included in the creation of this long range-planning document. The first public forum was held on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. This session provided an introduction to the RGS process and highlighted how the public can contribute to the project.

The region’s lifestyle opportunities and high quality of life have long attracted people to the Comox Valley and the CVRD is anticipating considerable growth over the next 20 years. A unified approach from all levels of government will ensure that we achieve the future we all want where these lifestyle advantages will not be lost. The RGS will be a “made in the Comox Valley” plan for sustainable growth management that recognizes our unique nature, people and resources.

“The regional growth strategy provides a process for making choices for a sustainable future, which preserves the region’s high quality of life” Fred Bates, chair of the CVRD stated. “It will be a tremendous benefit for all present and future citizens of the region.”

The Comox Valley RGS will take a “big picture” approach to planning. It will focus on a set of key issues that must be managed on a regional scale. The legislation identifies five essential elements that should be of interest and must be addressed: housing, transportation, regional district services, parks and natural areas and economic development. Also included is a recommendation from the CVRD board to incorporate public health and safety.

“It is a collaborative process that includes ongoing consultation with the public, First Nations, and local, regional, and senior levels of government,” noted Rob Roycroft, manager of special projects and long-range planning. “The process will allow local residents an opportunity to provide input into the kind of future they desire.”

The RGS is being created over a two-year period (2008 – 2010) with an approved RGS policy document to be adopted by December 31, 2010.

Difference between RGS and Sustainability Strategy

- Both strategies look to the future and both strategies are about improving the quality of life and the environment in Comox Valley. As a result, the two study teams will work in close tandem to make sure information flows back and forth and that the two sets of strategies are complementary.

- The sustainability strategy will focus on establishing specific environmental principles and related regional and municipal actions (e.g. policies related to local food production, sustainability checklist for developers, policies regarding pesticide use, incentives for using alternative transportation).

- The RGS will focus on the overall pattern of land use in the Valley and the creation of a sustainable human settlement pattern. As such, it's focus will be on defining where future growth will occur and the appropriate type, intensity and form of that growth.

- Specifically, the RGS may create clear boundaries for non-developable areas, will generally guide standards and expectations for growth within existing built-up areas and will identify specific areas where future growth is appropriate over the next 30 years.

- In defining the above, the RGS will also identify specific regional services and priorities to support the envisioned growth strategy (e.g. required infrastructure, transportation system, open space and natural system, parks and recreation needs, appropriate housing types and forms, requirements for agricultural lands and natural resources).

- The RGS is a mandated regulatory document whereas the sustainabilty strategys is something that CVRD elected officials felt would be useful - the RGS will be a framework for informing and influencing decision making on land use and related uses - it will guide and in some cases may regulate future actions by the CVRD board and the muncipalities of Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland.

- OCPs will be updated within two years of the adoption of the RGSto bring them into compliance

- Among other things, the final RGS will contain the following elements: