Purpose
The purpose of the Development Permit Areas (DPA) review is to streamline implementation and improve enforceability of the current DPA. This is not a rewrite of the DPA and will focus on updating certain aspects of four out of the 10 DPAs. The updating of the four DPAs will also require changes to the Official Community Plan (OCP), Bylaw No. 337, being the “ Rural Comox Valley Official Community Plan Bylaw No 337, 2014 and the Zoning Bylaw (ZBL), being the “Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 520, 2019” . There are no significant policy changes and most changes are to improve readability, to streamline the process, to ensure best practices and to combine some development permits.
Why is a review being conducted?
The CVRD Board approved the COVID-19 Response and Renewal initiative- Electoral Areas under Planning, Building and Bylaw Actions, directing staff to undertake a review of the Development Permit Area (DPA) guidelines to streamline the process, improve readability, ensure best practices and combine some development permits if appropriate.
What is a Development Permit Area (DPA)?
A DPA is an important planning tool used to designate areas and specify special conditions for additional protection or development control. The authority for local governments to establish DPA’s is set out in the Local Government Act to protect the natural environment, to protect development from hazardous conditions, to guide the form and character of development, to promote energy or water conservation or to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Recent DPA Guideline Changes
On July 25, 2023, the CVRD Board adopted bylaws that amended six development permit areas. This work begins the standardization of the DPA process to clearly identify each DPA’s designation, justification, and objectives, and to include the guidelines within the Zoning Bylaw to enhance enforcement options. While the guidelines were not increased or made more onerous for property owners, four DPAs underwent significant changes:
- Aquatic and Riparian Habitat – this is now split into separate Coastal and Freshwater DPAs
- Eagle Nest DPA and Heron Nest DPA – this is now combined into a single DPA
- Steep Slopes DPA
Two other DPAs – the Mt. Washington Mixed Use DPA and the Union Bay Tourism Highway Commercial DPA – were amended in order to add to or clarify exemptions from the development permit guidelines.
Subsequent DPA Updates
A similar process will be undertaken in order to move the remaining DPAs guidelines from the OCP to the Zoning Bylaw, as well as to expand and clarify each DPA’s designation, justification, and objectives. This work will streamline the DPA guidelines and enhance enforcement options.
Timeline
Aug 8, 2022: EASC Board reviews staff report dated August 4, 2022
Aug 30, 2022: Board directed staff to begin the external agency referral process and to consult with the First Nations on the amendments. External Referral List.
Sep 9, 2022: External referral process initiated
July 25, 2023: Bylaw adoption
TBD: Amendments to CVRD Ticketing Bylaws
More information on the DPA Guideline Review is available in the following staff reports: