Lake Windermere OCP

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Consultation has concluded. Thank you to all who participated.

The RDEK Board of Directors adopted the Lake Windermere Official Community Plan (OCP) at its November 1st monthly board meeting. The adopted plan will be posted early next week (Nov. 4-8)

BACKGROUND:

A public hearing was held on October 23, 2019

A June 9 open house kicked off a public comment period that was open until July 10. Over 150 responses were received either via e-mail, letter or comment form in addition to 139 stock letters received from a Wildsight write-in campaign.

Changes made to the DRAFT Lake Windermere OCP since the June 9 Open House:

  • Section 4.3(1)(c) – Changed from supporting a stand-alone process to look at incorporating secondary suites in to the Upper Columbia Zoning Bylaw to simply supporting an amendment to the Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw to permit secondary suites in the plan area. This change was made due to the number of public comments received asking for the RDEK to do more to permit secondary suites and address issues such as providing housing for young families and the emerging workforce. A public hearing is still required for any changes proposed to the zoning bylaw.
  • Section 4.3(5) – Westside Residential Policies. Through the public comment period, many comments were received which opposed development on the west side of the District of Invermere. Reasons for opposition were to protect sensitive grassland ecosystems, leaving wildlife corridors untouched by development and recognizing the significance of the southern mountain goat herd. In order to achieve the environmental protections the public desires to see on these private properties, providing limited development opportunity in the less sensitive areas can be used to secure meaningful protection for environmentally sensitive areas, wildlife habitat and community amenities.
  • Section 9.1 – Inserted correct name for the Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail.
  • Section 9.3(3) – Change to reflect already established Electoral F parks and trails service.
  • Section 13.3(2) – Added reference to Shuswap Indian Band.
  • Section 15.3(10) – Added policy recognizing limited servicing capacity at Athalmer Road which will need to be addressed in any future developments.
  • Section 16.1, 16.3(11) and (12) – Acknowledge that the community GHG reduction targets, objectives and policies’ will need to be updated prior to the end of the plans lifecycle and added a policy which supports completing a community greenhouse gas reduction plan for the plan area.

Useful links:

If you have any questions about the Lake Windermere OCP process, please contact Kris Belanger at 250-489-6903 or via email at [email protected]

The RDEK Board of Directors adopted the Lake Windermere Official Community Plan (OCP) at its November 1st monthly board meeting. The adopted plan will be posted early next week (Nov. 4-8)

BACKGROUND:

A public hearing was held on October 23, 2019

A June 9 open house kicked off a public comment period that was open until July 10. Over 150 responses were received either via e-mail, letter or comment form in addition to 139 stock letters received from a Wildsight write-in campaign.

Changes made to the DRAFT Lake Windermere OCP since the June 9 Open House:

  • Section 4.3(1)(c) – Changed from supporting a stand-alone process to look at incorporating secondary suites in to the Upper Columbia Zoning Bylaw to simply supporting an amendment to the Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw to permit secondary suites in the plan area. This change was made due to the number of public comments received asking for the RDEK to do more to permit secondary suites and address issues such as providing housing for young families and the emerging workforce. A public hearing is still required for any changes proposed to the zoning bylaw.
  • Section 4.3(5) – Westside Residential Policies. Through the public comment period, many comments were received which opposed development on the west side of the District of Invermere. Reasons for opposition were to protect sensitive grassland ecosystems, leaving wildlife corridors untouched by development and recognizing the significance of the southern mountain goat herd. In order to achieve the environmental protections the public desires to see on these private properties, providing limited development opportunity in the less sensitive areas can be used to secure meaningful protection for environmentally sensitive areas, wildlife habitat and community amenities.
  • Section 9.1 – Inserted correct name for the Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail.
  • Section 9.3(3) – Change to reflect already established Electoral F parks and trails service.
  • Section 13.3(2) – Added reference to Shuswap Indian Band.
  • Section 15.3(10) – Added policy recognizing limited servicing capacity at Athalmer Road which will need to be addressed in any future developments.
  • Section 16.1, 16.3(11) and (12) – Acknowledge that the community GHG reduction targets, objectives and policies’ will need to be updated prior to the end of the plans lifecycle and added a policy which supports completing a community greenhouse gas reduction plan for the plan area.

Useful links:

If you have any questions about the Lake Windermere OCP process, please contact Kris Belanger at 250-489-6903 or via email at [email protected]

Consultation has concluded. Thank you to all who participated.

  • Lake Windermere Official Community Plan Adopted (November 1, 2019)

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    01 Nov 2019

    The RDEK Board has adopted the Lake Windermere Official Community Plan (OCP).

    “This has been an extensive process that spans over two years,” says RDEK Electoral Area F Director Susan Clovechok. “One of our goals was to create a document that will guide development for the next five to ten years while balancing diverse community interests and I believe we have done that with this Plan.”

    There were numerous community meetings and open houses throughout the process and Clovechok says they’ve worked closely with a community based advisory committee from early on. “I want to thank the members of the advisory committee who have been dedicated and engaged since our first meeting. They, and all the members of the public who participated in some way, have played a key role in the development of this Plan, which I believe is a significant improvement over the previous OCP.”

    Following an Open House in June where the draft plan was presented, several updates were made in response to the feedback received. Some examples of the policies that have been included include:

    • In response to concerns about the visual impact of storage-based businesses, the OCP contains policies that support storage based businesses to be located outside of the highway 93/95 corridor, away from Athalmer Road and the Windermere townsite. In addition to this, landscaping and screening development permit area guidelines have been strengthened.
    • 11 parcels north of Windermere Creek that were supported for exclusion from the Agricultural Land Reserve in the 2008 plan are now identified as properties that should stay within the ALR due to their high agricultural potential.
    • Policy supporting a trail system that connects the Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail, Old Coach Greenway, Windermere Beach Park, Cross Roads Regional Ball Park and communities on the east side of Lake Windermere with other amenities and services.
    • Although highways are outside of the RDEKs jurisdiction, the public raised concerns regarding traffic safety at several entrances to Windermere, the need for traffic calming and improved pedestrian safety near school bus stops. In response to these concerns, the OCP includes policy that advocates for highway improvements.
    • After receiving significant feedback regarding the lands on the west side of the lake, changes were made to provide more clarity in the policies to protect the ecological and recreation values of the properties in that area.

    "I would also like to acknowledge former Electoral Area F Director Wendy Booth who was integral in the early part of the process and the work of RDEK staff, particularly Kris Belanger who was the project lead and worked directly with the community throughout,” adds Clovechok.

  • Draft Lake Windermere Official Community Plan Presented to Public (June 10, 2019)

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    01 Nov 2019

    Over 60 people attended an Open House Sunday June 9 as the draft Lake Windermere Official Community Plan (OCP) was presented.

    “The main purpose of the Open House was to introduce the draft OCP, provide copies of the plan and associated maps, and be available to provide clarification, answer questions and receive feedback,” says RDEK Area F Director Susan Clovechok. “Community involvement is key in this process, so I was pleased to see so many people in attendance.”

    The RDEK’s lead planner on the project, Kris Belanger, provided an overview of the draft and says all of the information shared on Sunday has also been posted on a new project page. “It is important to us to make sure all of the information from the Open House is also available online so that those who were not able to attend have the same opportunity to access the information and provide feedback,” explains Belanger. “The project page has a copy of the draft plan, all the map schedules, and a comment form.”

    In addition to gathering public comment over the next month, the RDEK will continue to reach out to the Akisqnuk and Shuswap First Nations.

    Anyone who would like more information or who has questions about the draft plan or planning process is encouraged to contact Belanger or Director Clovechok. “We are here and really encourage those conversations prior to the close of the comment period,” adds Belanger.

    The comment period closes on July 10, 2019 and is available on the Lake Windermere OCP project page at engage.rdek.bc.ca. Following the close of the comment period, the RDEK will compile and review the feedback received as it works on amendments to the draft.

    For more information on the Lake Windermere OCP, contact the RDEK or visit engage.rdek.bc.ca.