Back to SearchSmall scale housing to be permitted in all rural zones in the Cariboo
The Cariboo Regional District will be considering a change to its Zoning Bylaws to ensure compliance with provincial housing legislation. CRD staff will be proposing amendments to the Quesnel Fringe Area Zoning Bylaw, Williams Lake Fringe and 150 Mile House Area Zoning Bylaw and South Cariboo Area Zoning Bylaw. The proposed amendments will bring the CRD’s bylaws into compliance with new provincial housing legislation, and will provide clarity that a minimum of one secondary suite within a single-family dwelling is permitted in any provincially designated “restricted zone”. Secondary suites will still be required comply with existing zoning standards for size and siting, along with BC Building Code requirements.
In 2018, the CRD adopted comprehensive bylaw amendments allowing accessory dwelling units in all residential and rural zones. A handful of special exception zones were not included in these amendments, and therefore are classified as “restricted zones” by the new housing legislation. There are approximately 50 to 60 parcels that may be considered a “restricted zone.”
The draft bylaw amendments will be provided to the Board its June 20th meeting.
Anahim Lake Community Hall to be powered by solar energy
The CRD will be providing the Anahim Lake Community Association with $40,500 from its Community Works Fund allocation to install solar panels at the Association’s Community Hall. This will help decrease the carbon footprint of the facility by reducing its external electricity needs, and free up funds for other projects at the community hall. A contribution agreement will be completed to manage the provision and use of the funds, including a requirement to retain ownership of the hall and report on measurable results for the next 10 years. With this and the Chimney / Felker Community Hall contributions, the CRD has $55,000 still available through its Community Hall Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation funding envelope for upgrades at other community halls.
Appointments with provincial officials requested
The Board has identified issues that it will elevate to provincial cabinet ministers at this years’ Union of BC Municipalities Conference (UBCM). UBCM is an annual which allows local government elected officials to engage with provincial ministers, staff, agencies, and others, along with an opportunity for collective advocacy for provincial policy changes. This conference also offers an opportunity to meet with individual ministers to bring forward concerns to them.
The Board has identified the following topics for meetings with ministers:
- BC Wildfire staff – Highlighting the negative impact of broad area burning bans on local FireSmart efforts;
- Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Minister of Health – advocating for the enforcement of sewer regulations by provincial staff to improve local watershed health;
- Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure – Development of the Esler Sports Complex access from Highway 20 (with the City of Williams Lake);
- Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure – Advocating for changes to rural school speed zones in rural areas and on numbered highways.
City of Williams Lake provides healthcare recruitment update
Melissa Lapointe and Beth Vankeemp from the City of Williams Lake attended virtually (by teams) to present an update on healthcare recruitment and retention in the South and Central Cariboo. They provided highlights of the program’s accomplishments over the last 12 months, which saw significantly more growth, reach and activity. The program saw an average of 20 healthcare professionals supported each month, including locum physicians, potential recruits, and allied health professionals. They also discussed future improvements that could be made to the program, including more consistent support for students and allied health professionals, maintaining a consistent presence in 100 Mile House, more frequent social events, and developing a preset welcome package.
The Healthcare Landing and Retention program for the central and south Cariboo is operated by the City of Williams Lake’s Economic Development department and is funded by the CCRHD. The program was inspired by a highly successful program conceptualized and launched in Quesnel in 2015 under a similar model.
Upcoming Meetings:
June 10 @ 11:00 a.m. – South Cariboo Rural Directors Caucus
June 10 @ 12:00 p.m. – South Cariboo Joint Committee
June 11 @ 3:00 p.m. – North Cariboo Rural Directors Caucus
June 11 @ 5:30 p.m. – North Cariboo Joint Advisory Committee
June 19 @ 5:30 p.m. – Central Cariboo Joint Committee
June 20 @ 9:30 a.m. – CCRHD / CRD Board
See the full CCRHD and CRD agendas and minutes at cariboord.ca/agendasminutes. For a list of future meetings, please visit www.cariboord.ca/calendar
Subscribe