Planning

Content

The Planning Department is responsible for pursuing Council's direction in land use policy creation; the man­agement of a variety of development applications; and environmental policy and enforcement. The department is also involved with data collection, monitoring and the dissemination of information, and liaison with a number of internal and external agencies. A large component of the department's service lies in the area of corporate support as assistance is given to committees of Council as well as to initiatives from other areas of the corpora­tion.

Community Planning

The Community Planning section undertakes research, special projects, and reports on the direction the Dis­trict is taking as set out in the Official Community Plan. In the area of development application management, staff work with a file manager from the Development and Environ­mental Services group in the preparation of development cases. The area planners also provide the policy direc­tion and research capabilities for the department and provide support to the Community Heritage Commis­sion, and the Agricultural Advisory Committee.

This section is responsible for Zoning and Official Community Plan policy review and development and pro­fessional support and advice to Council, com­mit­tees of Council, members of the pub­lic, community groups, community agencies, and independent con­sultants. Technical assistance is provided to other departments as well as brochure development. Community Planning is involved in the creation and review of the Official Com­munity Plan, neighbourhood plans, the review of bylaws related to development and participate in GVRD commit­tees as needed.

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Development Planning & Environmental Planning

The Development and Environmental Services section is primarily involved in the file management of the ma­jority of applications received in the Planning department in­cluding zoning, development permits and subdivision. This group is also responsible for the provision of the de­partment's environmental services, including policy crea­tion, the issuance of permits, and enforcement. The provision of mapping services also falls within the re­sponsibilities of this section.

This section is responsible for processing develop­ment files including amend­ments to the Official Commu­nity Plan and Zoning Bylaw, Land Use Inquiry, Subdivi­sion, Development Permit, De­velopment Variance Permit, and Agricultural Land Reserve Com­mission applications. Other areas include researching the environmental com­ponent of the Emer­gency Response Plan, reviewing the contract for the Mosquito Control Program and re­searching new contract provisions, as well as assessing changes in Provincial regulations.

Staff support is provided to the Advisory Design Panel and to the Board of Variance along with providing supplemental support in the area of urban trees.

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