City of Williams Lake Planning

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Home->Planning & Operations->Planning

City Zoning Map

Planning

Our Focus
Planning involves proposals for future development - residential, commercial or industrial; dealing with current land use issues - zoning; or subdivision of property.

Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan is a Bylaw which establishes policy and outlines the community's projected land use, goals and objectives. The current Official Community Plan (Bylaw 2140) was adopted in 2011.

Official Community Plan Amendments
Official community plan amendments may change the projected land use designation of an area or a specific property. The policies in the plan may also be amended. Such amendments shall continue to reflect the goals and objectives of the community. The amendments must be approved by City Council through a bylaw process as provided for in the Local Government Act.

Zoning
Zoning is a way of regulating the use of land by designating properties for a specific range of permitted uses, densities, siting and building form. In Williams Lake, all properties are assigned a specific zone, which is described in the ZONING BYLAW. The current Zoning Bylaw No. 1825 was adopted on June 25, 2002. The Zoning Bylaw implements the regulatory policies outlined in the Official Community Plan.

The purpose of zoning is:

· To maintain order, efficiency and harmony in the use of land in the community;

· To establish and promote minimum standards for the health, safety, convenience and welfare of the public;

· To prevent overcrowding of lands;

· To secure adequate light, air and access;

· To protect property values.

Click here to view the Zoning Map complete with Civic Addresses. NOTE: You can zoom in closer to a specific area on the map by increasing your viewing percentage.

Development Application Amendment

Amendments is the process of changing the zoning of property. A property owner may request a change in his or her property's zoning to obtain a use or a density that would not be permitted under the present zoning. Zoning can only be changed by means of an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw and a public hearing is required before it is adopted.

Official Community Plan Amendments

The Planning Department, receives applications for rezoning and official community plan amendments, development permits and development variance permits, and prepares reports on each for review by the Advisory Planning Commission and Council.

The Planning Department also deals with other issues related to municipal planning including:

· Responding to zoning and general land use enquiries from the public and developers;

· Preparing amending bylaws for rezoning or changes to the Official Community Plan;

· Processing subdivision applications and reporting with recommendations for approval to the Approving Officer; and

· Working with government and other agencies in respect to planning for the regional area adjacent to Williams Lake.

Subdivision
Subdivision of property is a process which includes:

· Adjusting or realigning an existing property line;

· Creating several properties from one or more existing properties; and

· Creating bare land strata lots from one or more existing properties.

The Local Government Act and Land Title Act of British Columbia require that all subdivisions within the City be approved by the Municipal Approving Officer.

Approval for subdivision is needed in order to ensure that the community's standards are met with regard to:

· Size and shape of lots, and adequacy of buildable area;

· Adequacy of roads, lanes and emergency vehicle access;

· Adequacy of open spaces and walkways;

· Preservation of natural features like ravines, streams, trees;

· Protection of views;

· Compatibility of overall subdivision pattern with the neighbourhood;

· Adequacy of sanitary sewer, water, drainage, street lights and other services; and

· Protection of opportunity for future subdivisions for lands adjacent to or beyond the lands being subdivided.

Approving Officer

The Approving Officer is appointed by Council as the official who has responsibility to independently administer provincial statutes which apply to subdivision approval.

Using the statutory authority of Part 26 of the Local Government Act, Council has adopted the SUBDIVISION AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICING BYLAW and ZONING BYLAW, and may issue Development and Development Variance Permits. These bylaws and permits can determine the shape, dimensions and size of subdivided parcels, the services that must be provided and the amount of parkland to be dedicated, however, final approval of a subdivision rests with the Approving Officer and not with Council.

General Manager of Planning & Operations

In addition to overall management of the Division and serving as the Municipal Approving Officer, the General Manager is the link with other Municipal Departments, ensuring smooth co-ordination of any overlap in functions.

Other duties performed by the General Manager include: