Whereas the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure currently does not provide policy guidance to provincial approving officers regarding criteria for determining when to engage in a process of public notification or consultation on rural subdivision applications; And whereas concerns have been expressed about lack of public consultation and consideration for sufficient water supply where a significant subdivision application is being considered by the Provincial Approving Officer in a rural neighbourhood: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to revise its policies, processes, and guidance documents to require the Approving Officer to provide notification to owners and occupiers of land which may potentially be impacted by a subdivision.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Provincial Approving Officers PAOs responsibilities are dictated by the Land Title Act, which does not include public consultation requirements. However, the Local Government Act does provide the ability for local governments to create bylaws regulating the subdivision of land and zoning, including consultation requirements. Such bylaws may require subdivision applicants to publicly advertise andor present their proposal at formal community meetings. If applicable bylaws have been enacted, PAOs are required to confirm that they have been met by the applicant prior to subdivision approval. PAOs also refer all subdivision applications under review to the relevant local government, prompting responses which may include community-based concerns in addition to bylaw requirements. Anyone impacted by a proposed subdivision may write to the deciding PAO to have their concerns considered. The Ministrys Senior Manager of Development Services, Ryan Evanoff, would be pleased to discuss this item in more detail. He can be reached at 778 974-2634, or by email at Ryan.Evanoffgov.bc.ca.