CRD Referral for Municipal Acceptance Letter - RGS Bylaw 4017

RE: 2016 RGS Bylaw 4017 – Referral for Municipal Acceptance

At its November 23, 2016 meeting, the Capital Regional District (CRD) Board gave first and second reading to a revised Bylaw 4017 “Capital Regional District Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw No.1, 2016”. The Board directed that the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) bylaw (Bylaw 4017) be referred to municipal councils for acceptance or rejection. This letter is to refer RGS Bylaw 4017 to municipal councils.

RGS Bylaw 4017 will replace the 2003 RGS. This updated RGS bylaw includes: population projections to the year 2038, new content to address the changing global climate, a new section on food systems and a new criteria-based water servicing policy. Urban containment remains a key growth management policy, updated with refined land use designations. New principles now guide compact growth in urban communities and protection of rural character in rural communities. The RGS also includes objectives and policies on environment and infrastructure, safe and complete communities, transportation and economic development. The RGS reflects input from municipalities and the Juan de Fuca Land Use Committee submitted as part of an informal referral in the spring of 2016.

All municipalities must accept the RGS bylaw before it can be adopted. The Local Government Act (section 436) sets out requirements for municipal acceptance. Municipalities have a 60-day period beginning upon receipt of this letter to either accept or reject the RGS bylaw by resolution of council. Municipalities who reject the RGS bylaw must specify which provision(s) they reject and the reason(s) for the rejection. Should any municipality reject the RGS bylaw, the Minster of Community, Sport and Cultural Development must direct a process to reach acceptance. The legislative provisions for the acceptance and settlement processes are included as an attachment.

The CRD is currently processing an amendment to the 2003 RGS (Bylaw 4124), at the request of District of Metchosin, the City of Langford and the Beecher Bay First Nation (Sc’ianew). The concurrent process was requested to ensure that the amendment – an extension to the Regional Urban Containment and Servicing Policy Area – would be effective in the event that adoption of the 2016 RGS is delayed. Therefore, there is some overlap in the timing of the referrals. A separate letter, dated November 10, 2016, provides information about the referral relating to the 2003 RGS amendment. Two resolutions of council, one for each bylaw, are needed from your municipality.

On behalf of the CRD Board, thank you for your municipality’s ongoing participation in the RGS update. I look forward to receiving your letters of acceptance for RGS Bylaw 4017 by February 2, 2017.

Yours truly,

Barbara Desjardins Chair, Capital Regional District Board

Attachment(s):

• Local Government Act provisions for Acceptance and Settlement of a Regional Growth Strategy
• Bylaw 4017 “Capital Regional District Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw No.1, 2016”

cc: Bob Lapham, MCIP, RPP, Chief Administrative Officer, Capital Regional District Kim Anema, Chief Administrative Officer, View Royal