There is a tremendous amount of existing and anticipated development on Westbank Lands that requires an ongoing need for planning, coordination and regulation. The ongoing planning and coordination of development ensures that development projects are sustainable and environmentally sound. Westbank First Nation Land Development policies and procedures facilitate orderly development on Westbank Lands by enabling the WFN to develop, implement, monitor and enforce development standards.
Between January 2006 and July 2011, Westbank First Nation (WFN) issued more than $247 million dollars in building permits of which approximately $100 million dollars was for commercial development, $142 million dollars for residential development and $5 million dollars for institutional development. The residential development consisted of more than 600 units of new housing. It is important to realize that development on WFN lands is to a large extent ‘green field’ in nature. This means that the layout of streets and the servicing is being done on lands that have never had any previous development. In order to size services appropriately, significant background research and modeling is required. WFN collects Development Cost Charges from developers to offset some of the general infrastructure costs incurred by new development. These charges provide the government with a means of financing capital projects – such as roads, storm drainage, sanitary sewers, watermains and parks - in a way that doesn’t impose the cost entirely on general taxpayers. WFN works with the City of Kelowna, the District of West Kelowna and the Regional District of the Central Okanagan on a range of planning initiatives related to transportation, transit, regional growth strategies, water, sewer treatment and the environment. Development on WFN lands over the last five years has included the following national anchors: Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Wal-mart, Best Western Hotels, London Drugs, Superstore, Staples, Tim Hortons, Re/Max, and CIBC. The development has also given home to many other new businesses. All of this development requires an ongoing need for planning, coordination and regulation. Development on Westbank Lands is regulated in accordance with WFN Laws, standards, policies and procedures, Health Canada regulations, Environment Canada regulations, and any applicable Provincial and/or Federal Legislation. The guiding documents which are followed by WFN Planning and Development are the WFN Land Use Plan, the WFN Land Use Law, the WFN Subdivision Development and Servicing Law, the WFN Building Law and the WFN Community Plan. These documents are of great significance to WFN as they help Council in their decision-making and contribute to a consistent built form where ultimately sidewalks, streetlights and safe roads will link the newly developed areas on WFN lands.
WFN Subdivision, Development and Servicing Law
WFN Building Law
Building Permit Application Package
Business License Law (NOTE: This is a link to http://wfn.ca/businesslicense.asp)
Business Licence Application Package
Westbank First Nation enacted a Land Use Law on July 26, 2007. This law addresses housing, transportation, parks, economic development, infrastructure, social, cultural, environment and other needs in the use and development of Westbank Lands. In addition, the law includes adoption of a Land Use Plan (schedule “A”), Zoning Regulations (schedule “B”) and Servicing Maps (schedule "C").
Land Use Law No. 2007-01
Land Use Plan (schedule "A")
Zoning Regulations (schedule "B")
Servicing Maps (schedule "C")
For further information please contact:
Hilary Hettinga, P Eng Manager of Development Services
T 250 769 2449
Direct Line 250 769 2447
F 250 769 2441