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Contact: Planning and Development | T 250 769 4999 | planning@wfn.ca
Development refers to any development of property within Westbank First Nation (WFN) lands and includes subdivision as well as building or structure construction, repair, demolition, or removal.
All property development proposals require a permit application. Please review the development permit application below. The application document outlines general requirements, such as conceptual development plans, legal and technical information to be provided, development cost charges and fees, utility connection fees, building permit fees, and other charges.
The first step in the development proposal process is submitting an application. Refer to the development application document (links above) to review next steps and more information about the process.
WFN collects fees from land developers to help pay for infrastructure and growth related needs called Development Cost Charges (DCCs). Anytime a proposed development increases density, DCCs are estimated and charged; this includes creating new square footage on a commercial or industrial project, adding new dwellings or creating new subdivided lots. Development application fees and DCCs are important aspects of development within WFN as they help offset some of the infrastructure expenditures experienced in servicing new developments and maintaining existing infrastructure.
Zoning and land use designations are regulated by the WFN Land Use Law. Amendments to a zoning or land use designation may be requested by submitting an application to the WFN Planning Department, which will require approval from Council.
If the proposed zoning amendment is within an existing Neighbourhood Plan Area, the application will not proceed until a Neighbourhood Plan has been approved as an amendment to the Land Use Designation.
Applications must include the completed application form, documentation of current ownership, a description of the proposed amendment to the Zoning Regulation, the reasons for requesting the proposed amendments, and a map showing the geographic boundary of the area affected by the proposed amendment.
Subdivision, or subdivide, refers to the division of land into two or more parcels, the consolidation of two or more parcels into a single parcel or several parcels into a smaller number of parcels, or the creation of a highway or a portion of a highway. Subdivision applications are submitted to the Westbank First Nation Approval Officer and are approved by Council.
In addition to meeting Stage 1 approval requirements, a subdivision proposal must also suit the configuration of the land parcel being subdivided, suit the use to which the land is intended, and not make impractical the future subdivision of the land parcel or adjacent parcels.
A subdivision approval may be refused if the cost to Westbank First Nation of providing utilities or other works or services would be excessive, or if the subdivision does not conform to WFN or other jurisdiction regulations, does not conform to the WFN Physical Development Plan, does not conform to Ministry of Transportation and Highways requirements, or does not satisfactorily address recommendations of the reviewing agencies.
Please contact WFN Planning to obtain the Subdivision, Development & Servicing Law at planning@wfn.ca