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Contact: Planning & Development | T 250 769 4999
Zoning regulation outlines how our land can be used, including uses, densities, and building siting and height. This affects how the community looks, feels, and functions, as well as costs and quality of life.
In 2017, Westbank First Nation began updating its Zoning Regulation to ensure it is clear and consistent, and to address some important issues. The process involves three phases: issues identification, technical review, and drafting zoning regulations.
Phase One: Issues Identification - January 2017
Phase Two: Technical Review - March 2017
Phase 3: Drafting Regulations - May 2017
The Zoning Regulation Update includes a number of minor changes to the existing regulation (e.g. updating the definition of "height") and major changes that we want input on from the community. Major changes being considered include: making it easier to have secondary suites and enabling small buildings with corner stores and apartments.
A secondary suite is an additional dwelling unit attached to a principal dwelling unit (e.g. basement suite).
The community expressed the need for affordable housing during the Westbank First Nation Community Plan planning process. Secondary suites can provide more affordable housing, but currently it is difficult and expensive to get permission for a legal suite in most areas of the community. The Zoning Regulation can be updated to increase the number of legal secondary suites by making the process of having a legal secondary suite easier and less expensive.
Options
How supportive of suite?
Ability to address parking and off-site issues such as noise
Ability to address health and safety standards
How simple to implement?
How much support for walkable, age friendly communities?
How fliexible?
Score (H=3, M=2, L=1)
1. Allow through re-zoning only (current regulation)
2. Allow in all single-family areas
4. All as "lock-off suites in new townhouses and apartments
These "mixed-use" buildings typically have a corner store on the ground level with one or two storeys of apartments above.
The community told staff, when they were developing the Westbank First Nation Community Plan, that having a compact and complete communities is important to them. Allowing the development of buildings with corner stores and homes in them will help Westbank First Nation become a compact and complete community.
What scale of building is best for the community?
Where are buildings with corner stores and homes appropriate?