Rezoning Decision

Mar 31, 2011

I would like to thank councillors Denis Walsh, Pat Wallace, Tina Lange and John De Cicco for their recognition of the value of this property to the local community.  Marg Spina, thank you for your recognition of the value of all parks and recreation land within our communities.  Jim Harker, as I understand, you were not present but my hope is that you would have voted against the rezoning.

There is no value in negatively impacting one community to create another, especially if the impact will reduce the health and well being of the community; in that case everyone loses.

Going forward, I propose that all users of this facility and land be recognized, and propose the development of the tennis court and land to reflect the multiple use.

Again, Denis, Pat, Tina, John and Marg; thank you.

Regards,
Arthur Stack


For all and especially our community, this blog was set up as a public forum.  Please contribute by adding your comments.

Contribution by concerned city resident

OCP & Zoning Amendments
What is Zoning?

ZONING IS LAND USE REGULATION established by bylaw as permitted by the B.C. Local Government Act.  Regional Districts and municipalities may regulate the use of land and set minimum lot sizes within a defined area.  ONE PRIME PURPOSE of zoning is to provide property owners protection against changes in the use of neighbouring parcels of land that may result in a conflict and devaluation of their property or affect their environment or way of life. This protection is achieved by requiring a property owner who proposes a change in the use of land to make an application to the Regional Board.


IF YOUR PROPOSAL DOES NOT CONFORM to Regional District zoning, you may make application for changing the zoning at the PLANNING DEPARTMENT office of the Regional District.  Be prepared to wait four months or more for a final decision of approval or rejection on your rezoning application.  A rezoning requires a public hearing and approval from the Regional District Board, the Ministry of Transportation if the property is near a controlled access highway, and from the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and women's Services in Victoria when no official community plan is in effect.

City of Ottawa referenced document, ImagineCalgary, on Sustainability

This and the next post are extracts from the ImagineCalgary development and sustainability plan.  The document was referenced by the City of Ottawa as a model to be followed.  The full document can be accessed at:
http://www.imaginecalgary.ca/imagineCALGARY_plan.php

Plants and animals
 
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
 
System Natural environment Goal Calgary is rich with intact ecosystems. We protect and restore our natural heritage, valuing native biodiversity as the foundation of life. Our built environment is integrated into and respects the natural environment we inhabit. 

TARGET
By 2036, the number and/or size of protected or restored habitats increases to a state of health and functionality.
 
STRATEGY 1
Ensure no viable wetlands are lost, which integrates ecological services into infrastructure and increases natural areas. 
• Protect aquatic systems to support all species. 
• Restore wetlands to re-establish native ecosystems.
 
STRATEGY 2
Integrate the planning and management of all natural and man-made public areas and facilities. 

• Establish and implement a standard that requires there to be a public recreational facility for all ages within a very short walking distance from all residential buildings. 

• Ensure public transit provides access to places like Nose Hill. 
• Provide the public with recreational and creative opportunities, so that people can have easy access to their natural (and man-made) surroundings: schools, libraries, performance spaces, and parks.
 
STRATEGY 3
Use the rural urban fringe to create new, exciting, living landscapes, ranging from working farms, to historic sites, to cultural centres. 
• Provide opportunities to regenerate land and develop communities using the best available knowledge in building and landscape design and management, sustainable transportation and renewable energy.
 
STRATEGY 4
Improve habitat health and resilience. 

• Value biodiversity and ecosystem services the same as other economic commodities; place a monitory value on ecological goods and services. 

• Secure land in environmentally sensitive areas through partnerships and other legal vehicles like land trusts and conservation easements. 
• Promote biodiversity through the use of indigenous plants in local parks and for decorative purposes. 
• Establish riparian corridors with setbacks (e.g.100 metres for floodplain protection). 
• Encourage and promote the sale of native plant species at nurseries.
 
i m a g i n e C A L G A R Y — J u n e 2 0 0 6 
Copyright © 2006, The City of Calgary. All rights reserved.

City of Ottawa referenced document, ImagineCalgary, on Sustainability

The full document can be accessed at:
http://www.imaginecalgary.ca/imagineCALGARY_plan.php


GOVERNANCE

System Governance Goal Calgary is a city in which individuals have access to all public information when they need it. They can and do participate in decisions that affect their well-being. Decision-making is an inclusive process in which broad-based support is actively sought and contributes to continual improvement in people’s lives. Factors such as language, age, race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, time, finances, ability, knowledge and health are not barriers to public decision-making.

Engagement

• Consult communities in their “places” and within their cultural norms. 
• Continually review and improve The City’s citizen engagement policy. 
• Provide mechanisms that ensure people have equal opportunities to participate in decision-making processes. 
• Clearly inform people at the beginning of the decision-making process about plans and decisions that may affect them; clearly describe constraints, assumptions, uncertainties and risks. 
• Allow enough time for the public to develop solutions to satisfy all interested parties. 
• Develop communications strategies to ensure all residents are informed. 
• Ensure decision-making is geographically appropriate (from neighbourhood to region) for the issue at hand.
• Encourage community associations to play a greater and more representative role in community matters. 
• Initiate “Conversation Calgary,” which will require political and administrative decision makers to “hang out” with formal and informal groups to discuss issues and upcoming decisions. 
• Have The City provide an inclusive media outlet that facilitates effective discussion of the positions and opinions of all significant interest groups in Calgary: civic organizations, business organizations, labour organizations, religious organizations, political parties, environmental organizations, social service organizations, etc.

STRATEGY 1
Ensure campaign finance does not deter people from running for public office. 
• Implement campaign contribution limits. 
• Implement a campaign spending cap. 
• Develop real-time campaign contribution tracking, indicating sources through the open identification of contributors. 
• Use public funding for elections to level the playing field for potential candidates and promote voting campaigns. 
• Candidates would attend “candidate school” to learn about the electoral process, the responsibilities of elected office and the goods and services provided by government. 
• After the election, candidates who attended candidate school would receive funds based on the number of votes received. 
• Use public funding for mandatory all-candidate forums. 
• Conduct a survey to establish a baseline and track the progress toward targets.

STRATEGY 2
Ensure all people have equal opportunities to participate in decision-making processes, before a decision is made, by using timelines and other constraints that are clear, well understood and fair.

Information
• Narrow restrictions on the use of in-camera sessions; all decisions are public. 
• Provide public access to elected officials’ electronic calendars. 
• Fully use Internet technology to disseminate information.  
• Create a “City report card” — executed by elected officials, administration and the public — on City Hall’s decision-making with respect to Council priorities. 
• Strengthen The City’s records management program to ensure residents and City staff have convenient and timely access to public information at minimal cost. 
• Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Personal Information Protection Act for their effects on citizens’ abilities to access information. 
• Provide information that is accurate, timely and in plain language.
 
STRATEGY 3
Ensure City staff prepare all major plans and place priority on advancing the public interest.  
• Prepare multiple alternative plans and detailed analyses of the implications of each alternative. 
• Adopt plans only after they are widely publicized and there is open public discussion that includes representation from all groups affected directly and indirectly. 
 
STRATEGY 4  
Provide all data collected or obtained by The City — or other individuals, institutions and organizations using public funds — to the public free of charge for non-profit activities, unless privacy restrictions apply; develop suitable licensing and royalty arrangements for commercial users.  

STRATEGY 5 
Protect public spaces from privatization and protect the right to peaceful political expression in public spaces.
   
4 8 i m a g i n e C A L G A R Y — J u n e 2 0 0 6
Copyright © 2006, The City of Calgary. All rights reserved.

March 23, 2011

City of Kamloops

7 Victoria Street West

Kamloops, BC

V2C 1A2

Attention : Mayor and Council

Re: Official Community Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendments

I write in opposition to the proposed amendment of Kamplan: A Community Plan for Kamloops 2004 and to the City of Kamloops Zoning By-law No. 5-1-2001. I have reviewed the Kamplan Document online and looked at the amount of time that was spent to establish the community plan starting in November of 2001 and continuing with consultations and public meetings until its adoption in May/June 2005. I respect the amount of time and consultation that was put into this document and think that amending it without the same amount of time and consultation is both shortsighted and disrespectful of the research that was done over those years.

I find it somewhat confusing that the stated vision is for strong and diverse neighbourhoods which encourage healthy and active lifestyles. In addition the comprehensive development plans for all new development areas are to address the need for schools, parks and community facilities. This amendment would seem to fly in the face of that vision by changing the land use definition from Parkland and Open Space to Urban.

In the Quality of Life Section IV, 1.12 Neighbourhood Parks section 1.12.4 states “ in areas where a substantial amount of infilling is anticipated neighbourhood park sites should be provided with priority for sites adjacent to existing park or school grounds.”

In my review of the Kamplan document the area identified as 697 Cowan Street would seem to meet the criteria as a priority neighbourhood park site. It is adjacent to South Kamloops Secondary School and it is within what I believe to be the Central Core described in the document as an area anticipated to have substantial infilling.

The area has been used in the 20+ years that I have lived in the neighbourhood by very young children and their parents, pre-teens as well as teens and a substantial number of adults. It has been used for any number of activities including tennis, road hockey, learning to ride tricycles and bicycles. I believe that it would be far better left as a park albeit with some improvements and or maintenance which has been lacking in the last few years.I have heard the area described as a “dilapidated tennis court” which I would not agree with, rather I would refer to it as a tennis court that could use some TLC but it is far from dilapidated. When I first moved to this neighbourhood I had young children and my children were the first new children on my street in a number of years, now my children are the older ones and the street has a new crop of young people. They all, young and old, have found their way to this recreation area and will sorely miss it if it is taken away from them.

Parkland and Greenspace are already vanishing commodities that we will never be able to get back and I believe that it is the responsibility of communities and governments to maintain these areas whenever possible.

Thank you for your consideration of this letter.

L. Kym Hoffman

648 Penzer Street

Kamloops, B.C. V2C 3G5