LAND USE AND GOVERNMENT AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES
The following table outlines some of the responsibilities of the various Government agencies
in the context of an Official Community Plan. Below is a general listing of most of the
applicable Government agencies, and what their responsibilities are. This is NOT an
exhaustive list of responsibilities.
Please Note: Local Government (municipalities and regional districts) are responsible for
meeting or exceeding Provincial and/or Federal regulations, and for recognizing First Nations
interests. The RDCK cannot permit an activity that does not meet Provincial or Federal
requirements.
Government
Body
Responsibility Without an Official
Community Plan
Regional District of
Central Kootenay
•
Agricultural Land
Commission
•
Integrated Land
Management
Branch/Front Counter
BC
Ministry of
Forests, Lands and
Resource Operations
•
Ministry of
Transportation
•
Ensuring construction meets B.C.
Building Code
• Floodplain Management (includes
floodplain and hazard mitigation)
• Ensuring subdivision servicing
requirements are met
Additional Responsibility with an Official
Community Plan
Administrating Development Permit Areas
(DPAs) within the OCP
• Ensuring policy direction is communicated
to applicable Crown agencies
• Exploring options for implementation tools,
such as Zoning within area under the Plan
•
Preserving ALR land
Enforcing the Agricultural Land
Commission Act and Regulations
•
•
Administers Crown land tenure and
occupations; such as foreshore
licenses, roads over Crown land,
recreational use of Crown land
• Sale and lease of Crown lands
• Administers various Provincial
application processes
•
Administers water license applications
for industrial, domestic and irrigation
use
• May be required to approve sewage
disposal depending on discharge rate
and amount
• Species at Risk, Fisheries, Wildlife
•
Approving Officer for subdivision in
rural areas
• Responsible for highway and public
road system
•
•
May consider the inclusion or removal of
ALR lands if indicated in the OCP
• May consider policy direction as part of the
decision making process for ALR
applications for subdivision and non-farm
use
May consider policy direction as part of the
decision making process for Crown land and
water applications
Addresses concerns for sewage disposal
Provides information on Species at Risk,
Fisheries and Wildlife values prior to
development
• May consider cumulative impacts of water
licensing in areas of high density or low
supply
•
May consider policy direction as part of the
decision making process for subdivision
approval
• May develop a Transportation Plan
following adoption of an OCP as an
implementation tool
First Nations
Ministry of Energy,
Mines and Petroleum
Resources
Review and comment on land
development applications
• Ktunaxa-Kinbasket, West Bank, Sinixt
First Nations
•
Administers mine and gravel permits
Mineral exploration
• Oil and gas
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ministry of
Forests, Lands and
Resource Operations
•
Ministry of Tourism,
Culture & the Arts
•
Utility Companies
•
Timber sales
Management of forest resources
• Management of forest fire, pest
management
•
Public and private recreation on
Crown land
May provide support in wildfire mitigation
strategies
• May consider areas indicated as recreational
corridors or of high community value in
timber management
• May consider policy direction in decision
making for Crown land tenure and
applications for recreational sites and
corridors
•
Telephone lines
Utility lines
• Service provision
•
•
May provide support in identifying
important cultural and heritage sites in the
area
May participate in economic development
initiatives or other developments
Considers gravel pit and aggregate
extraction based on surrounding land uses
and sites identified in the OCP
May consider policy direction prior to
issuance of new surface leases or permits
Operations may be subject to temporary
industrial use permits or soil removal and
deposit permits
Increased public consultation on new
facilities
• May share utility corridors and consider
avoidance of areas indicated to be sensitive
Interior Health
Authority
•
Responsible for potable water testing
and standards
• Sewage disposal permits and
approvals
• Promoting good community health
• Provides health care services
•
Water or Irrigation
Districts
•
Local area water services (eg. Denver
Siding)
• Usually have their own Bylaws
associated with water service and
hook up
•
Fire Departments
•
Local fire protection and prevention
School Districts
•
Responsible for the establishment and
management of local public schools
Local Advisory
Committees
•
Makes recommendations to the RDCK
Board with no community policy
direction
May consider policy direction on sewage
disposal prior to issuance of approvals
• May assist in water conservation strategies
May be areas where new services are
required or need upgrading (areas where
higher density development is supported)
Supports safe emergency access to new
developments
• May assist in development of forest fire
mitigation strategies
• May consider policy direction in the
identification of new schools or school
closures
• Makes recommendations to the RDCK Board
with clear community policy as outlines in
the OCP
•