City looks to move away from the ‘hard line’ regarding planning approval and development
By Timothy Schafer
The city is looking to streamline the planning approval process and facilitate future development by softening its view of bylaw compliance and create allowances for the ‘unusual’ conditions inherent in Nelson’s terrain.
The city is developing minor bylaw amendments to the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw to allow for alternative standards to those identified in the bylaw, as long as they are approved by the director of Public Works and Utilities.
The previous bylaw stated that all development must align with the standards identified in the bylaw, but due to conditions in Nelson — such as steep terrain, location of existing infrastructure, etc. — there are times when an alternative standard and some leniency and compromise is desired, noted city deputy corporate officer Sarah Winton in her report to council.
“This amendment will allow for alternative solutions to the standards identified in the bylaw, as long as they are approved by the city engineer,” she said.
The amendment will also include an alternative option for calculating road upgrade costs for subdivision than is currently provided in the bylaw.
“The intention is to encourage development on properties that are currently underdeveloped and where the existing road infrastructure is anticipated to accommodate the new development in the short-term,” said Winton.
The bylaw also required that the adjacent road to a proposed subdivision meet the road standards in the bylaw.
“For road construction standards in new subdivisions where significant upgrades are required to meet current standards resulting in excessive costs or loss of development, the approving officer can waive the standards in favor of an alternative method of costing,” said Winton.
The proposed amendment limits the cost of road upgrades to the frontage of the lot adjacent to the road, and only up to the centre line of the road.
Property owners will only pay for road upgrades relative to their frontage on a road, rather than having to pay for the upgrades to the entire length of the road, which in reality, benefits all development in an existing area.
Winton said in her report the money would be held in a reserve account to be used when the city upgraded the road in question.
The city passed the first three of four readings on the bylaw and it now awaits adoption at council’s regular business meeting next month.
Taking it to the streets
The approving officer, in consultation with the city engineer, may waive the standards identified as follows:
- For the construction of required sidewalks for properties in the R1, low density residential zone where no sidewalk infrastructure is currently serving the area concerned.
In order to waive the sidewalk requirement, the proponent shall pay to the city’s active transportation reserve account an amount equal to the value of the construction of the sidewalk for the entire frontage of the property in question as determined by the city engineer; and
- For road construction standards in new subdivisions where significant upgrades are required to meet current standards identified.
Where the approving officer waives the road standard, the proponent shall provide to the city one-half of the equivalent dollar value of construction as determined by the city engineer of the road standard for the entire frontage of the property in question.
For clarity, one-half the equivalent dollar value is to be determined for costs of construction of the whole right-of-way fronting the property. Such money shall be held in a reserve account to be used at such time the city upgrades the road in question.
— Source: City of Nelson
