Parkland policy change puts power in the hands of the people
By Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Developers will bear the costs of providing parkland in the regional district as opposed to taxpayers after the regional district board passed new policy.
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) board adopted the new Parkland Dedication Policy — effective Jan. 1, 2025 — to address community parkland needs in the regional district.
The Local Government Act requires local governments to take land to be dedicated as parkland at the time of subdivision, or cash-in-lieu of parkland where authorized to do so, noted RDCK planner Corey Scott.
He said parkland dedication will be required for subdivisions that create three or more new lots that are smaller than two hectares.
“Generally, five per cent of the land proposed for subdivision must be dedicated as parkland,” he said. “When it comes to a payment of cash-in-lieu of parkland, the BC Assessment assessed value will be used as a baseline.”
The revised policy represents a more equitable approach to required parkland dedication than the current policy, said Scott.
“The public bears more of the costs of parkland for new development than they would in the absence of the current policy,” he stated.
Evaluating parkland dedication at the time of subdivision is part of the Parks and Planning departments’ core work.
“Additionally, using assessed value where it is thought to reasonably represent the actual value of the land opposed to the current procedure of requiring an appraisal in all instances will save staff time in reviewing appraisals,” Scott said. “It will also reduce costs for developers.”
