Spallumcheen’s official community plan is close to being stamped as approved.
More than 40 people attended a 90-minute public hearing at the Hassen Arena Monday to hear key issues of the plan and offer up any last-minute comments or suggestions.
“I think the people feel they were listened to,” said township administrator Lynda Shykora in discussing the nearly 600-page OCP.
“People had a chance to express their input. We received tons of comments on the community survey we conducted, as well as at a public workshop held in November.”
The township initiated a review of the OCP in June 2010, and as a result of the review and the public input, the OCP bylaw was drafted. It has gone through two readings and now the public hearing.
Kelowna-based Urban Systems helped draft the plan, and key issues included establishing new policies to help protect aquifers, and refining policies to consider when reviewing rezoning applications that affect lands located outside the Agricultural Land Reserve.
One of the more popular moves implemented in the plan is changing future land use designation of properties zoned as large holding, have a lot area of less than eight hectares in size and located outside the ALR to small holding.
The move would affect about 35 parcels in the township.
The public hearing was the last chance for the public to speak on the plan.
“Once the hearing closes, council can’t entertain any verbal or written input on the OCP bylaw,” said Shykora.
The bylaw could be adapted by council July 18.
