City of Powell River council will consider updates to its sustainable official community plan (SOCP) to reflect the findings of studies related to active transportation, plus parks and trails.
Senior planner Daniella Fergusson, at the November 2 committee of the whole meeting, said the purpose of her report is to seek city council’s direction to update the SOCP to reflect findings for the bicycle network strategy brought forward recently. She said there the parks and trails master plan is also to be considered for the SOCP.
“So, we’re seeking council’s direction to update the SOCP,” said Fergusson.
She said what the active transportation update is proposing to do is update schedules dealing with cycling and trail network maps, and the objectives and policies for the cycling networks.
In 2019, the province developed a BC active transportation design guide and what this does is recommend design standards for all ages and abilities for cycling facilities, as well as walking facilities for sidewalks, on-street trails, off-street trails, and the like, said Fergusson.
She said the city has also adopted the parks and trails master plan and Powell River bicycle network strategy.
“Both of them include maps for planned future trail and bike route networks, as well as guidelines for those networks and policies,” said Fergusson. “What we are hoping to do is incorporate all of those findings into our official community plan. In addition to that, the bicycle network strategy was funded by the Union of BC Municipalities with a grant of $20,000. One of the outcomes of that grant is trying to achieve updates for official community plans with these new best practices in cycling and walking standards.
“That’s why we’re coming forward with the recommendation to update the policies and objectives, as well as the two schedule maps in the official community plan.”
Fergusson said part of the official community plan update is following the Local Government Act requirement for consultation. She said section 475 of the act asks council to consider appropriate consultation opportunities with people who may be affected. Staff is recommending a public information meeting be held to show the proposed changes to the objectives and policies and the two schedules, and that public engagement be limited to that meeting, she added. The reason for that is extensive engagement has already been done regarding the parks and trails master plan and bicycle network strategy.
The committee gave unanimous consent to consider the recommendations at the November 18 city council meeting.
