Electoral Area B Zoning Amendment Bylaw - Agricultural Zoning Updates

Electoral Area B

Project Overview

As a result of changes to the Agricultural Land Commission Act (ALCA) and Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) Use and General Regulations, the SLRD needs to update zoning bylaws to be in alignment with the Provincial regulatory framework. Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1752-2022 seeks to incorporate these necessary changes into the existing Area B Zoning Bylaw, while also including discretionary changes that are supported by the Area B Agricultural Advisory Committee.

There are two sets of key content changes:

  • Zoning: The ALR land has not been properly zoned in Area B; the proposed updates seek to address this issue by creating new AGR zones and appropriately zoning parcels that are partially or fully within the ALR.
  • Compliance with Regulations: Bringing the bylaw into alignment with Provincial regulations, including provisions for gathering for an event, agri-tourism, cannabis production, and residential use.

Some additional minor changes are also proposed to increase clarity and create consistency with amendments proposed to other SLRD zoning bylaws (e.g., inclusion of gross floor area calculation, updates to definitions and uses permitted in all zones).

Current Status

Public Hearings were held for Bylaw No. 1752-2022 on November 2, 2023 and January 18, 2024. The bylaw was given third reading by the SLRD Board of Directors on February 28, 2024. It is now being referred to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for final approval prior to being brought back for consideration of adoption at a future Board meeting. 

At their meeting of November 22, 2023, the SLRD Board passed the following resolutions:

THAT Bylaw No. 1752-2022, cited as “Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area B Zoning Bylaw No. 1300-2013, Amendment Bylaw No. 1752-2022”, be read a third time as amended.

THAT pursuant to Section 52(3)(a) of the Transportation Act, Bylaw No. 1752-2022, cited as “Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area B Zoning Bylaw No. 1300-2013, Amendment Bylaw No. 1752-2022” be sent to the Ministry of
Transportation & Infrastructure for their approval prior to adoption of the bylaw.

Following this meeting, staff discovered an error in the mapping that forms part of the amendment bylaw. The mapping only showed those parcels intended to be split-zoned under the new zoning (with less than 50% of their land base in the ALR), but did not show those parcels intended to be fully rezoned to agriculture (with 50% or more of their land base in the ALR). Staff amended the bylaw and brought it back before the Board on December 13, 2023.

At their meeting of December 13, 2023, the SLRD Board passed the following resolutions:

THAT third reading of Bylaw No. 1752-2022, cited as “Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area B Zoning Bylaw No. 1300-2013, Amendment Bylaw No. 1752-2022” be rescinded.

THAT second reading of Bylaw No. 1752-2022, cited as “Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area B Zoning Bylaw No. 1300-2013, Amendment Bylaw No. 1752-2022” be rescinded.

THAT Bylaw No. 1752-2022, cited as “Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area B Zoning Bylaw No. 1300-2013, Amendment Bylaw No. 1752-2022”, be read a second time as amended.

THAT the Board direct staff to schedule and advertise a public hearing, to be held electronically, and delegate the holding of the public hearing to Electoral Area B Director Vivian Birch-Jones with Director Jen Ford as alternate delegate pursuant to Section 469 of the Local Government Act, for the consideration of Bylaw No. 1752-2022, cited as “Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area B Zoning Bylaw No. 1300-2013, Amendment Bylaw No. 1752-2022”.

At their meeting of February 28, 2024, the SLRD Board passed the following resolutions:

THAT Bylaw No. 1752-2022, cited as “Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area B Zoning Bylaw No. 1300-2013, Amendment Bylaw No. 1752-2022”, be read a third time as amended.

THAT pursuant to Section 52(3)(a) of the Transportation Act, Bylaw No. 1752-2022, cited as “Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area B Zoning Bylaw No. 1300-2013, Amendment Bylaw No. 1752-2022” be sent to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for their approval prior to adoption of the bylaw. 

The most recent Board Reports can be found linked below.

Staff Reports