SLRD Enters Phase 3 of the Official Community Plan Update Project for Electoral Area A

Community Workbook is now available for resident input

Pemberton, BC - The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is inviting the public to provide continued input in the development of the Official Community Plan (OCP) for Electoral Area A via a PDF Community Workbook.

Input via the Workbook will be used to help develop the DRAFT Official Community Plan (OCP) that best reflects community values and needs. The updated OCP will shape regional planning through 2040. A series of plan principles, visions for the Bridge River Valley and individual neighbourhood’s, and policy directions have been developed based on the engagement work completed to date. The SLRD is now seeking additional community input before we move into the creation of the draft document.

Community members can print or download the Workbook and complete it as a group or individually. Participants are welcome to complete the entire workbook, or only complete sections that are relevant to them. All input is encouraged. Whether you live in Area A full time or are a seasonal resident – we are interested in hearing from you.

Electoral Area A encompasses the Upper Bridge River Valley, including the small, rural communities of Bralorne and Gold Bridge and the neighbourhoods of Gun Lake, Tyaughton Lake, Gun Creek Road and Marshall Valley. The area is found within the traditional territory of the St’at’imc Nation. It is the northwesternmost area of the SLRD and is bounded by the Cariboo Regional District to the north and west, Electoral Area B of the SLRD, to the east and Electoral Area C of the SLRD, to the south. According to the 2021 Canada Census, Electoral Area A's population is 305, an increase of 63.1 percent over the 2016 Canada Census, which reported the population at 187.

The Upper Bridge River Valley Official Community Plan was last reviewed in 2006 before being adopted in 2008. While minor updates were made since that time, this current review started with an online survey and in-person engagement events in May. Overall, the comprehensive review task has been underway since the start of 2022.

“The OCP Community Workbook for Electoral Area A is a timely step towards the draft plan,” said Sal DeMare, Electoral Area A Director. “as most are aware, there has been a noticeable increase in our population since the 2016 Census,” he said. “Our communities are changing, and demographics are shifting toward community members residing more full-time, along with families purchasing recreational property.”

The purpose of this OCP is to provide direction for land use and development. An OCP is based on a community’s economic, social and environmental values. An update to this OCP for Electoral Area A will incorporate current best practices and reflect the changing demographics and needs of the region.

Workbooks can be submitted via email AreaAOCP@slrd.bc.ca, in person or regular mail service to the SLRD Administrative Office, located at: PO Box 219, 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, B.C. Deadline to submit is Friday, October 21, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

More information about the Electoral Area A OCP review, including links to the downloadable Workbook, is available on the SLRD website: www.slrd.bc.ca/AreaAOCPUpdate

Residents with questions about the OCP review process can email: AreaAOCP@slrd.bc.ca or contact:

Brenda Kolenbrander
SLRD Planner
Telephone: (604) 894-6371 ext. 264

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About the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District

Located in southwestern BC, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is a local government federation consisting of four-member municipalities (the District of Lillooet, the District of Squamish, the Village of Pemberton and the Resort Municipality of Whistler) and four unincorporated, rural electoral areas (A, B, C, and D). Headquartered in Pemberton, which is the approximate geographic centre of the region, the SLRD delivers a wide range of local, regional and sub-regional services to approximately 42,665 residents (2016 Census).