The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) is updating the South Cariboo Official Community Plan (OCP) and it hosted three open-house meetings for public input on Feb. 11-12.
The meetings were held at the Forest Grove, 108 Mile and Lone Butte community halls, and while attendance hasn't been overwhelming, area residents have been showing up and asking questions.
The existing OCP was adopted in 1996 and the document will be updated to align community values, aspirations and perspectives for growth within the South Cariboo.
The OCP area includes 108 Mile Ranch and 93-97 Mile areas Electoral Area G, Gateway/Buffalo Creek, Forest Grove, Ruth Lake and Canim Lake in Electoral Area H and Lone Butte and Horse Lake in Electoral Area L.
Graham Farstad is the principal with the Arlington Group, which is the lead consultant for the update.
He says they have a couple of partners: EcoPlan International from Vancouver, which is helping with the public consultation; and an environmental and ALR consultant, which will be dealing with lake quality that is a concern to the CRD.
The regional district would like that information updated, Farstad says.
He adds ALR issues are also important because a large portion of the land is in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
"We also need to know if the existing OCP is still relevant, and with the big changes that took place in legislation [two-tier system] last year.
"In the Okanagan, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, there is one system where the agricultural land protection is the main objective. In the Interior apart from the Okanagan, there's a second tier system, in which agriculture is important but it's competing with development...."
Regarding the format for the OCP, Farstad says there are two main levels of public consultation elements.
"One is the front end: looking for input on issues; people identifying what they feel is of real value in the area and what they see as more of a challenge; and potential problems or things that need to be addressed."
The public open houses were held in the three electoral areas of the South Cariboo to focus on grassroots concerns, he explains.
Noting the CRD wanted to have an advisory committee, which is a cross-section of people in different areas, Farstad says they are open to having other people who want to be added to the group.
If people are interested, they could contact their area directors or CRD development services manager Karen Moores at 1-800-665-1636 or e-mail kmoores@cariboord.ca.
Noting they are being challenged in getting input from seasonal residents, Farstad says there are some issues such as traffic, rental accommodation and how to deal with people who are permanent versus those who are seasonal that have to be looked at.
EcoPlan International specializes in working with First Nations, he says, adding they will be working with area bands.
Farstad notes there is a Canim Lake Band member who sits on the advisory committee, and there will be direct consultation with the band.
He says the survey that was presented at the open house meetings is available online, as is the existing OCP and updated background studies showing current information.
"The studies are fairly extensive so they give people good information on things like resources."
Farstad adds input will continue to be gathered for the next month, and the results from all of the questionnaires will be summarized and will also be available online. All of this information will help form the direction of the OCP update, he explains.
When the draft plan is finished in the spring, he says there will be another series of open houses and meetings to get input from people so the consultants can go forward.
Farstad says they hope to have the OCP update concluded in the summer, and then it will be ready for adoption by the CRD in the late summer or early fall.
For more information about the South Cariboo Area OCP review process, visit the CRD online at www.cariboord.ca or contact the CRD'S manager of development services at 1-800-665-1636 or e-mail kmoores@cariboord.ca.