As part of on-going work related to the preparation of a single Okanagan Valley Electoral Area Zoning Bylaw, the Regional District is undertaking a review of existing Residential Zones as well as supporting objectives and policies in the Okanagan Electoral Area Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaws.  This review is being undertaken in multiple phases, each of which can be found below:

Phase 4 of this project involves a review of the Residential (RS) and Small Holdings (SH) zones in the Electoral Area "A", "C", "D", "E", "F" & "I" Zoning Bylaws.

Phase 3 of this project involves a review of the Comprehensive Development (CD) Zone in the Electoral Area "D" Zoning Bylaw.  The CD Zone is a residential zone and and the zoning bylaw states that its purpose is "the creation of comprehensive, site-specific land use regulations on specified sites within Electoral Area “D” where the circumstances are such that regulation by other zones would be inappropriate or inadequate, having regard to existing physical and environmental constraints."

However, where parcels have been developed under the CD zoning, this has generally been in a way that regulation by other, existing zones could have facilitated the development.  Accordingly, the Regional District is looking to phase out the CD and replace it with other, more applicable zonings.

Phase 2 of this project involves a review of existing Residential Two Family (Duplex) (RS3) zones in the Electoral Area "A", "C", "D" & "E" zoning bylaws (NOTE: the Electoral Area "F" & "I" zoning bylaws do not contain RS3 Zones).

The principal change associated with this review is the introduction of a new parcel size for subdivsion, specifically:

• 225.0 m² for the purpose of subdividing a duplex under the Strata Property Act, when connected to a community sewer and water system; and
• 550.0 m², when connected to a community sewer and water system.

Other changes include the introduction of a consistent list of permitted accessory uses (i.e. home occupations and accessory buildings and structures) and setbacks.

Phase 1 of this project involves a review of existing objective and policies contained in the OCP Bylaws for residential development and ensuring that these are consistent in terms of layout, formatting and description of common Board objectives and policies across Electoral Areas and is further proposing to review and make consistent the Residential Multiple Family (RM1) zones.

By way of example, the following is an example of a consistent policy statement in relation to the types of dwelling types and use associated with the Low Density Residential (LR) designation:

Generally supports the use of lands designated Low Density Residential (LR) identified in Schedule ‘B’ (Official Community Plan Map) for single detached dwellings, duplexes, secondary suites, manufactured homes, parks, religious buildings and facilities, institutional buildings, local convenience stores and other uses that fit with the low density residential character of the designation.

Similarly, the following is an example of a consistent policy statement in relation to the types of dwelling types and use associated with the Medium Density Residential (MR) designation:

Generally supports the use of lands designated Medium Density Residential (MR) identified in Schedule ‘B’ (Official Community Plan Map) for multi-family developments, including triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses and apartment buildings that fit with the residential intent of the designation.

Other amendments to the LR & MR designations include consistent density allowances of 30 units/ha for single deatched dwellings, 45 units/ha for duplex dwelling units and 60 units/ha for apartment building and townhouses.

With regard to the proposed changes to the RM1 Zone, it is being proposed to standardize minimum densities, maximum densities, floor area ratios, setbacks and parcel coverage of the RM1 zonee across Electoral Areas.  This will result in, amongst other things, the following:

• amended and new definitions for “amenity space”, “apartment building” and “townhouse”;
• replacing references to “multi-dwelling units” with “apartment building” and “townhouse”;
• deleting low density dwellings (i.e. single detached & duplexes) as permitted types/uses;
• deleting references to a minimum density of 3 dwelling units in the RM1 Zone;
• introducing a minimum floor area of 40 m2 for dwelling units;
• deleting Floor Area Ratio (FAR) requirements;
• revising the amenity space requirements “apartment building” and “townhouse” units; and
• combining the RM1 & RM2 Zones in Electoral Area “F”;
• introducing a new Comprehensive Development Zone for a “share lot” development in Area “D”.