Regional Land Use Regional Land Use Planning for a Sustainable Planning for a Sustainable

FutureFutureA brief look at Regional A brief look at Regional

Planning in SaskatchewanPlanning in SaskatchewanPresented by: Presented by:

Martino VerhaegheMartino VerhaegheMinistry of Municipal AffairsMinistry of Municipal Affairs

Shelley KilbrideShelley KilbrideMunicipal Capacity Municipal Capacity

Development ProgramDevelopment Program

Regional PlanningRegional Planning

Regional planning is undertaken, Regional planning is undertaken, throughout Canada, for:throughout Canada, for:

Health careHealth care EducationEducation Emergency services/responseEmergency services/response Economic developmentEconomic development Watershed or environmental planningWatershed or environmental planning Infrastructure, utility and municipal Infrastructure, utility and municipal

servicesservices Land use and development planningLand use and development planning

Regional PlanningRegional Planning

Utilized in order to:Utilized in order to: Coordinate goalsCoordinate goals Provide consistencyProvide consistency Be proactiveBe proactive Use resources most efficientlyUse resources most efficiently Provide succession planningProvide succession planning Make more informed decisionsMake more informed decisions Better the quality of life of your residentsBetter the quality of life of your residents

Regional Land Use Planning in CanadaRegional Land Use Planning in Canada

Provincially led Provincially led models:models:

British ColumbiaBritish Columbia AlbertaAlberta ManitobaManitoba OntarioOntario QuebecQuebec North West North West

TerritoriesTerritories YukonYukon New BrunswickNew Brunswick NunavutNunavut

Municipally led models:Municipally led models:

SaskatchewanSaskatchewan Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island Newfoundland/Newfoundland/

LabradorLabrador

Regional Land Use Planning in CanadaRegional Land Use Planning in Canada

ProvinciallyProvincially led models led models are:are:

required by legislationrequired by legislation Larger in size/numerous Larger in size/numerous

municipalities municipalities created to address local created to address local

and provincial interestsand provincial interests typically service typically service

providersproviders typically authorities on typically authorities on

land use decisionsland use decisions Stable/may not be Stable/may not be

easily dissolvedeasily dissolved

MunicipallyMunicipally led led models are:models are:

allowed by allowed by legislationlegislation

smaller in size/ smaller in size/ number of number of municipalitiesmunicipalities

typically created to typically created to address local issuesaddress local issues

Not necessarily Not necessarily authorities authorities

not as stable/maynot as stable/may be be more easily more easily dissolveddissolved

……What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

Regional Land Use Planning in CanadaRegional Land Use Planning in Canada

Other differences: Quebec/Ontario have a two tier municipality Quebec/Ontario have a two tier municipality

system with different responsibilities system with different responsibilities (Planning is a (Planning is a higher level function)higher level function)

B.C and parts of Alberta have regional B.C and parts of Alberta have regional municipalities municipalities

Manitoba and Alberta have regional plans that Manitoba and Alberta have regional plans that provide guidance for regional districts & separate provide guidance for regional districts & separate municipalitiesmunicipalities

New Brunswick, North West Territories, Yukon & New Brunswick, North West Territories, Yukon & Nunavut have government established regional Nunavut have government established regional land use commissions/boards which have land use commissions/boards which have authority over land useauthority over land use

Newfoundland/Labrador, Saskatchewan, Nova Newfoundland/Labrador, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and PEI have systems that provide for a Scotia and PEI have systems that provide for a great deal of flexibility with regards to regional great deal of flexibility with regards to regional approaches to land useapproaches to land use

Municipally led model under Municipally led model under The The Planning and Development Act, 2007Planning and Development Act, 2007

Voluntary with the ability to dissolveVoluntary with the ability to dissolve Requires two or more municipalitiesRequires two or more municipalities Requires a Planning District to have an Requires a Planning District to have an

Official Community Plan and Zoning Official Community Plan and Zoning BylawBylaw

District may manage services and District may manage services and employ staffemploy staff

Municipalities may grant certain Municipalities may grant certain approving or management authorities to approving or management authorities to a Districta District

A District may also become planning A District may also become planning authority and/or a subdivision approving authority and/or a subdivision approving authorityauthority

Regional Land Use Planning In Regional Land Use Planning In SaskatchewanSaskatchewan

Purpose of Regional PlanningPurpose of Regional Planning Effective mechanism for municipalities to build Effective mechanism for municipalities to build

community planning capacity and strengthen community planning capacity and strengthen viability without a loss of autonomyviability without a loss of autonomy

Improve the social, economic and environmental Improve the social, economic and environmental conditions for the partnering municipalitiesconditions for the partnering municipalities

Address land use planning, transportation, utilities, Address land use planning, transportation, utilities, and recreation services between local authoritiesand recreation services between local authorities

Framework for inter-municipal cooperation to co-Framework for inter-municipal cooperation to co-manage community developmentmanage community development

Coordinate intermunicipal policies, zoning and Coordinate intermunicipal policies, zoning and decisionsdecisions

Creates a process for inter-municipal cooperation to Creates a process for inter-municipal cooperation to set policies and undertake joint initiativesset policies and undertake joint initiatives

Objectives of Regional PlanningObjectives of Regional Planning

Strengthen communitiesStrengthen communities Safeguard public health and safety;Safeguard public health and safety; Ensure integrity and sustainability of Ensure integrity and sustainability of

municipal infrastructuremunicipal infrastructure Safeguard development rights in the Safeguard development rights in the

community planning process.community planning process. Provide effective and efficient delivery of Provide effective and efficient delivery of

municipal planning services; andmunicipal planning services; and Create opportunities for inter-municipal/ Create opportunities for inter-municipal/

community based planning community based planning

Objectives of Regional PlanningObjectives of Regional Planning

Develop a collective approach to land use Develop a collective approach to land use issues ensuring consistency between issues ensuring consistency between municipalities in a region or areamunicipalities in a region or area

Provide opportunities to develop inter-Provide opportunities to develop inter-municipal agreements to share resources. municipal agreements to share resources.

Create formalized arrangements useful in Create formalized arrangements useful in addressing existing and future municipal addressing existing and future municipal growth management pressuresgrowth management pressures

Increased municipal capacity for planning Increased municipal capacity for planning and administrationand administration

Orderly growth of urban, rural and fringe Orderly growth of urban, rural and fringe areasareas

Coordinated infrastructure Coordinated infrastructure Better economies of scale for services and Better economies of scale for services and

infrastructureinfrastructure Improved service provision, delivery, Improved service provision, delivery,

diversity and efficiencydiversity and efficiency Better leverage of provincial and federal Better leverage of provincial and federal

grant fundinggrant funding Develop regional forums for information Develop regional forums for information

exchangeexchange

Benefits of Planning RegionallyBenefits of Planning Regionally

Regional Planning Requires:Regional Planning Requires: Communication Communication NegotiationNegotiation Decisions be made that benefit the Decisions be made that benefit the

region not just individual region not just individual municipalitiesmunicipalities

Political commitment to work with Political commitment to work with neighbouring municipalities to neighbouring municipalities to resolve disputesresolve disputes

Planning Regionally RequiresPlanning Regionally Requires

Capacity IssuesCapacity Issues 60% of municipalities have zoning bylaws60% of municipalities have zoning bylaws 33% have official community plans33% have official community plans 248 municipalities currently share 248 municipalities currently share

administratorsadministrators For 790 municipalities there are 625 For 790 municipalities there are 625

administrators (268 retiring within 10 years) administrators (268 retiring within 10 years) leaving 357 experienced administrators by leaving 357 experienced administrators by 20192019

35 urban municipalities (over 100) didn’t 35 urban municipalities (over 100) didn’t have a qualified administrator; 10 still do nothave a qualified administrator; 10 still do not

Why is this the right time?Why is this the right time?

Capacity IssuesCapacity Issues 137 municipalities are under 100 in 137 municipalities are under 100 in

populationpopulation 142 municipalities have Councillors which 142 municipalities have Councillors which

represent less than 20 people represent less than 20 people In 7 months Municipal Affairs has received:In 7 months Municipal Affairs has received:

13,000 calls on planning matters; 50% of 13,000 calls on planning matters; 50% of these on subdivisionthese on subdivision

7,200 advisory service calls in the south7,200 advisory service calls in the south 6,600 advisory and planning calls in the 6,600 advisory and planning calls in the

Northern Administrative DistrictNorthern Administrative District

Why is this the right time?Why is this the right time?

Will Regional Planning Address Will Regional Planning Address Municipal Issues?Municipal Issues?

A regional planning framework would A regional planning framework would address many issues, such as:address many issues, such as: Economic development Economic development Municipal bylaw consistency and Municipal bylaw consistency and

efficiency efficiency Fiscal restraint Fiscal restraint Environmental Sensitivity Environmental Sensitivity The role of aboriginal people The role of aboriginal people Changing demographicsChanging demographics Public opinion and expectations Public opinion and expectations

Step One:Step One:Gauge the Interest in your AreaGauge the Interest in your Area

Municipal Council (s)Municipal Council (s) Boards:Boards:

Economic Development Board, Economic Development Board, Chamber of Commerce,Chamber of Commerce, Etc.Etc.

Community MembersCommunity Members Other stakeholdersOther stakeholders

Affected First Nations, Affected First Nations, Industry Industry Etc.Etc.

Step Two: Step Two: Determining Potential Determining Potential

Boundaries and OpportunitiesBoundaries and Opportunities

Utilizing both:Utilizing both: Baseline (Physical) Information, and Baseline (Physical) Information, and Community EngagementCommunity Engagement

to identify potential regional to identify potential regional partners.partners.

Both are equally important but separate Both are equally important but separate methodologiesmethodologies

Baseline InformationBaseline Information

Municipal boundaries and “Commutersheds”Municipal boundaries and “Commutersheds” Air photosAir photos Regional highways Regional highways Rivers, Lakes and WatershedsRivers, Lakes and Watersheds Regional ParksRegional Parks School boardsSchool boards Health districtsHealth districts Emergency response areasEmergency response areas Past and current partnershipsPast and current partnerships Existing services and joint servicing opportunitiesExisting services and joint servicing opportunities Demographics and populationDemographics and population

Community EngagementCommunity Engagement

Open houses Open houses Public meetings Public meetings Surveys and/or questionnaires Surveys and/or questionnaires Allow community members to:Allow community members to:

obtain information and ask questionsobtain information and ask questions provide input, voice opinions and identify provide input, voice opinions and identify

where where theythey feel the region should be feel the region should be identify local or intermunicipal service identify local or intermunicipal service

areas and opportunities for recreation, areas and opportunities for recreation, economic markets and ‘commutersheds’.economic markets and ‘commutersheds’.

Step Three: Step Three: Approach Potential PartnersApproach Potential Partners

Invite identified or potential regional Invite identified or potential regional partners to discuss:partners to discuss: participation in area-wide planningparticipation in area-wide planning economic opportunitieseconomic opportunities servicing and delivery servicing and delivery current and future infrastructure needscurrent and future infrastructure needs recreation facilitiesrecreation facilities and other areas of interestand other areas of interest

Step Four:Step Four:Determine Joint Goals and InterestsDetermine Joint Goals and Interests

Consider:Consider: Asset inventoriesAsset inventories Growth opportunitiesGrowth opportunities Issue identification and needs Issue identification and needs

assessmentassessment Regional infrastructure and/or Regional infrastructure and/or

servicing opportunities servicing opportunities Joint strategic planningJoint strategic planning

Step Five: Step Five: Form an Informal or Formal Form an Informal or Formal

Regional BodyRegional BodyInformal: Informal: Intermunicipal Collectives Intermunicipal Collectives Working GroupsWorking Groups

Formal: Formal: Planning DistrictsPlanning Districts District Planning AuthoritiesDistrict Planning Authorities

Responsibilities Intermunicipal Collective

Membership -Elected Officials and/or engaged community members-Number of representatives determined by local interest

Information transfer -Intermunicipal forums scheduled based on activities in the area

Vision, Planning and Evaluation

- Collective may not have an overall shared vision but works on a case-by-case basis on overlapping elements-shared responsibility for setting priorities and implementing actions

Human Resources -In-kind contributions determined by group representatives-Volunteer driven

Organizational Operations

-Organization and chairing functions often shared -No management hierarchy-Decisions by consensus

Finances -Financial matters worked on by group on a project by project basis i.e. funding applications, fundraising etc.

Community Relations/Engagement

-all members represent the collective to the community-Community engagement plan developed and implemented by membership

Informal Regional CollaborationInformal Regional Collaboration

Informal Regional CollaborationInformal Regional CollaborationResponsibilities Intermunicipal Working Group

Membership -Elected Officials and engaged community members-Number of representatives determined by local interest-Executive established-Sub working groups sometimes established

Information transfer

-Regularly scheduled Intermunicipal forums-On-going correspondence between members

Vision, Planning and Evaluation

- Group creates an overarching plan for the area & implements it- Group sets priorities, general direction and implements actions

Human Resources -In-kind contributions determined by group representatives-Primarily volunteer driven

Organizational Operations

-Organization and chairing functions often shared -May have joint staff person-Little or no management hierarchy-Decisions by consensus based on information by sub-groups /community members

Finances -Financial matters worked on by group on a project basis -Municipalities may provide some financial resources to the group for administration and/or projects

Community Relations/Engagement

-all members represent the collective to the community-Community engagement plan developed/implemented by membership

Formal Planning District/Board OverviewBoard

/District M

odel

Membership

Powers/Duties Staff

Planning District(Minimum)

Councillors from each municipality

AdvisoryDistrict OCP/Zoning Bylaw

Optional

Planning District(More fully utilized)

Councillors from each municipality

First Nations repProv Gov’t repJoint appointments by Municipalities

AdvisoryDistrict OCP/ Zoning Bylaw

Servicing / Services (building, planning, engineering, utilities, etc)

Financial

Optional: any occupations necessary to fulfill duties

District Planning Authority

Councillors from each municipality

Appointed by Minister

Joint appointments by Municipalities

Authority Any power granted to Council by P&D Act

Subdivision approval (with retention of a planner)

Optional: any occupations necessary to fulfill duties

To Form a Planning District To Form a Planning District or Authorityor Authority

Retain the services of a Retain the services of a Professional Community Planner Professional Community Planner

Prepare:Prepare: A by-law forming a planning A by-law forming a planning

districtdistrict--requires Ministerial approvalrequires Ministerial approval A District Official Community Plan A District Official Community Plan

and zoning by-lawsand zoning by-laws

The Official Community PlanThe Official Community Plan

Prepared in consultation with an professional Prepared in consultation with an professional Community Planner requires: Community Planner requires:

sustainable current and future land use sustainable current and future land use current and future economic developmentcurrent and future economic development the general provision of public worksthe general provision of public works the management of lands that are subject to the management of lands that are subject to

natural hazardsnatural hazards the management of environmentally sensitive the management of environmentally sensitive

landslands source water protection; andsource water protection; and the means of implementing the planthe means of implementing the plan

The Official Community PlanThe Official Community Plan

May also contain:May also contain: co-ordination of municipal programs co-ordination of municipal programs policy regarding the use of dedicated landspolicy regarding the use of dedicated lands concept plansconcept plans maps - current or future land use or policy areasmaps - current or future land use or policy areas policy relating to the physical, environmental, policy relating to the physical, environmental,

economic, social or cultural development of the economic, social or cultural development of the municipalitymunicipality

co-ordination of land use and development, co-ordination of land use and development, future growth patterns and public works with future growth patterns and public works with adjacent municipalitiesadjacent municipalities

SummarySummary

Regional Planning: Is an effective tool to meet

community demands with fewer resources

Integrates municipal and intermunicipal development issues for a comprehensive approach to planning

Facilitates development and growth opportunities

Questions?Questions?