Official Community Plan & Zoning Bylaw

June 25 & 26, 2018 Public Engagement Sessions

What We Heard

Village of Canal Flats | What We Heard2

This report has been prepared by B&A Planning Group on behalf of the Village of Canal Flats in support of the 2018 Official Community Plan (OCP) and Zoning Bylaw update.

Over the course of June 2018 the OCP and Zoning Bylaw project team from B&A visited Canal Flats for a series of initial public engagement events. This kickoff month of public engagement included the project team’s attendance at Canal Days (June 2nd) and three different events over the course of two days at the end of the month (June 25-26).

The objective of the engagement sessions was to create awareness about the new OCP and Zoning Bylaw, provide the people of Canal Flats with the opportunity to meet the project team, and for the project team to listen to and learn from the locals, get their boots in the dirt of the Village, and respond to questions, concerns, and feedback from attendees.

This report describes the events that took place, explores the three topics discussed at the design workshop, and summarizes the feedback received from the public.

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30+50+45

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Number of engagement events that took place in June

Newsletter - B&A shared a half-page Save The Date ad in the June 21st edition of the Canal Flats Newsletter promoting the dates and times of the upcoming engagement events.

Signage - the electronic sign outside the Canal Flats Village office was updated to promote the engagement events on June 25-26.

Media Promotion - the Columbia Valley Pioneer ran an article on June 7th about the OCP and Zoning Bylaw project, and the project team’s attendance at Canal Days on June 2.

Community Network - good old-fashioned word-of-mouth brought many attendees out to the engagement events on June 25-26. This included sharing from the Village office, committed and invested community members, and contacts made at the Meet & Greet events.

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Let’s Talk Canal Flats

The Village is renewing our Official Community Plan (OCP) and Zoning Bylaw. This project will help guide us now and into

the future. Our journey starts with listening to you – the community. We want to hear your hopes and dreams for

your village. Council, administration and a chosen consultant team will take your ideas and use them to create a renewed

OCP and Zoning Bylaw that reflects our community’s values, spirit and aspirations.

Official Community Plan & Zoning Bylaw Project

What Kind of Community Do We Want to Be?

Have your voice heard! Join the conversation.

Show Your Village Some Love Get social on the Village’s Facebook page. Post what you love about our community using the #LetsTalkCanalFlats tag! Share a

photo or simply your thoughts on what will make our village thrive!

Visit our booth at Canal Days! Saturday, June 2, afternoon Come visit the OCP/Zoning Bylaw project booth at Canal Days - learn about the project and share your ideas!

Visit www.canalflats.com for more information

as it becomes available during the project.

Find Project Updates OnlineLearn more about the project and share your feedback online. Let’s Talk Canal FlatsPHASE 1 - Where have we come from? May - June 2018

PHASE 2 Where are we now?June - July 2018

PHASE 3 Where are we going? July - August 2018

WE ARE HEREPHASE 5 How do we take action? Nov - Jan 2018

PHASE 4 How do we get there? Aug - Nov 2018

PHASE 6 Approvals & ImplementationJan - Feb 2019

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What is an Official Community Plan (OCP)? An OCP is a

statement of objectives and policies to guide decisions on

planning and land management in the Village. An OCP is

required under section 875 of the Local Government Act.

What is a Zoning Bylaw? A zoning bylaw regulates how

specific areas of land can be used, including the location

and use of buildings and structures.

Village of Canal Flats | What We Heard4

3.0Canal Flats was invited to discuss the OCP & Zoning Bylaw project in a number of ways. A description of each event is below:

B&A set up a booth at Canal Days to share information with event attendees about the upcoming OCP and Zoning Bylaw project. A large scale map was provided which asked attendees how they felt Canal Flats could achieve various goals set out by the Village’s 2016 Economic Development Strategy. An information pamphlet was provided for attendees to take away and learn more about the project, and a sign up sheet was available for attendees to provide their contact information in order to stay up-to-date about project developments.

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B&A was available at the Village offices on June 25th (5:00-6:00 pm) and June 26 (4:00-6:30 pm) to meet community members, learn what they value and discover their visions for the future, and answer questions they had about the project. These events built awareness about the project and also generated interest in the design workshop held on the evening of June 26th.

Similar to Canal Days, a large scale map was provided for attendees to give feedback on the goals outlined in the Village’s 2016 Economic Development Strategy. An information pamphlet was provided for attendees to take away and learn more about the project, and a sign up sheet was available for attendees to provide their contact information in order to stay up-to-date about project developments.

- Canal Days 2018

- Meet & Greet Sessions

- Youth Workshop

- Village Walking Tour Event

- Design Workshop

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• Hockey team• Portable skateboard park• Maintain small town vibe and energy while growing our services• More amenities – shops, restaurants, doctor, physio,

veterinarian• Thriving entrepreneurial spirit• A safe, accessible, affordable, fun place for everyone, from

children to the elderly• Expanded daycare• New Civic Centre• Arena and beach still well-maintained stars of community• Trail from arena to beach well-used• Apartment buildings• Local bar / pub• Bowling alley• More businesses & better jobs• New housing• Redeveloped downtown

Village of Canal Flats | What We Heard6

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B&A conducted a workshop with the students of Martin Morigeau Elementary School in partnership with the school’s dynamic and engaging principal and teachers.

The Youth Workshop began with a 10 minute presentation by the B&A team about town planning. The students then broke into 3 groups (K-1, 2-3, 4-7) and worked with B&A team members to envision what Canal Flats might look like in 2025. This included a basic mapping exercise where students were able to show us the valuable places in Canal Flats, places that need more investment or are prime for redevelopment, and where they want to see new houses and shops, or residential and commercial development. The students were creative and exuberant, and provided the team with some extremely thoughtful insights about their Village.

Engaging a demographic like this one is important. Children and youth are often omitted from these discussions, often because the styles and types of public engagement events conducted do not take the way they communicate or think about a topic into consideration. Engaging with them at this formative stage - both of the OCP and their own development - makes our plans more likely to succeed, and may also inspire them to grow their community and help make it flourish.

The B&A Project Team led a 2 hour walking tour with 12 participants through Canal Flats to get an initial understanding the Village’s housing stock, road characteristics, and desired urban design direction. This ‘boots in the dirt’ engagement method allowed the project team and participants to explore the Village together and gave both parties the opportunity to hold a richer and more in-depth discussion about each topic.

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New Build - typically 2 storey larger residence defined by a raised main floor, steeply pitched roof, and new materials. These homes are beginning to shape the future of Canal Flats.

Mountain Rustic - a traditional mobile or single family residence defined by wood and stone attention to detail and other locational symbols (i.e. wrought-iron crane in gates).

Traditional Single Family - typically 1-2 storey small residence defined by vinyl or wood siding or stucco and front porch. Substantial front setback; mature landscaping.

Traditional Mobile - typically 1 storey permanent mobile residence. Often undergoing or has recently undergone some kind of renovation. Defined by large setback and front porch.

Multi-Family Duplex - a minority housing type in Canal Flats located in community of Jade Landing. Defined by raised main floor, shared party wall, and uniform appearance. Well-maintained landscaping.

Village Interior - roads used for interior Village circulation, residential access, and primary pedestrian corridors. Defined by wide right-of-way, gravel buffer and asphalt walking path on one edge. Pavement age varies.

Residential - quiet Village roads used for residential access. Defined by wide right-of-way, makeshift parking areas, and no walking path. Typically older pavement with gravel edges.

Village Core - busier Village road used for access from Highway 93 into Village, commercial uses, and major Village amenities (i.e. arena & beach).

Highway - major regional transportation corridor of goods and people. Vital for industrial and resource development that occurs in and around the Village. Defined by highway commercial uses south of Village and two accesses to Canal Flats.

Village of Canal Flats | What We Heard8

1.

In considering the future of housing in Canal Flats, participants focused on three considerations: housing types, housing innovation, and infill opportunities.

What we heard was that there is an openness and willingness to explore implementing cutting edge housing concepts and policies, as long as it is done thoughtfully and at the right time. It was suggested this could be done by identifying areas within the Village that would be well-suited for new kinds of development instead of permitting any kind of growth. A number of participants wished to see both consistency and flexibility when it came to residential development ...

Participants were split when it came to the concept of infill housing, or subdividing large lots to accommodate a new living unit. Some participants voiced concerns about access to a subdivided unit, especially if there was no laneway access to the property. Many believed that any infill policies and initiatives would have to come with a better road network. Some participants did not agree with the idea of infill development, believing this kind of housing innovation would change the character of the Village too greatly. However, the majority of participants agreed on drawing a hard Urban Containment Boundary around Canal Flats and filling in the undeveloped space before expanding the UCB any further.

Participants were receptive to the concept of live/work units, especially in the commercial area on Grainger Road. Many thought that two-storey buildings on Grainger with residential units up above street-level shops would positively contribute to making Canal Flats a “village proper”. While commercial and residential uses could be mixed, many participants reiterated the importance of good buffers between residential and industrial uses.

The Design Workshop was the capstone public engagement event during B&A’s June 25-26 visit to Canal Flats. Participants were divided into 3 groups with a B&A facilitator to assist with the engagement process. Each group participated in a short visioning exercise to explore what they wished Canal Flats to look like in 2025. Attendees then discussed 3 topics more in-depth: 1) Housing; 2) Urban Design; and 3) Transportation. The general summary of these topics is discussed below.

There was general support for a greater variety of housing types in Canal Flats, from apartments and condo or strata units, to more unique housing types such as micro-homes and garden suites, to a focus on growing the rental market for full-time accommodation and for seasonal tourist accommodation. The desire to see a greater variety of housing types stems from a recognition that Canal Flats needs to accommodate a wide range of people for the Village to continue to thrive. Participants emphasized the need for innovative, affordable family housing to attract young families in order to ensure the Martin Morigeau Elementary School continued to thrive. Many participants believe that by providing a greater variety of housing, the population will grow and the Village will begin to attract much-needed amenities to the area.

Finally, there was a near-universal call for homeowners take more responsibility for keeping their properties tidy and attractive. Participants want to see housing redevelopment or renovation projects completed in a fastidious, timely manner. Front and rear yards should not be used for junk storage and the Village should better enforce Bylaw #179 - Bylaw to Regulate Unsightly Premises.

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2The question posed to participants was:

In considering how to create a sense of place for Canal Flats, It was generally acknowledged that there is currently little to no sense of entry into Canal Flats, and that a gateway feature would help identify the location of the Village and also generate recognition of the Village for travelers passing by. Participants discussed the merits of a gateway helping define a priority access, creating a pedestrian and visitor-oriented Village entrance (Burns), while encouraging ease of industrial and large vehicular access through a secondary entrance (Grainger).

A gateway feature would provide a unique, out-of-the-box signage opportunity on the highway.

This conversation also focused on tourism and how to capture the attention of travelers, both passing through the East Kootenay Valley and those looking to make Canal Flats their vacation destination. Canal Flats needs something to “draw people in”. The Town of Kimberley was given as an example of creative ads and billboards on the highway to garner interest in the place and attract visitors. There was considerable discussion regarding a staffed Village information centre, a revamp of the Village’s website, and better and more frequent promotion of the Village through various media platforms. Additional suggestions to attract visitors and create a sense of place in Canal Flats included a weekend market (building on the tradition and continued popularity of farmer’s markets in the Kootenay region) and the concept of promoting Canal Flats as an affordable community for artisans.

Participants discussed the things that currently make Canal Flats great that aren’t promoted as fully as they could or should be. This included Canal Flats’ location as the source of the Columbia River, as well as the rich history of Canal Flats. Participants explored ideas including a museum and an interpretive centre to promote

these things. The arena was generally recognized as Canal Flats’ winter “star” (or gathering place), both for tourists and for locals, whereas the beach is the Village’s summer star. While neither of these amenities need to be promoted any further, participants agreed that they are the Village’s primary public places and deserve investment and revitalization to continue to shine.

Design considerations included shape and massing, materials, and additions to the streets. Participants expressed the importance of being distinct from other small mountain towns, if a design guidelines was to be adopted. Proposed forms and materials suggested a “mountain industrial” model, including timber frame, peaked, steeply pitched roofs, rock features, with a variety of metals as stylistic features. Street features like streetlights, benches, wood plank sidewalks, and Canal Flats branded banners and flags. Grainger was constantly identified as the primary street in Canal Flats that required attention. Angled parking, flower planters, and external One participant suggested a featured boulevard down the middle of Grainger to provide the commercial strip with an authentic Village feel and make it more attractive to shop there.

Village of Canal Flats | What We Heard10

3The question posed to participants was:

Participants were generally satisfied by the Village’s internal road network. They like the width of the roads, that intersections are quite safe, and that there is enough parking to accommodate residents and tourists alike everywhere except Tilley Memorial Park. Participants are also generally satisfied with the Village’s established pedestrian network. The separated asphalt strips are considered safe and accessible, and require less maintenance. The extension of the network on certain roads is supported over time, as Village growth makes extensions more necessary and more affordable – in particular, along Burns to accommodate more families with strollers; along Grainger to create a better commercial experience for pedestrians; and a pedestrian connection of some sort from Tilley Memorial Park through the Village to the Kootenay River, either along Grainger or elsewhere. Traditional raised concrete sidewalks were considered unnecessary. The accommodation of alternate forms of transportation within the Village were proposed, including ATVs and golf carts.

The majority of participants believed forestry and mining trucks should not be permitted to park on residential streets, stating “those streets are for people”, and supported the idea of relocating the trucks to a designated parking facility.

Participants were less satisfied with the highway access to Canal Flats. Safety was a legitimate concern, but many participants believed that highway conditions contributed to people not visiting the Village. Suggestions included streetlights on the highway to help identify access points to the Village and continuing talks with the Province of BC to reduce the highway speed limit before and between Village access points. During this discussion participants also supported defining the primary highway access to Canal Flats for travelers, tourists, and residents, and a secondary access for industrial and other large truck use.

Access to recreational areas was an important topic for almost all participants. The primary recreational areas in Canal Flats were repeatedly identified as the beach at Tilley Memorial Park and the Kootenay River. The primary concern is access to the beach, including a lack of parking, the popularity of the public boat launch, and an inability to safely access the beach by car-alternate modes of transportation. Suggestions to ease access pressures included the implementation of certain trails from Canal Flats’ Parks and Trails Master Plan, or creating a walking path alongside Grainger Road. Regarding the boat launch, participants wished to explore the permitting of low impact boat slips on Columbia Lake, allowing interested parties to leave their boat in the lake instead of having to launch and remove their boat daily. Other ideas included designated boat storage within Canal Flats, and a “boat shuttle service” to get boats in and out of the Lake safely and more efficiently. Participants recalled another public beach closer to the highway, and generally agreed that the revitalization of this secondary beach would also better help distribute people and ease pressure on the beach at Tilley Memorial Park.

The secondary concern is access to Kootenay River. It is difficult and dangerous to access the River on foot or by bicycle, and access for vehicles is poor for much of the year. Participants wanted to see better accessibility to the River, including a designated parking area and the exploration of a safe alternative transportation option, such as a paved or gravel path or trail.

Participants also discussed a lack of access to water for their dogs. Dogs are not allowed into Tilley Memorial Park, and the Kootenay River can be too fast or high for dogs to access safely. A few participants suggested the old public beach could be redeveloped as a dog beach.

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• Hockey team• Portable skateboard park• Maintain small town vibe and energy while growing our services• More amenities – shops, restaurants, doctor, physio, veterinarian• Thriving entrepreneurial spirit• A safe, accessible, affordable, fun place for everyone, from children

to the elderly• Expanded daycare• New Civic Centre• Arena and beach still well-maintained stars of community• Trail from arena to beach well-used• Apartment buildings• Local bar / pub• Bowling alley• More businesses & better jobs• New housing• Redeveloped downtown

• Small town feel• Affordable lifestyle• Backcountry amenities• People• School• Festivals - Canal Days, Flats Music Fest, Halloween parade,

Canada Day• Village walking paths• Columbia Lake• Tilley Memorial Park & beach• Arena• Source of the Columbia trail• Music jam• Close to Lussier Hot Springs• Kootenay River

Village of Canal Flats | What We Heard12

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• More businesses • More jobs• Business hub / coworking space• Better highway signage • Highway frontage retail

• Hotel - accommodate tourists, travelers, and families visiting for hockey tournaments

• RV Park• Develop Canal Flats amenities – River, Lake, rock and

ice climbing opportunities• Reopen curling rink• Expand arena to include curling rink• Lakeside resort• Formalized trails network• Path to Tilley Park sensitive to bighorn sheep corridor

and other native wildlife and plant species• Develop formalized ATV parking lot and trail head• Develop Spirit Trail with Ktunaxa Nation• Farmer’s Market

• Daycare expansion • Arts & music growth• Need for teen activities• Encourage more community engagement• More affordable housing & housing variety• Public Works building• Housing on Grainger - contribute to mix use street and

support workers at new tech hub site

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4.0We will use all the feedback received to date to guide the initial draft of both the OCP and the Zoning Bylaw. We will be working closely with Village administration to ensure the ideas captured during this intensive period of engagement are economically viable, achievable in the lifespan of this project, and good for the Village as a whole.

The Village has created a Steering Committee for the OCP and Zoning Bylaw project. This committee is made up of members of council, business and development representatives from the Village, and interested and invested members of the community. The Steering Committee will be called upon to provide guidance on key issues for the OCP and Zoning Bylaw moving forward.

4.3

Our time in Canal Flats was productive and gave us a lot to work with, but these events were just the beginning. Engagement with the Steering Committee, stakeholders, and greater community will be ongoing throughout the entire project. There will be at least one open house for the community before the plan and bylaw is submitted to the Village for final review.

Village of Canal Flats | What We Heard14

Contact our Project Team to sign up for email updates about the project, and to be notified about upcoming engagement events.

Please do not hesitate to contact any of the representatives listed below if you have any questions or ideas related to the project.

Engagement Specialist B&A Planning Group

(403) 692-5231 bfontaine@bapg.ca

Project Manager B&A Planning Group

(403) 692-4361 jschmidt@bapg.ca

Community Planner B&A Planning Group

(403) 692-4544 awalker@bapg.ca

Chief Administrative Officer Village of Canal Flats

(250) 349-5462 cao@canalflats.ca