What is this project about ?

The Community also indicated that planning should be guided by sustainability principles. The RDN Board of Directors supports this approach, which is in keeping with its Strategic Plan Vision Statement.
[ Click Here ] to to view the RDN 2006-2009 Strategic Plan [ 5MB PDF]

Based on initial research and community feedback, a Project Terms of Reference (a work program) was prepared and approved by the RDN over the summer months.

Project Objectives

1. To carry out a planning process that is based on Sustainability Principles, and which assists the Area 'H' Community in determining how it would like to address these principles through village centres and village planning.
2. To prepare a village plan(s) which provides comprehensive guidelines for the development of village centres, and which recognizes the relationship of the village centres to one another and to the surrounding areas.

• To carry out a public participation process which provides opportunities for all interested residents, business owners, community interest groups, and government agencies to participate in village planning for Area 'H';
• To encourage those people, groups or agencies who are most affected by an issue, or that have an ability to assist in understanding or problem solving around an issue, to participate;
• To encourage an integrated approach to planning by identifying matters where a multi-disciplinary approach (i.e. involving a combination of land use, transportation, parks and environmental planning, engineering, architecture and/or other disciplines)would be useful, and by creating opportunities for multi-disciplinary discussions and solutions; and,
• To provide a planning process which acknowledges that there may be a variety of perspectives on a number of matters and which provides a respectful and productive approach to consensus building.

The Terms of Reference for the project, prepared by RDN staff, is essentially an outline of the work that is likely required in order to achieve the project's objectives. The work program is based on a comprehensive public consultation process, where RDN staff work with the Community through a series of steps:

1. Establishing a set of sustainability principles to guide the project.
2. Discussing what these principles mean in the context of the Dunsmuir to Deep Bay areas, and in the context of village centres and village planning. Considering questions like what is working well? What isn't working as well? Why?
3. Looking at solutions/options.
4. Preparing plan(s).
5. Incorporate results into the Electoral Area 'H' OCP/Regional Growth Strategy.

Who's involved

The work program is built around a public participation process which provides opportunities for all interested residents, business owners, community interest groups and government agencies to become involved. A key goal and challenge of the project is to encourage those people, groups or agencies who are most affected by an issue, or that have an ability to assist in understanding or problem solving around an issue, to participate.

Given the interest expressed on the part of the Community to participate actively in the project, the RDN amended the Project Terms of Reference on October 14, 2008 so that those who really want to take an active role in the planning project can work together as an advisory group and that membership to this group is open throughout the project.

The Advisory Group will meet regularly throughout the project to confirm and prioritize local issues, act as information sources for both the community as a whole and staff, and help to guide the village plan preparation process. Any number of interested volunteers including residents, landowners, and stakeholders can participate in the advisory group.

[ Click Here ] for find out more about the Area 'H' Village Planning Advisory Group.

The Project Terms of Reference also recognizes that there are a number of government agencies who are often involved in implementing the policies and guidelines that communities desire. The work program recognizes the importance of interdepartment/interagency consultation and cooperation, and RDN Planning staff will assist in facilitating discussions with these agencies as the project proceeds.

Click Here to learn more about how you can be involved in this project.