The lands known as Cape Roger Curtis are located in the South West corner of Bowen Island. Cape Roger Curtis is privately owned land and totals approximately 650 acres in size. Click here for location map. Click here to view the Cape Roger Curtis Neighbourhood Plan map.
Current Status:
"Update June 2009 - The rezoning application for Cape Roger Curtis has been withdrawn. The owners of the Cape Roger Curtis lands have chosen to pursue their subdivision application that was originally applied for in 2004. New materials regarding the subdidision were submitted on June 4, 2009 to the Approving Officer for review and can be found through the following link: http://www.bimbc.ca/CRC_latest_updates. Please check back to this site as new information will be added as it becomes available.
The Municipality has received a rezoning application for the Cape Roger Curtis lands. The proposed Neighbourhood Plan is a detailed OCP policy document that guides and defines future land development in Cape Roger Curtis. Amendments to the Land Use Bylaw will follow if the OCP amendment is successful.
On March 2, 2009, Council received the results of the referral process for the proposed Neighbourhood Plan and discussed the proposed public engagement and process. Council also received The Cape Roger Curtis Traffic Impact Study as info. See link for more details.
On March 23, 2009, Council authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to initiate a public consultation process for the proposed Neighbourhood Plan. See link for more details.
On April 5, 2009 the Municipality hosted a public information meeting at the Bowen Island Community School. See Agenda, Objectives, and Proposed Options on How to Proceed. Council will incorporate all public input, oral and written, addressed to Council on the proposed options for decision-making on How to Proceed, at its scheduled meeting on April 20, 2009. See link for more details.
The Cape on Bowen Community Development Limited Website
Principles and Objectives & Planning Process Framework:
Council has passed two important guiding resolutions regarding Cape Roger Curtis. The first resolution is a set of overarching principles and planning objectives for the site.
The second resolution is a framework that will be utilized to guide the Cape Roger Curtis planning process.
Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw No. 139, 1996 Designations:
The current OCP designation for most of Cape Roger Curtis is Rural Residential (RS). This designation could allow for lots sizes of 1 hectare. There is also land that is designated Rural (R) and Rural 1 (R1) zoning. The combined density that could be consider in the current OCP is 224 lots, but only though a rezoning process.
Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 Zoning:
The existing zoning for Cape Roger Curtis is Rural Residential 1 (RR1). The minimum lot size required to create new lots through subdivision in this zone is 4 hectares (approximately 10 acres) without a community water system.
Development Permit & Other Permits:
Cape Roger Curtis is also designated as a development permit area. Details of the permit requirements are outlined in the Land Use Bylaw (Part 7.1) - Cape Roger Curtis Permit Guidelines. The permit area was created to ensure that any development that may occur on Cape Roger Curtis is undertaken in an environmentally sensitive manner. Permits were also issued for driveway access.
Cape Roger Curtis and Subdivision:
In 2004, a subdivision application was received from the owners of Cape Roger Curtis. The application has not moved forward since the comprehensive planning process for the proposed Neighbourhood Plan has started. If the current planning process were to end the applicant could recommence their subdivision application.
Subdivision:
An owner may subdivide their property if they are able to create lots that meet the requirements of the existing zoning. A subdivision application is reviewed against criteria outlined in the OCP, Land Use Bylaw Subdivision Regulation (part 6) and the Land Title Act. Council does not decide on whether or not a subdivision plan is approved or not. This is the decision of the Approving Officer. The Approving Officer is a position that is filled by the Chief Administrative Officer of the Bowen Island Municipality.
Subdivision Process and the Preliminary Layout Review Letter:
When an application for subdivision is received it is sent to the Deputy Approving Officer. The Deputy Approving Officer sends out referral notices asking for review and comments on the application. These referrals are sent to various Municipal departments and any other government agencies whose comment would be deemed necessary.
A preliminary layout review letter (PLR) is a letter that is issued to a subdivision applicant as part of the subdivision process. Once the referrals and comments are received by the Deputy Approving Officer, the Officer writes the PLR. The PLR is in essence a summary of all the comments received from the referral agencies. The PLR is meant to let the applicant know what they need to do in order to get approval for the subdivision.
A PLR is no guarantee that the subdivision will be approved, it is simply meant as a tool to let the applicant know the results of the review by various government agencies.
