Planning

Content

The Planning Department protects community values and quality of life as the population grows and development occurs. Using the Official Community Plan as a guide, the Planning Department aims for orderly development that is compatible with existing neighbourhoods, that uses existing infrastructure efficiently, that protects human health, and that retains natural features. Other roles of the Planning Department include:

• Protecting human health and the natural environment including watercourses, mosquito control (West Nile Virus) and guidelines around hazardous terrain.
• Processing development applications including rezoning, subdivision, development permits, and applications to the Agricultural Land Commission.
• Ensuring consistency between long range community goals (Official Community Plan) and current development applications.
• Undertaking research and policy creation as directed by Council.
• Responding to inquiries about development proposals, demographic information, and application procedures.
• Updating property information and mapping services.
• Providing support to Community Heritage Commission, and the Advisory Design Panel.

Community Planning

Community Planning is involved in long range planning and policy initiatives.  Key challenges for the future include growth management measures that balance land uses to ensure the protection of the unique quality of life in Maple Ridge.  These challenges were a key concern with the Official Community Plan, which was adopted on November 14, 2006.

The Community Planning function is also involved with ongoing liaison work with other government agencies and community organizations involved in broad social goals, such as the provision of affordable housing, and the protection of food security.   Community Planning provides a staff liaison function to the Community Heritage Commission.

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Development Planning

This current planning function assists in the actual implementation of the long range objectives in the Community.  This planning function establishes a land use management process that is timely, open, inclusive, and consultative through liaison with residents and with the development community. 

The Development Planning section provides a staff liaison role with the Advisory Design Panel, who provide a professional review of pertinent development applications.

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Environmental Planning

Environmental Planning services promote individual and community responsibility for the stewardship of natural resources through public information, investigating complaints and concerns, and maintaining effective partnerships with local stewardship groups.

This section provides an environmental review of development applications.  In addition, it coordinates mosquito control (West Nile Virus) in collaboration with other Metro Vancouver member municipalities within the Fraser Valley.

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Mapping

The Planning Department's mapping services update property information as development applications are processed.  In addition, this section provides land use maps for the Official Community Plan, and all mapping information accompanying reports to Council.  Maps are available for purchase at the Planning counter in Municipal Hall.

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