1. Regional Land Use Planning for a Sustainable Future A brief look at Regional Planning in Saskatchewan Presented by: Martino Verhaeghe Ministry of Municipal Affairs Shelley Kilbride Municipal Capacity Development Program

2. Regional Planning Regional planning is undertaken, throughout Canada, for: Regional planning is undertaken, throughout Canada, for: Health care Health care Education Education Emergency services/response Emergency services/response Economic development Economic development Watershed or environmental planning Watershed or environmental planning Infrastructure, utility and municipal services Infrastructure, utility and municipal services Land use and development planning Land use and development planning

3. Regional Planning Utilized in order to: Coordinate goals Coordinate goals Provide consistency Provide consistency Be proactive Be proactive Use resources most efficiently Use resources most efficiently Provide succession planning Provide succession planning Make more informed decisions Make more informed decisions Better the quality of life of your residents Better the quality of life of your residents

4. Regional Land Use Planning in Canada Provincially led models: British Columbia British Columbia Alberta Alberta Manitoba Manitoba Ontario Ontario Quebec Quebec North West Territories North West Territories Yukon Yukon New Brunswick New Brunswick Nunavut Nunavut Municipally led models: Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Newfoundland/Labrador Newfoundland/Labrador

5. Regional Land Use Planning in Canada Provincially led models are: required by legislation required by legislation Larger in size/numerous municipalities Larger in size/numerous municipalities created to address local and provincial interests created to address local and provincial interests typically service providers typically service providers typically authorities on land use decisions typically authorities on land use decisions Stable/may not be easily dissolved Stable/may not be easily dissolved Municipally led models are: allowed by legislation allowed by legislation smaller in size/ number of municipalities smaller in size/ number of municipalities typically created to address local issues typically created to address local issues Not necessarily authorities Not necessarily authorities not as stable/may be more easily dissolved not as stable/may be more easily dissolved …What’s the difference?

6. Regional Land Use Planning in Canada Other differences: Quebec/Ontario have a two tier municipality system with different responsibilities (Planning is a higher level function) Quebec/Ontario have a two tier municipality system with different responsibilities (Planning is a higher level function) B.C and parts of Alberta have regional municipalities B.C and parts of Alberta have regional municipalities Manitoba and Alberta have regional plans that provide guidance for regional districts & separate municipalities Manitoba and Alberta have regional plans that provide guidance for regional districts & separate municipalities New Brunswick, North West Territories, Yukon & Nunavut have government established regional land use commissions/boards which have authority over land use New Brunswick, North West Territories, Yukon & Nunavut have government established regional land use commissions/boards which have authority over land use Newfoundland/Labrador, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and PEI have systems that provide for a great deal of flexibility with regards to regional approaches to land use Newfoundland/Labrador, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and PEI have systems that provide for a great deal of flexibility with regards to regional approaches to land use

7. Municipally led model under The Planning and Development Act, 2007 Municipally led model under The Planning and Development Act, 2007 Voluntary with the ability to dissolve Voluntary with the ability to dissolve Requires two or more municipalities Requires two or more municipalities Requires a Planning District to have an Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw Requires a Planning District to have an Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw District may manage services and employ staff District may manage services and employ staff Municipalities may grant certain approving or management authorities to a District Municipalities may grant certain approving or management authorities to a District A District may also become planning authority and/or a subdivision approving authority A District may also become planning authority and/or a subdivision approving authority Regional Land Use Planning In Saskatchewan

8. Purpose of Regional Planning Effective mechanism for municipalities to build community planning capacity and strengthen viability without a loss of autonomy Effective mechanism for municipalities to build community planning capacity and strengthen viability without a loss of autonomy Improve the social, economic and environmental conditions for the partnering municipalities Improve the social, economic and environmental conditions for the partnering municipalities Address land use planning, transportation, utilities, and recreation services between local authorities Address land use planning, transportation, utilities, and recreation services between local authorities Framework for inter-municipal cooperation to co-manage community development Framework for inter-municipal cooperation to co-manage community development Coordinate intermunicipal policies, zoning and decisions Coordinate intermunicipal policies, zoning and decisions Creates a process for inter-municipal cooperation to set policies and undertake joint initiatives Creates a process for inter-municipal cooperation to set policies and undertake joint initiatives

9. Objectives of Regional Planning Strengthen communities Strengthen communities Safeguard public health and safety; Safeguard public health and safety; Ensure integrity and sustainability of municipal infrastructure Ensure integrity and sustainability of municipal infrastructure Safeguard development rights in the community planning process. Safeguard development rights in the community planning process. Provide effective and efficient delivery of municipal planning services; and Provide effective and efficient delivery of municipal planning services; and Create opportunities for inter-municipal/ community based planning Create opportunities for inter-municipal/ community based planning

10. Objectives of Regional Planning Develop a collective approach to land use issues ensuring consistency between municipalities in a region or area Develop a collective approach to land use issues ensuring consistency between municipalities in a region or area Provide opportunities to develop inter-municipal agreements to share resources. Provide opportunities to develop inter-municipal agreements to share resources. Create formalized arrangements useful in addressing existing and future municipal growth management pressures Create formalized arrangements useful in addressing existing and future municipal growth management pressures

11. Increased municipal capacity for planning and administration Increased municipal capacity for planning and administration Orderly growth of urban, rural and fringe areas Orderly growth of urban, rural and fringe areas Coordinated infrastructure Coordinated infrastructure Better economies of scale for services and infrastructure Better economies of scale for services and infrastructure Improved service provision, delivery, diversity and efficiency Improved service provision, delivery, diversity and efficiency Better leverage of provincial and federal grant funding Better leverage of provincial and federal grant funding Develop regional forums for information exchange Develop regional forums for information exchange Benefits of Planning Regionally

12. Regional Planning Requires: Communication Communication Negotiation Negotiation Decisions be made that benefit the region not just individual municipalities Decisions be made that benefit the region not just individual municipalities Political commitment to work with neighbouring municipalities to resolve disputes Political commitment to work with neighbouring municipalities to resolve disputes Planning Regionally Requires

13. Capacity Issues 60% of municipalities have zoning bylaws 60% of municipalities have zoning bylaws 33% have official community plans 33% have official community plans 248 municipalities currently share administrators 248 municipalities currently share administrators For 790 municipalities there are 625 administrators (268 retiring within 10 years) leaving 357 experienced administrators by 2019 For 790 municipalities there are 625 administrators (268 retiring within 10 years) leaving 357 experienced administrators by 2019 35 urban municipalities (over 100) didn’t have a qualified administrator; 10 still do not 35 urban municipalities (over 100) didn’t have a qualified administrator; 10 still do not Why is this the right time?

14. Capacity Issues 137 municipalities are under 100 in population 137 municipalities are under 100 in population 142 municipalities have Councillors which represent less than 20 people 142 municipalities have Councillors which 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 these on subdivision 13,000 calls on planning matters; 50% of these on subdivision 7,200 advisory service calls in the south 7,200 advisory service calls in the south 6,600 advisory and planning calls in the Northern Administrative District 6,600 advisory and planning calls in the Northern Administrative District Why is this the right time?

15. Will Regional Planning Address Municipal Issues? A regional planning framework would address many issues, such as: A regional planning framework would address many issues, such as: Economic development Economic development Municipal bylaw consistency and efficiency Municipal bylaw consistency and efficiency Fiscal restraint Fiscal restraint Environmental Sensitivity Environmental Sensitivity The role of aboriginal people The role of aboriginal people Changing demographics Changing demographics Public opinion and expectations Public opinion and expectations

16. Step One: Gauge 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 Members Community Members Other stakeholders Other stakeholders Affected First Nations, Affected First Nations, Industry Industry Etc. Etc.

17. Step Two: Determining Potential Boundaries and Opportunities Utilizing both: Baseline (Physical) Information, and Baseline (Physical) Information, and Community Engagement Community Engagement to identify potential regional partners. Both are equally important but separate methodologies

18. Baseline Information Municipal boundaries and “Commutersheds” Municipal boundaries and “Commutersheds” Air photos Air photos Regional highways Regional highways Rivers, Lakes and Watersheds Rivers, Lakes and Watersheds Regional Parks Regional Parks School boards School boards Health districts Health districts Emergency response areas Emergency response areas Past and current partnerships Past and current partnerships Existing services and joint servicing opportunities Existing services and joint servicing opportunities Demographics and population Demographics and population

19. Community 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 questions obtain information and ask questions provide input, voice opinions and identify where they feel the region should be provide input, voice opinions and identify where they feel the region should be identify local or intermunicipal service areas and opportunities for recreation, economic markets and ‘commutersheds’. identify local or intermunicipal service areas and opportunities for recreation, economic markets and ‘commutersheds’.

20. Step Three: Approach Potential Partners Invite identified or potential regional partners to discuss: Invite identified or potential regional partners to discuss: participation in area-wide planning participation in area-wide planning economic opportunities economic opportunities servicing and delivery servicing and delivery current and future infrastructure needs current and future infrastructure needs recreation facilities recreation facilities and other areas of interest and other areas of interest

21. Step Four: Determine Joint Goals and Interests Consider: Asset inventories Asset inventories Growth opportunities Growth opportunities Issue identification and needs assessment Issue identification and needs assessment Regional infrastructure and/or servicing opportunities Regional infrastructure and/or servicing opportunities Joint strategic planning Joint strategic planning

22. Step Five: Form an Informal or Formal Regional Body Informal: Intermunicipal Collectives Intermunicipal Collectives Working Groups Working GroupsFormal: Planning Districts Planning Districts District Planning Authorities District Planning Authorities

23. ResponsibilitiesIntermunicipal 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 Collaboration

24. ResponsibilitiesIntermunicipal 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

25. Formal Planning District/Board Overview Board/District Model MembershipPowers/DutiesStaff Planning District (Minimum) Councillors from each municipality Advisory District OCP/Zoning Bylaw Optional Planning District (More fully utilized) Councillors from each municipality First Nations rep Prov Gov’t rep Joint appointments by Municipalities Advisory District 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

26. To Form a Planning District or Authority Retain the services of a Professional Community Planner Retain the services of a Professional Community Planner Prepare: Prepare: A by-law forming a planning district A by-law forming a planning district -requires Ministerial approval A District Official Community Plan and zoning by-laws A District Official Community Plan and zoning by-laws

27. The Official Community Plan Prepared in consultation with an professional Community Planner requires: sustainable current and future land use sustainable current and future land use current and future economic development current and future economic development the general provision of public works the general provision of public works the management of lands that are subject to natural hazards the management of lands that are subject to natural hazards the management of environmentally sensitive lands the management of environmentally sensitive lands source water protection; and source water protection; and the means of implementing the plan the means of implementing the plan

28. The Official Community Plan May also contain: co-ordination of municipal programs co-ordination of municipal programs policy regarding the use of dedicated lands policy regarding the use of dedicated lands concept plans concept plans maps - current or future land use or policy areas maps - current or future land use or policy areas policy relating to the physical, environmental, economic, social or cultural development of the municipality policy relating to the physical, environmental, economic, social or cultural development of the municipality co-ordination of land use and development, future growth patterns and public works with adjacent municipalities co-ordination of land use and development, future growth patterns and public works with adjacent municipalities

29. Summary 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

30. Questions?