Regional Growth Strategy

About the SLRD Regional Growth Strategy

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw No. 1062, 2008 (RGS) was adopted by the SLRD Board in June 2010. The purpose of a regional growth strategy under the Local Government Act is to "promote human settlement that is socially, economically, and environmentally healthy and that makes efficient use of public facilities and services, land and other resources." Most of BC’s high-growth regions – comprising 83 percent of the population – are using regional growth strategies to manage population change and guide decision-making and collaboration.

The RGS is an initiative of the SLRD and its member communities. It provides a broad policy framework that outlines the common direction for growth and services, with a focus on sustainability and a long-term vision for the quality of life of future generations.

Participating communities:

  • Electoral Area B
  • Electoral Area C
  • Electoral Area D
  • District of Lillooet
  • Village of Pemberton
  • Resort Municipality of Whistler
  • District of Squamish
     

Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw

The Regional Growth Strategy presents a 20-year vision for the region's livability and supports collaboration across jurisdictions through 2038 and beyond. The Regional Growth Strategy sets out goals and strategic directions to guide the region's future growth and provides a land-use framework for planning and action on common social, economic and environmental objectives. Successful implementation of the RGS depends on cooperation between the SLRD and member municipalities, and the ability of local plans, policies and programs to contribute to the regional planning goals identified in the RGS. 

SLRD Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw No. 1062 

 

Regional Growth Strategy Mapping

The RGS Settlement Area Mapping identifies the settlement types and provides the spatial context for growth management strategies. The purpose of this mapping within the RGS is to guide land use and community planning processes by defining long-term urban boundaries where known and assisting in delineating non-settlement areas within the region. As such, there are two main settlement types – Settlement Areas (Urban and Non-Urban) and Non-Settlement Areas. Land use designations fall into these settlement types, as outlined below, and have been mapped to assist in implementing Goal 1 of the RGS. These include:

Settlement Areas

  • Urban Areas – areas designated in Official Community Plans or otherwise identified for existing and future urban growth, including serviced rural residential areas that are contiguous with and functionally part of existing urban areas, but excluding non-settlement areas that have agricultural, environmental, open space, parks and protected areas, hazard lands and other limited use constraints. 
  • Non-Urban Areas – areas designated in Official Community Plans or otherwise identified as Master Planned Community, Rural Community and Serviced Residential settlements and for long-term low-density Rural Residential land uses, excluding areas that have agricultural, environmental, open space, parks and protected areas, hazard lands and other limited-use constraints. 

Non-Settlement Areas  

  • Lands designated as Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), limited use, environmentally sensitive and hazard lands, parks, open space or protected areas, and Crown forest lands, where major settlement development will be discouraged.

The Settlement Area Mapping provides a general guide for a regional settlement pattern that reflects a commitment to compact, complete, sustainable communities.

Regional Growth Strategy Amendments

Information on Regional Growth Strategy amendments, criteria and process is available here: 

Regional Growth Strategy Amendments