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District of Tofino Council adopts 'Limits to Growth' policy

New policy intended to secure sufficient water supply in dry summer months
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(Black Press file photo)

District of Tofino Council voted in December to approve the Limits to Growth policy, which aims to ensure a sufficient water supply during the summer months when tourism and dry conditions create a challenge.

The policy is intended to manage development in Tofino over the next five to 10 years, allocating water consumption based on development priorities contained in planning documents such as the Official Community Plan.

It establishes a remaining water capacity of 120 cubic metres a day, with half intended for development led by Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and the other half for non-Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation led development, according to a presentation to council by Alex Lader, senior planner.

“The policy also establishes a mechanism to allocate and track water consumption for new development in the form of a water allocation certificate, or WAC,” Lader said during council's Dec. 10 meeting. “It restricts tourist commercial development and high demand non-residential uses, which we’re defining as anything over 0.6 cubic metres per day, from receiving a WAC.”

The Limits to Growth policy also establishes a standardized method of calculating anticipated water demand based on residential typology (housing types) and operates on a first come first serve basis, according to Lader.

Periodic monitoring and evaluation is an important part of the policy, Lader added, with regular staff policy reviews planned to ensure the intended goals are being achieved. Reviews are planned in six months, one year, two years and fours years.

“I view this as sort of a quasi living document that will respond to shortcomings in the things that we identify need to be updated,” Lader said.

With the council approval, the policy comes into effect immediately.

“I’m confident that we have the benefit of the community and staff and council all at the forefront so we’re gonna do what’s best,” Mayor Dan Law said.



Kevin Forsyth

About the Author: Kevin Forsyth

As a lifelong learner, I enjoy experiencing new cultures and traveled around the world before making Vancouver Island my home.
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