Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434 - The Island Environment

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Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee         12                                                                  Otober 2020 
Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 434 – Volume 1 (Consolidated) 
 
A.5 THE ISLAND ENVIRONMENT  
 
A.5.1 OBJECTIVES 
 
A.5.1.1 To  recognize the  intrinsic  value  of  our  ecosystems  and that  the  health  of  our  ecosystems  is 
inextricably linked to human health. 
 
A.5.1.2 To  maintain  and  improve  the  quality  of  the  island's  natural  environment.    To  give  particular 
attention  to  the  quality  of  fresh  water  to  sustain  healthy  fish  and  wildlife  habitat  and  for human 
supplies. 
 
A.5.1.3 To identify  and  encourage  protection of those  parts of the  island  that are especially sensitive to 
development, including those Environmentally Sensitive Areas shown on Maps 9 through 12. 
 
A.5.1.4 To protect areas of high biodiversity.  To recognize and  protect  the island's native plant, animal 
and  bird  life.  To  give  particular  attention  to  the  streams,  wetlands  and shorelines of  Salt  Spring 
Island. 
 
A.5.1.5 To   identify   and   encourage   the creation of   a   network   of protected   areas   that   preserve 
representative ecosystems. 
 
A.5.1.6 To encourage sustainable land use practices and adopt best management practices. 
 
A.5.1.7 To secure at  least 30%  of  the  island land  base  for conservation.  To  develop  a  Community 
Greenways system of private and public greenways, some of which may also be associated with 
the island's trail network.  
 
A.5.1.8 To  integrate  the  spirit  and  intent  of  federal  and  provincial  environmental  legislation  and  the 
Agricultural  Land  Commission  Act and  the Farm  Practices  Protection  ("Right  to  Farm")  Act into 
local environmental policies and bylaws. 
 
A.5.1.9 To  support  and  participate  in  the  implementation  of  the  Regional  Green/Blue  Spaces  Strategy 
prepared by the Capital Regional District. 
 
A.5.2 POLICIES 
 
A.5.2.1 The  Local  Trust  Committee  will promote public  education  and  the  encouragement  of  private 
stewardship  to  achieve  the  objectives  of  this  section.    The  Committee  should  make  information 
about   the   natural   environment   widely   available   and   continue   to   provide   assistance   and 
encouragement to those who protect it through mechanisms such as private covenants. 
 
A.5.2.2 The Local Trust Committee should consider rezoning applications from property owners who wish 
to  transfer  their  development  potential  from  areas  identified  as Environmentally  Sensitive  Areas 
or High Biodiversity Areas on Maps 9 through 12.   Additional Environmentally Sensitive Areas or 
High  Biodiversity  Areas  could  be  identified  by  further  study.    Such  specific  areas  should  be 
considered  "Development  Potential Donor Areas",  even  if  they  are  in  a  Designation  that  is 
identified as a Development Potential Receiving Area.  Applications shou

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