Housing
Decisions about where and how to accommodate projected changes in rural population and demographics could affect home prices, neighborhood densities, the range of available housing choices, housing demand, infrastructure costs, and traffic.
Housing in the rural area has traditionally taken the form of the single-family detached dwellings (much of which are moveable dwellings). Demand for other types of housing can increase as household sizes decrease and the number of households without children increase. Many of these households will be interested in non-traditional housing, including smaller lots, secondary suites, and urban alternatives. The rural area is also seeing an increase in the number of aging people, likely to result in a need for better accessibility, wheelchair access, and retirement-oriented homes.
In the market-driven economy, the market should respond to consumer preferences and personal choices. Government roles in housing are largely performed by the Ministry of Housing and Social Development who regulate the industry through the Building Code, landlord/tenant legislation, and the Homeowner Protection Act. BC Housing implements provincial housing policies with programs to assist people with disabilities and create housing supportive of seniors. Northern Health provides assisted living units and administers residential sewage and drinking water requirements. The federal Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation implements federal housing policies, insures mortgages, helps fund affordable housing programs, and conducts research on the industry. The BC Native Housing Corporation delivers social housing programs. Industry associations involved in housing issues include the BC Real Estate Association, BC Seniors Living Association, BC Non-Profit Housing Association, Manufactured Housing Association of BC, and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC, among others.
Role of the Peace River Regional District
The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) influences housing primarily through the enforcement of a building code, implementation of land use regulations, and providing input into the subdivision process. PRRD zoning bylaws regulate secondary suites and additional dwellings, as well as establish densities through minimum parcel sizes. However, PRRD bylaws are subject to superseding legislation like the province’s Agricultural Land Commission Act which currently limits each parcel within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) to one single-family dwelling, one secondary suite, and one manufactured home for use by an owner's immediate family (or farm help). The PRRD has no direct role in social housing, income support, or subsidy programs.
Role of the Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan must include statements and map designations on the approximate location, amount, type and density of residential development required to meet anticipated housing needs. An OCP must also include housing policies respecting affordable housing, rental housing, and special-needs housing. The OCP can address optional issues or concerns that are relevant to the Peace Region.
Visitor Comments
Rolla was first settled in 1912 and within a short period of time, nearly 1/4 section had a homesite. The community grew as did our school, post office, community center, store and other facilities. Since the ALR was created we have been unable to subdivide those beautiful homesites, we are struggling to keep our school, our post office and our store. The result is that our rural community is dying. At one time there were trees around the homesites and fencelines that provided shelter for animals and birds and there were wild berries to pick. There were dugouts for water that frogs lived in and there were flowers for the butterflies and insects. That is all gone thanks to the ALR. Now we are expected to take the best land out of the ALR to line up in rows in urban centres. History tells us that most cities were built on the best soil to provide food for the first settlers. My suggestion is that the ALR be abolished and let the local residents do the planning for our area.