The Regional District of Fraser Fort-George is preparing to engage residents in Electoral Area G about zoning currently unzoned land around five lakes.
At the board of directors’ Dec. 19 meeting, a report was given by district administration about the work it has done regarding around Summit Lake, Tacheeda Lakes, Kerry Lake, McLeod Lake and Tudyah Lake.
The district is interested in zoning the first 100 meters of land around each of those lakes’ natural boundaries affecting 942.7 hectares — around 9.5 square kilometres. Most of that land is Crown Land, with a few exceptions around Summit Lake and Tacheeda Lakes.
“Zoning the land will, if the land is ever opened for development by the Province, regulate land use and density,” the report said. “As the land is currently unzoned, there are no restrictions to the use or density of development on the subject lands.”
Before carrying out that process, district administration wants to speak with residents about whether they support the idea and are proposing to take three or four months in 2025 to do so.
This will include the opportunity to submit written comments as well as hosting a public meeting. Notice of the meeting will be sent out to approximately 244 properties which are within 200 meters of the lakes involved.
Staff acknowledge that there may not be an existing zoning designation within the district’s bylaws that meet the desires of residents near the lakes and a new one may need to be created.
“However, to begin the engagement process Administration will recommend the Residential/Seasonal 2 (R/S2) zone as a starting point for discussions,” the report said.
“This zone was selected due to the limited number of permitted uses and the remote location of the land proposed to be zoned. R/S2 zone permits Recreation Cabin and Residential-Single Family uses.”
Though the staff report said that the areas involved do not include any First Nation reserve land, they will reach out to McLeod Lake Indian Band, Tsay Keh Dene Nation, West Moberly First Nation, Halfway River First Nation and Doig River First Nation for input and to navigate any of their potential claims on the land.
Director Jerrilyn Kirk (Electoral Area G) noted that when the zoning expansion was last raised at the board, Summit Lake residents reached out with concerns about the proposal.
“We held a meeting with Summit Lake recently and we discussed what had happened and why this was important and it seemed like people had a better understanding,” Kirk said. “Now there will be consultation with First Nations, then there will be consultation with the public, then there will be consultation with the homeowners that will be impacted. There will be lots of consultation before it ever comes to fruition.”
