Communities

Lillooet offers an attractive rural lifestyle for almost 6,500 people. Residents want to contribute to their communities by participating in land and resource decisions that may affect them. Their aim is to build prosperous communities with stable economies within a healthy environment.

The 2004 Memorandum of Agreement between Lillooet Sub Region Community, Forest Economic Interests and the Province (see Appendix) is intended to maximize the benefits of plan implementation for local communities.

The municipality of Lillooet has a population of around 2,324 and the provincial government is developing several strategies and policies for the region’s economic, tourism and environmental industries.Those strategies are on a long-term base and incorporate the integrity of the working land base, the direct investment to commercial centres, building on existing assets and infrastructure, taxes shared more equally and a certainty for developers. The plans for commercial strategies are based on land use designation changes and development, upgrading of building exteriors, new residential units and additional commercial floor space, as well as development guidelines for existing development permits on constructions and renovations. The industrial strategies include expansion and development of several areas such as North Lillooet, East Lillooet Airport for industrial and residential areas and the encouragement and promotion of agricultural facilities. There are also many housing strategies for improvement and renovation with development of multi-family sites. The tourism strategies include a lot of support from the District of Lillooet that wants to bring the tourism industry to the top for the region with the Gateway Project at the Highway 99 junction and the signage program. Additionally, the LRMP draft identifies new protected areas and special tourism zones where commercial recreation and tourism management are focussed. The draft attempts to reduce conflict between parties and a better management of the industry. Finally, preservation and recreation strategies are promoting and educating the public in wildlife and environmental conservation.Finally, concerning the recreational plan, there is support to expand the REC Center and improve the acces. In conclusion, Lillooet is a region on development in every sector with a major focus on the conservation of the natural and healthy biodiversity that surrounds it.

Source: Advantage Lillooeet

Issues:

  • Citizens, local governments and community groups want to be involved in Crown land and resource decisions that will affect their quality of life.
  • Community interests, as expressed in official community plans, rural land use bylaws and other plans, are not always considered in Crown land and resource decisions.
  • Lack of collaboration between different orders of government can limit opportunities for community expansion or future infrastructure (e.g., solid waste disposal sites, fire halls, utilities).
  • Threats to settlements and infrastructure from fire, floods and slides need to be managed.

Goals:

  • Sustainable, economically healthy and safe communities supported by co-operative Crown land and resource management.
  • Effective communications among all orders of government and community members regarding Crown land management near settled areas.

Objectives Management Direction/Strategies Measures of Success/Targets Intent
1. Manage Crown land and resources in the community- Crown land interface area (see map) in a co-operative manner with consideration of community interests including:

  • public safety;
  • ecological conditions;
  • infrastructure development;
  • economic development;
  • future expansion;
  • sustenance use; and

recreation opportunities

1.1 Involve local governments, First Nations, community organizations, and individuals in Crown land and resource management decisionmaking, particularly in the interface area (see map) Appropriate opportunities for community input into Crown land and resource decision-making (consistent with legislation, regulation and policy)Sharing of resource management information among all orders of governments, community organizations and the public Community and Crown land use plans available for consideration by all orders of government Adequate measures taken to minimize risks to communities from fire, flood, erosion, debris flows, and landslides due to resource development Consideration of community needs for future expansion and infrastructure before provincial reserves or single-use resource designations are established Sustenance and recreation opportunities for local residents continue Infrastructure improvements completed in support of 2010 Olympics
1.2 Facilitate sharing of resource management information among federal, provincial and local governments, First Nations, community organizations and the public, particularly within interface area
1.3 Promote consistent land use and zoning within the interface zone
1.4 Ensure the establishment of provincial reserves and designations for specified resource uses do not arbitrarily preclude future settlement expansion within the settlement land – Crown land interface
1.5 Maintain opportunities for non-forest uses (e.g., agriculture, community infrastructure, recreation and tourism) with consideration to environmental and social values in the vicinity of existing communities and agricultural areas
1.6 Ensure operational plans contain measures that will minimise, as much as practicable, risks from flooding, erosion, debris flows, and landslides to adjacent settlement lands
1.7 Reduce and control potential fire hazards threatening community settlement and infrastructure in the interface area
2. Support community-driven efforts to expand or diversify the local economies (e.g., implementation of the 2004 Memorandum of Agreement)