Attributions
Creating the materials for this book was not possible without assistance and support I (David Connell) received from many people.
In 2010, I learned I would teaching a fourth-year capstone course on land use planning at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). Students in the course study urban, rural, natural resources, and First Nations planning as part of a Bachelor of Planning degree. After reviewing available textbooks, I did not find one that would meet the needs of the course. The available books tend to focus exclusively on urban planning or only briefly on other types of land uses. None of the books focus on only land use laws and regulations in British Columbia. I decided to create new materials that would cover a breadth of land use planning in the province.
I applied for and received funding to help prepare the new course materials. I am grateful for the initial funding provided by the BC Real Estate Foundation Partnering Fund, with which I hired Roy Neilson, a Student Research Assistant, to conduct research and prepare draft materials.
Initial project team
The following people were members of the project team in 2010.
David Connell, RPP MCIP
Connell is a Professor at UNBC in Ecosystem Science and Management. Connell developed the overall concept for the course materials, designed the structure, and prepared final versions of all materials. Annually, Connell reviews, updates, and revises the materials prior to teaching the land use planning course. Since 2010, he has authored many new materials.
Roy Neilson, RPP MCIP [Contributing author]
Neilson was a senior undergraduate student at UNBC and a member of the project team. Neilson was hired as a Student Research Assistant to support the writing process. Neilson gathered relevant information and prepared early drafts of most of the cases and applications. When looking at the course materials today, we remain impressed with the quality of Neilson’s creativity and insights that provided the foundation for materials that remain relevant many years later.
Kerry Pateman, RPP MCIP
Pateman was a Senior Instructor at UNBC and a member of the project team. Pateman drew upon her many years as a professional planner to ensure that the course materials were accurate and relevant. To the benefit of the whole project, Pateman always emphasised the practical aspects of what we tried to capture in writing.
Richard Krehbiel
Trained in law, Richard taught environmental and aboriginal law courses at UNBC and acted as an informal consultant for the project. The team turned to Rick frequently to explain intricacies of legal terms and to ensure that course materials were presented accurately from a legal perspective.
Contributions to book contents
The teaching materials developed for the land use planning course were developed initially as a team. The materials were first used in the land use planning course in January, 2011. Connell’s continuous review of the materials in preparation to teach means that the current materials, while retaining the original scope and intent of each case study, are now substantially different.
The many contributions people made to each of the chapters and case studies over the years are described below.
Introduction to Land Use Planning
This chapter draws from Connell’s past publications on planning theory, specifically:
- Connell, David J. (2010) “Schools of planning thought: exploring differences through similarities,” International Planning Studies 15(4):269-280. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563475.2010.517286
- Connell, David J. (2009). “Planning and Its Orientation to the Future,” International Planning Studies 14(1):85-98. DOI: 10.1080/13563470902741609
Urban Planning
Case. Prince George: Planning for Low Growth
The case draws heavily from Jason Llewellyn’s Master’s thesis on the historical development of the City of Prince George. Neilson prepared the initial draft. Llewellyn, Pateman, and Dan Milburn contributed as interviewees.
Application. Area-wide Growth Management
The content of this case was inspired by the City’s long-term integrated sustainability plan, which had just been completed. Neilson prepared the initial draft.
Application. Downtown Revitalisation
Llewellyn provides a comprehensive account of the City of Prince George’s historical efforts to develop the downtown area. Neilson developed the focus on regulatory tools and prepared the initial draft.
Application. Urban Fringe
Connell authored this application. The contents draws in part from Connell’s involvement as a member of the public responding to a re-zoning application in the City’s urban fringe.
Application. Rezoning Application
Connell authored this application in consultation with Ed Chanter (retired professional planner). Chanter shared his general knowledge of current planning as well as specific direction on the task assigned to learners. Chanter also provided helpful feedback on the other components of the urban planning case study.
Rural Planning
Case. Crown Lands in the Bulkley Valley
Neilson developed the story about the Town of Smithers and prepared the initial draft. Llewellyn and Raymond Chipeniuk contributed as interviewees.
Application. Access to Rural Subdivision
Neilson identified the application for the driveway access and prepared the initial draft. Llewellyn provided helpful insights about how to interpret the application for the driveway.
The following guest speakers participated in in-class discussions and contributed their professional insights about rural planning and, specifically, about access to rural subdivisions: Tricia Klein, Authorizations Specialist, Crown Lands, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development; Katie Ireland, Provincial Approving Officer, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Natural Resources Planning
Case. Kemess North: Rights, Title, and Subsurface Resources
The Kemess North mining proposal was significant for many reasons outlined in the case. Neilson identified this proposal and environmental assessment as a platform to discuss government-to-government land use planning. An anonymous participant in the Kemess North assessment review contributed as an interviewee.
Application. Joint Planning in Haida Gwaii
Neilson identified Haida Gwaii as an example of government-to-government land use planning.
First Nations Reserve Planning
Case. McLeod Lake Indian Band: An Entrepreneurial Spirit
McLeod Lake Indian Band was developed as a case study because Pateman had extensive experience working with First Nations in Central Interior BC and Lucy Martin, an undergraduate student at UNBC, was a member of the McLeod Lake Indian Band. Several members of the McLeod Lake Indian Band joined us in-class the first time the materials were used.
Application. McLeod Lake Indian Band: Proposal for Development
Neilson identified the Bear Lake Reserve parcel as the subject of the application and created the proposal for development, including the three options. In 2022, Tania Solonas, Land Management Officer, McLeod Lake Indian Band, contributed as a guest speaker, providing additional context and up-to-date information about land use planning.
Agricultural Land Use Planning
Case. Planning for Agriculture: Land, Food, and Community Need
Materials draw from Connell’s research program, including published policy briefs and journal articles.
Application. ALR Exclusion in South Cariboo
Neilson selected the Horse Lake application to the Agricultural Land Commission.
Protected Areas Planning
Case. Ancient Forests of the Upper Fraser River
The case study on the ancient forests of the upper Fraser River watershed is based on Connell’s study of socio-economic benefits of non-timber uses. In turn, Connell’s work draws from the direct and indirect contributions of many people. Two UNBC graduate students also contributed as members of Connell’s research team: Jessica Shapiro studied old-growth forest values and the ancient forest; John Hall studied socio-economic impacts of eco-tourism and the ancient forest. Hugh Perkins and Kathy Juncker were sources of information and inspiration, as well as Save the Cedar League.
Application. Protecting the Ancient Cedars.
Dr. Darwyn Coxson, UNBC, is the author of the three options for areas to increase protection of ancient cedars. We are grateful for his permission to reproduce the three maps. Andrea Somerville, Planning Section Head, Omineca Peace Region, BC Parks, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, contributed as a guest speaker in 2022. In addition to improving our understanding of protection for the ancient forests, Somerville provided important insights about land use planning for protected areas.
Learning Modules
All of the Learning Modules were created after the initial project was completed, with several of the Modules created in conjunction with preparing this book in 2023.
The first Learning Modules were created as products of revising existing case study materials (with attributions described above). These Modules include the following:
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- Regulatory Tools for Managing Growth and Fostering Development
- Downtown Property Developments in the City of Prince George, 2011-2021
- Subsurface Property Rights
- First Nation Reserve Land Tenure Regimes
Connell created the following Learning Modules, often drawing upon Government of BC sources:
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- Property Rights and Land Tenure
- Indigenous Title and Rights
- Theories of Planning
- Regional Growth Strategies
- Regional Land Use Planning
- Approving Officers
- Access to Rural Subdivision: Legal Options
- Coastal GasLink Pipeline Conflict
- Subsurface Property Rights
- First Nation Reserve Land Tenure Regimes
- Strength of Farmland Protection in Canada
- Strength of Farmland Protection in British Columbia
- Loss and Alienation of Farmland
- Parks and other Protected Areas
- Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas
- Old-growth values of the Ancient Forest
- Policy and the Ancient Forests (1994-2010)
Permissions to use materials
As identified in the textbook, various governments and organisations kindly provided permission to use copyrighted materials or confirmed permission to use public materials. For this, we are grateful to the following: Pew Charitable Trusts, The Narwhal, Haida Nation Council, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Agricultural Land Commission, Forest Practices Board, Province of British Columbia, City of Prince George, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Darwyn Coxson, Jessica Shapiro.
Additional support
Glen Thielmann (Teacher, SD57; Pro-D Chair/Fund Admin; Lecturer, UNBC School of Education) and Bill Masich (Teacher SD57) provided initial support and encouragement to focus on secondary education. Thielmann also supported efforts to generate awareness of the book among post-secondary teachers in BC through his role as Pro-D Chair.
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