Roles and Authorities
>> Special Circumstances>> Indian Reserves>> United States Border>> Pipelines>> Railway Crossings>> Covenants>> Utility Right of Way in Subdivisions>> Authority for Controlled Access Highways>> Authority for Road Closures>> Agricultural Land Commission
These do not apply in the majority of cases. Where applicable, they may add to the time to review the proposal, and the Approving Officer may require addtional approvals prior making a final decision on the application. |
Indian Reserves
Development within Indian Reserves is entirely outside the Ministry's
authority. Roads within Indian Reserves are not public roads as defined
by the Transportation Act and the Ministry's only input would
concern their connection to the public road system. Before approving
their connection to the public road system, the District Development
Technician or District Manager, Transportation must make sure that they
meet the same requirements as other types of access. If a subdivision application is made for land beyond an Indian Reserve
and proposed access is through the reserve, that access must be dedicated
as a highway right of way. Access by easement through the Indian Reserve
does not satisfy Section 9 of BC Regulation 334/79. |
United States BorderWhen a subdivision adjoins the United States border, the Approving
Officer may request the developer to return to the Crown an 18-metre strip
of land along the border. Alternatively, the Approving Officer may consider a covenant
restricting building on the 18-metre strip. There
is no legal requirement to obtain this strip of land; however it is
useful if a right of way is granted along the Canadian side of the border.
The covenant restricting building would facilitate the right of way. Section 5 of the International Boundary Commission Act (Revised Statutes
of Canada 1985, Chapter 1-16) provides that, except with the permission of
the International Boundary Commission, no person shall construct, enlarge
or place any work within three metres (ten feet) of the United States border.
The following constitutes an infraction under the Act:
- erection of billboards or other structures within ten feet of the international
boundary
- reconstruction of a line building or other structure which has suffered
destruction
- additions to structures erected on the international boundary
- interference with boundary monuments
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Pipelines A proposed road in a subdivision plan may cross a gas or oil pipeline.
The Oil and Gas Commission (OGC) has regulatory authority where proposed
subdivisions cross a pipeline, pursuant to the Provincial Pipeline Act
and Regulations. This applies to all pipelines operated wholly within
the Province of British Columbia. The OGC has divided its authority
between the Compliance and Enforcement Branch for pipelines containing a pressure
of 700 kPa or greater and the British Columbia Safety Authority for pipeline
pressures of less than 700 kPa. The OGC does not exercise regulatory
authority over public road crossings of pipelines under provincial jurisdiction. Oil or natural gas pipelines that cross interprovincial or international
boundaries are regulated by the National Energy Board pursuant to the Federal
National Energy Board Act. The Board does not regulate the dedication
of roads over pipelines. The Board regulates the construction of roads
that cross pipelines to ensure compliance with construction standards.
These pipelines can carry oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbons at pressures
of several thousand psi, which require certain construction standards to ensure
safety. Accordingly, the Board has developed the National Energy Board
Pipeline Crossing Regulations, Part I and Part II (the Regulations). These
are contained in the NEB publication “Excavation and Construction near Pipelines”
which can be found at http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/safety/exccon_e.pdf. |
Railway CrossingsRailway Crossings relative to subdivisions are governed by the Railway Act of British Columbia, and by general orders of the Railway Transport Commission. The Approving Officer does not approve the final subdivision plans until
the Ministry receives the agreement from the railway company, or a decision
authorizing the level grade crossing.
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Covenants The Approving Officer may require
a covenant as a condition of approval, or there may already be one or more covenants on the title which must be complied with. The following are some of the
most common cases, but there are others as well:
- A parcel cannot satisfy sewage disposal regulations (with respect
to on-site primary and secondary sewage disposal areas)
- Part of the lands to be subdivided is subject to natural hazards,
including erosion, flooding, landslip or rock fall
- Approval is based either on specific land uses only or on denying
specific land uses
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Utility Right of Way in SubdivisionsIf road dedication takes place over a utility right of way, the utility
as holder of the right must sign the final plan. The applicant is responsible for obtaining
the signature and paying all costs associated with obtaining it. |
Authority
for Controlled Access Highway
Section 48 of the Transportation
Act designates some highways as “Controlled Access Highways”.
These highways may be located anywhere in the
Province. The Ministry of Transportation has zoning, access and subdivision
regulatory roles over the land adjacent to these highways.
The Minister of Transportation regulates subdivisions adjacent to controlled
access highways to minimize the impact of development on safety and traffic flow on these highways. This requirement
applies whether the lots proposed abut the controlled
access highway or only the remainder is adjacent to the highway. The
Ministry of Transportation requires all access to be via a local street or frontage road if at all possible. Under Section 80 of the Land Title Act, the Provincial
Approving Officer is limited to considering the impact of the development
on the controlled access highway where the local government is the subdivision
approving authority. Regulation of these subdivisions by the Provincial
Approving Officer ensures that alternative road access is provided to the subdivision as required
by B. C. Regulation 8/89 of the Land
Title Act. This process ensures that the controlled access highway
will not be compromised by land locking new parcels to the corridor. |
Authority for Road ClosuresRoad closures refer to the cancelling of
highway rights of way, or parts thereof, creating titled land. For highways under provincial jurisdiction, the Ministry
of Transportation administers road closure permits pursuant to Section
60 of the Transportation Act. Often a subdivision plan or reference
plan of consolidation will result in a disposal of land.
If a subdivision proposal includes the closure of an existing highway right of way, that closure is made through a separate process. For information about road closure applications, ask your district development technician.
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Agricultural Land CommissionSubdivision proposals that include land within the Agricultural Land Reserve must meet the
approval of the Agricultural Land Commission in order to receive Preliminary Layout Approval.
The Agricultural Land Commission’s authority and responsibilities for
managing the ALR are found in the Agricultural Land Commission Act
and regulations passed by the provincial legislature and cabinet. The
Commission encourages local governments to adopt plan and bylaw provisions
that are supportive of farm activities and compatible uses in the ALR,
and that recognize the wide range of agricultural values and the economic,
social and environmental contributions of a healthy agricultural sector
to communities and regions.
This authority may be delegated to a regional district. In any case, application is made through the relevant regional district. There is a fee charged for application.
For more information about the Agricultural Land Commission and developing
properties, see the publication ALR
and Community Planning Guidelines. |
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