City of Courtenay Annual Report 2022

BUSINESS LICENCING Business Licences saw an increase in revenue in 2020 and 2021 as more businesses acquired intermunicipal and intercommunity licences which have higher fees. 2022 saw continued growth in intercommunity licences but a slight drop in revenue from the two previous years. Intermunicipal business licences include both the Town of Comox and City of Courtenay. Intercommunity licences are intended for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions. Participating communities include Campbell River, Comox, Cumberland, Duncan, Lake Cowichan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, North Cowichan, Parksville, Port Alberni, and Qualicum Beach.

BUSINESS LICENCE REVENUE

BUSINESS LICENCES ISSUED

2019 2020 2021 2022

City business licences

1,833 1,124 1,345 1,270

Intercommunity licences

208 203

313 303

400 356

434 310

Intermunicipal licences

PLANNING Hybrid Public Hearings and Meetings

Zoning Bylaw Updates As part of the new Official Community Plan (OCP), changes were incorporated to the Zoning Bylaw. The Zoning Bylaw changes are straightforward implementation policies that will expedite important community goals related to more affordable housing throughout Courtenay, and will support active transportation. Zoning Bylaw changes: 1. Add secondary suites as a permitted use in all traditionally single residential dwelling zones; 2. Establish bike parking requirements for multi-residential dwellings and reduce vehicular parking requirements for multi residential dwellings; and 3. Locate the Development Permit Area guidelines and Temporary Use Permit land use regulatory tools in the Zoning Bylaw from the OCP.

Public hearings and meetings are an important part of the land use planning process. Following months of virtual-only public attendance at hearings and meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new hybrid approach with both in-person and virtual options was developed. A provincial order in September 2021 gave local governments the direct authority to continue holding public meetings virtually, allowing the ability for the City to officially adopt the hybrid method. This "hybrid" approach is now the standard for offering public hearings and meetings and allows more options for members of the public to attend and provide feedback.

PLANNING PERMITS AND APPLICATIONS

2019 2020 2021 2022

Development Permits (including Variances) Rezoning applications Combined OCP and rezoning applications Sidewalk patio permits

29

31

38

36

15

15

9 4

9 2

2

3

4

5

7

3

Sign permits

43 17

42 15

42 19

52 22

Tree cutting permits

City of Courtenay | 2022 Annual Report

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