Municipal boundary extension in British Columbia : procedures and guidelines

• Main Author: Pyplacz, Bonita Marie
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2010
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/24754

This thesis examines the simple municipal boundary extension process in British Columbia to determine how present procedures and guidelines deal with the issues involved. The process 'in action' is documented in a series of varied case studies in order to evaluate the appropriateness of the existing process. The case studies illustrated the practical importance of Official Community Plans, the economic feasibility of service area expansions, the question of irregular municipal boundaries, concern over 'who pays and who benefits', and comparative regional and municipal growth rates as factors in the boundary extension process. Many of these facts are not addressed in the present procedures and guidelines. Recommendations include new procedures and guidelines which reflect the issues brought forward from the process 'in action'. The changes, if implemented, would result in more rational and parallel trends in the demand for services and development and investment policies. Boundary extensions should be part of an on-going planned municipal growth process and not a singular event unrelated to past and future growth and expansions. === Applied Science, Faculty of === Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of === Graduate