Directive Policies from current and proposed Trust Policy Statement

Islands Trust Policy Statement  Directives Policies

from the current Policy Statement, which is at  https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/islands-trust-policy-statement-bylaw-no-17/

b) Policies that Direct Local Trust Committees and Island Municipalities

These policies direct local trust committees and island municipalities to address certain matters in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws. Where a policy requires a local trust committee or island municipality to address a particular matter, the official community plans must contain policies that implement the policy stated by Trust Council, unless the plan sets out explicitly the reasons and justifications for local policies that do not implement that policy. Directive policies commence with the phrase “Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address ....”

Role of Local Trust Committees

As set out in the Islands Trust Act, bylaws of local trust committees cannot be “contrary to or at variance with” the Trust Policy Statement. The Policy Statement contains policies that direct local trust committees to address certain matters in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws. While directive policies identify matters that must be addressed in official community plans and regulatory bylaws, such policies do not stipulate the specific policies and regulations to be included because the social and environmental characteristics of the islands vary. However, where a certain policy requires a local trust committee to address a particular matter, the official community plan must contain policies that implement the policy stated by Trust Council or the plan must set out explicitly the reasons and justifications for local policies that do not do so. Each local trust committee works with its island community to develop policies and regulations to suit local needs, while still supporting the Islands Trust object and the Policy Statement. Local trust committees are not required to comply with any policy in the Policy Statement not stated as a directive policy.

Role of Property Owners, Residents and Visitors

The assistance and cooperation of property owners, residents and visitors is vital to the preservation and protection of the environment and amenities of the Trust Area and the implementation of the Policy Statement. Individuals have the opportunity to participate in local planning and to work with other members of the community and the trustees to develop official community plans and bylaws that address local needs and support the object of the Islands Trust.

THE ISLANDS TRUST OBJECT AND ITS MEANING

The Islands Trust Act provides the following definition of the purpose of the Islands Trust, which is referred to in the legislation as its “object”: “The object of the Trust is to preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the Trust Area and of British Columbia generally, in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, other persons and organizations and the government of British Columbia.”

Table of Contents

POLICIES FOR ECOSYSTEM PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION

3.1 Ecosystems

3.2 Forest Ecosystems

3.3 Freshwater and Wetland Ecosystems and Riparian Zones

3.4. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

POLICIES FOR STEWARDSHIP OF RESOURCES

4.1 Agricultural Land

4.2 Forests

4.3 Wildlife and Vegetation

4.4 Freshwater Resources

4.5 Coastal Areas and Marine Shorelands

4.6 Soils and Other Resources

POLICIES FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

5.1 Aesthetic Qualities

5.2 Growth and Development

5.3 Transportation and Utilities

5.4 Disposal of Waste

5.5 Recreation

5.6 Cultural and Natural Heritage

5.7 Economic Opportunities

5.8 Health and Well-being

 

POLICIES FOR ECOSYSTEM PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION

3.1 Ecosystems

3.1.3 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the identification and protection of the environmentally sensitive areas and significant natural sites, features and landforms in their planning area.

3.1.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the planning, establishment, and maintenance of a network of protected areas that preserve the representative ecosystems of their planning area and maintain their ecological integrity.

3.1.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the regulation of land use and development to restrict emissions to land, air and water to levels not harmful to humans or other species.

3.2 Forest Ecosystems

3.2.2 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the protection of unfragmented forest ecosystems15 within their local planning areas from potentially adverse impacts of growth, development and land-use.

3.3 Freshwater and Wetland Ecosystems and Riparian Zones

Directive Policy 3.3.2 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address means to prevent further loss or degradation of freshwater bodies or watercourses, wetlands and riparian zones and to protect aquatic wildlife.

3.4. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

3.4.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the protection of sensitive coastal areas.

3.4.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the planning for and regulation of development in coastal regions to protect natural coastal processes.

POLICIES FOR STEWARDSHIP OF RESOURCES

4.1 Agricultural Land

4.1.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the identification and preservation of agricultural land for current and future use.

4.1.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the preservation, protection and encouragement of farming, the sustainability of farming, and the relationship of farming to other land uses.

4.1.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the use of adjacent properties to minimize any adverse affects on agricultural land.

4.1.7 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the design of road systems and servicing corridors to avoid agricultural lands unless the need for roads outweighs agricultural considerations, in which case appropriate mitigation measures shall be required to derive a net benefit to agriculture.

4.1.8 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address land uses and activities that support the economic viability of farms without compromising the agriculture capability of agricultural land.

4.1.9 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the use of Crown lands for agricultural leases.

4.2 Forests

4.2.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the need to protect the ecological integrity on a scale of forest stands and landscapes.

4.2.7 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address:

• the retention of large land holdings and parcel sizes for sustainable forestry use, and

• the location and construction of roads, and utility and communication corridors to minimize the fragmentation of forests.

4.2.8 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the designation of forest ecosystem reserves where no extraction will take place to ensure the preservation of native biological diversity.

4.3 Wildlife and Vegetation  no directive policies

4.4 Freshwater Resources

4.4.2 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address measures that ensure:

• neither the density nor intensity of land use is increased in areas which are known to have a problem with the quality or quantity of the supply of freshwater,

• water quality is maintained, and

• existing, anticipated and seasonal demands for water are considered and allowed for.

 

4.4.3 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address measures that ensure water use is not to the detriment of in-stream uses.

4.5 Coastal Areas and Marine Shorelands

4.5.8 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the needs and locations for marine dependent land uses.

4.5.9 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the compatibility of the location, size and nature of marinas with the ecosystems and character of their local planning areas.

4.5.10 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the location of buildings and structures so as to protect public access to, from and along the marine shoreline and minimize impacts on sensitive coastal environments.

4.5.11 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address opportunities for the sharing of facilities such as docks, wharves, floats, jetties, boat houses, board walks and causeways.

4.6 Soils and Other Resources

4.6.3 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in local bylaws relating to soil removal and deposit, address the protection of productive soils.

POLICIES FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

5.1 Aesthetic Qualities

5.1.3 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the protection of views, scenic areas and distinctive features contributing to the overall visual quality and scenic value of the Trust Area.

5.2 Growth and Development

5.2.3 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address policies related to the aesthetic, environmental and social impacts of development.

5.2.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address any potential growth rate and strategies for growth management that ensure that land use is compatible with preservation and protection of the environment, natural amenities, resources and community character.

5.2.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address means for achieving efficient use of the land base without exceeding any density limits defined in their official community plans.

5.2.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the identification of areas hazardous to development, including areas subject to flooding, erosion or slope instability, and strategies to direct development away from such hazards.

5.3 Transportation and Utilities

5.3.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws address the development of a classification system of rural roadways, including scenic or heritage road designations, in recognition of the object of the Islands Trust.

5.3.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the impacts of road location, design, construction and systems.

5.3.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the designation of areas for the landing of emergency helicopters.

5.3.7 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the development of land use patterns that encourage establishment of bicycle paths and other local and inter-community transportation systems that reduce dependency on private automobile use.

5.4 Disposal of Waste

5.4.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the identification of acceptable locations for the disposal of solid waste.

5.5 Recreation

5.5.3 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the prohibition of destination gaming facilities such as casinos and commercial bingo halls.

5.5.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address:

• the location and type of recreational facilities so as not to degrade environmentally sensitive areas, and

• the designation of locations for marinas, boat launches, docks and anchorages so as not to degrade sensitive marine or coastal areas.

5.5.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address:

• the identification of sites providing safe public access to beaches,

• the identification and designation of areas of recreational significance, and

• the designation of locations for community and public boat launches, docks and anchorages.

5.5.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the identification and designation of areas for low impact recreational activities and discourage facilities and opportunities for high impact recreational activities. 5.5.7 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the planning for bicycle, pedestrian and equestrian trail systems.

5.6 Cultural and Natural Heritage

5.6.2 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of local heritage.

5.6.3 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address the preservation and protection of the heritage value and character of historic coastal settlement patterns and remains.

5.7 Economic Opportunities

5.7.2 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address economic opportunities that are compatible with conservation of resources and protection of community character.

5.8 Health and Well-being

5.8.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, address their community’s current and projected housing requirements and the long-term needs for educational, institutional, community and health-related facilities and services, as well as the cultural and recreational facilities and services.

A Checklist of these policies, that accompanies each new bylaw when it goes to the Executive Committee for their approval, is available at the end of the Local Trust Committee Bylaws Checklist policy at     https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/policy-5-7-1-local-trust-committee-bylaws-checklist/   It notes whether the bylaw is consistent, inconsistent (contrary or at variance) or not applicable to each of the policies.

 

 

DRAFT Policy Statement   

https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/draft-new-policy-statement-clean-version-july-2021/

Directive Policies           

b) Directive Policies for Local Trust Committees and Island Municipalities These policies direct local trust committees and island municipalities to include certain types of policies and approaches in their official community plans and bylaws, unless explicit reasons are given to justify not doing so. Directive policies generally commence with the phrase “Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws…” These policies generally strive for a harmonized regional approach while also leaving flexibility for more detailed, locally-appropriate implementation tools and strategies.

Table of Contents

REGIONAL GOVERNANCE

3.1 Regional Governance Policies

ECOSYSTEM PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION

4.1 Environmental Integrity Policies

4.2 Freshwater Stewardship Policies

4.3 Forest Stewardship Policies

4.4 Agricultural Land Stewardship Policies

4.5 Soil and Mineral Stewardship Policies

4.6 Coastal and Marine Stewardship Policies

HERITAGE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION

5.1 Natural, Cultural, and Community Heritage Policies

SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

6.1 Rural Island Planning Policies

6.2 Housing Policies

6.3 Transportation Policies

6.4 Waste Disposal Policies

 

3.1 Regional Governance Policies

3.1.12 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, place priority on the integrity of the environment and Indigenous cultural heritage in all decision-making and limit the rate and scale of growth and development in their planning area. (new, based on Guiding Principles #1 and #4)

3.1.13 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, ground decision-making in the best available area-based mapping, science, social science, local knowledge, and Indigenous ways of knowing. (new, based on Guiding Principle #3)

3.1.14 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in the development and implementation of official community plans and regulatory bylaws, provide opportunities for public engagement and collaboration. (5.8.2)

3.1.15 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, seek meaningful engagement with First Nations and strive to align decisionmaking with the principles of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act that fall within their jurisdiction. (new)

4.1 Environmental Integrity Policies

4.1.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify, establish, and maintain a network of protected areas of sufficient size and distribution to preserve the environmental integrity of ecosystems in their planning area. (3.1.4)

4.1.7 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, and in collaboration with the Islands Trust Conservancy Board, identify, preserve, protect, and support the restoration of the following elements in their planning area, utilizing the best available quantitative and qualitative data, inclusive of Indigenous ways of knowing and community input: (3.1.3)

· sensitive ecosystems (cliff, freshwater, herbaceous, old and mature forest, riparian, wetland, and woodland ecosystems)

· contiguous, unfragmented forests and associated ecosystems

· freshwater networks and groundwater recharge areas

· eelgrass meadows, kelp forests, and forage fish spawning areas

· species and ecosystems at risk

· Indigenous cultivation and harvesting areas such as clam gardens, camas meadows, and other areas as identified by First Nations

4.1.8 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, regulate land use and development to reduce emissions to air, land, and water. (3.1.5)

4.1.9 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify means to reduce climate vulnerability and support climate adaptation measures for ecosystems within their planning area. (new)

4.2 Freshwater Stewardship Policies

4.2.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify means to prevent further loss or degradation of watershed ecosystems, freshwater networks, groundwater recharge areas, and freshwater aquatic species in their planning area. (3.3.2)

4.2.7 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, ensure: (4.4.2)

· that neither the density nor intensity of land use is increased in groundwater regions6 where the quality or quantity of the supply of freshwater is likely to be inadequate or unsustainable;

· that existing, anticipated, and seasonal water demand and supply projections are considered and allowed for; and shall strive to ensure: (4.4.2, 4.4.1)

· that freshwater quality is maintained; and

· that islands are self-sufficient in their supply of freshwater.

4.2.8 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, strive to ensure that freshwater use is not to the detriment of in-stream uses such as: fish and fish habitat uses; Indigenous cultural and spiritual use; aesthetic and recreational uses; and, the maintenance of water quality in lakes, streams, and wetlands. (4.4.3)

4.2.9 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, prohibit new desalination plants in the Trust Area. (new)

4.3 Forest Stewardship Policies

4.3.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, prioritize the environmental integrity of the Trust Area by protecting unfragmented forest ecosystems, on a scale of forest stands and landscapes, from the potentially adverse impacts of growth, development and land use. (3.2.2, 4.2.6)

4.3.7 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, retain large land holdings and parcel sizes to enable sustainable forest harvesting practices and direct the location of roads and utility corridors to minimize the fragmentation of forests. (4.2.7)

4.3.8 Local Trust Committees and Island Municipalities shall, in their Official Community Plans and regulatory bylaws, designate protected forest ecosystem reserves where the preservation of native biodiversity and corridors is especially critical and where there should be no extraction. (4.2.8)

4.4. Agricultural Land Stewardship Policies

4.4.3 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify and preserve appropriate areas for agricultural land to support smallscale, sustainable, regenerative agriculture, while carefully considering downstream impacts, wildlife habitat, and adjacent properties. (4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.6)

4.4.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, direct the location and construction of roads and utility corridors to minimize fragmentation of agricultural lands. (4.1.7 simplified)

4.4.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, encourage sustainable farming and consider land uses and activities that support the economic viability of farms without compromising the agricultural capability of agricultural land. (4.1.5, 4.1.8)

4.5 Soil and Mineral Stewardship Policies

4.5.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their regulatory bylaws related to soil removal and deposit, include policies that foster the preservation, protection, and restoration of productive soils in the Trust Area. (4.6.3) 4.5.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, prohibit the removal or excavation of soil or fill from middens or foreshore areas that have been identified as culturally significant areas. (new)

4.6 Coastal and Marine Stewardship Policies

4.6.8 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify appropriate locations for marine dependent land uses and means to prevent further loss or degradation of coastal and marine ecosystems in their planning area. (3.4.4, 4.5.8)

4.6.9 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, include policies that preserve, protect, and support the restoration of eelgrass meadows, kelp forests, forage fish spawning areas, tidal salt marshes, mud flats, and coastal wetlands, acknowledging their multifaceted roles in supporting carbon capture and storage, soft shoreline protection, and the provision of habitats and spawning areas for coastal and marine aquatic species. (new)

4.6.10 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, direct the location of buildings and structures such that they do not: (4.5.5, 4.5.10)

· adversely impact sensitive coastal and marine ecosystems, naturally occurring stocks of shellfish, eelgrass meadows, kelp forests, forage fish spawning areas, tidal salt marshes, mud flats, coastal wetlands, middens, or archaeological sites;

· interfere with natural coastal processes;

· restrict First Nations’ access to traditional coastal and marine harvesting sites;

· restrict public access to, from, or along the marine shoreline

 

4.6.11 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, direct the location and operation of commercial aquaculture tenures away from: · areas of cultural, spiritual, archaeological, or recreational significance; · areas where an aquaculture operation would conflict with established or designated upland land uses, anchorages or moorages. (new, based on 4.5.6)

4.6.12 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, direct the location, size, and nature of marinas such that they do not compromise the environmental integrity of the coastal and marine environment, Indigenous cultural heritage, or community character in their planning area. (4.5.9)

4.6.13 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify opportunities for the sharing of facilities such as docks, wharves, floats, jetties, boathouses, boardwalks, and causeways. (4.5.11)

4.6.14 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, prohibit new private docks except where properties are boat-access only. (new)

4.6.15 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, consider the current and anticipated impacts of sea level rise and determine shoreline buffers and setbacks accordingly. (new)

4.6.16 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, prohibit the use of seawalls and other hard shoreline armouring in the Trust Area and include policies that foster soft shoreline protection. (new)

5.1 Heritage Preservation and Protection Policies

5.1.3 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify, preserve, protect, and support the restoration of natural heritage sites in their planning area. (new)

5.1.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify, preserve, protect, and support the restoration of Indigenous cultural heritage in their planning area in cooperation with First Nations and other government agencies. (5.6.3)

5.1.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their Official Community Plans and regulatory bylaws, identify, preserve, protect, and support the restoration of local community heritage in their planning area. (5.6.2)

6.1 Rural Island Planning Policies

6.1.8 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, ensure that growth and development, of any scale or for any purpose, is compact, energy-efficient, sustainable, and appropriately situated in order to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and safeguard protected area networks, freshwater sustainability, a healthy marine environment, and Indigenous cultural heritage in the Trust Area. (new)

6.1.9 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, prioritize the protection of tree cover, scenic areas and distinctive features contributing to the overall visual quality and scenic value of the Trust Area. (5.1.3, 5.2.2)

6.1.10 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, include policies related to the aesthetic, environmental, and social impacts of development. (5.2.3)

6.1.11 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, ensure that land use is compatible with preservation and protection of the environment, natural amenities, resources, and community character. (5.2.4)

6.1.12 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, establish appropriate density limits for efficient and sustainable use of the land base that help to safeguard protected area networks, freshwater sustainability, a healthy marine environment, and Indigenous cultural heritage in the Trust Area. (5.2.5)

6.1.13 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify areas hazardous to development, including areas subject to flooding, erosion or slope instability, and strategies to direct development away from such hazards. (5.2.6)

6.1.14 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify appropriate locations, types, and safe public access to:

· recreational facilities;

· bicycle, pedestrian, and equestrian trail systems; and

· community marinas, boat launches, docks, and anchorages that are small scale, sustainable, and that do not compromise the integrity of protected areas, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, Indigenous cultural heritage, or Indigenous access to coastal and marine harvesting areas. (5.5.4-5.5.7)

 

6.1.15 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, prohibit destination gaming facilities such as casinos and commercial bingo halls. (5.5.3)

6.1.16 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, include policies addressing economic opportunities that are compatible with sustainability and protection of community character. (5.7.2)

6.1.17 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, include policies addressing their community’s long-term needs for educational, institutional, community, and health-related facilities and services, as well as cultural and recreational facilities and services. (5.8.6)

6.1.18 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify means to reduce the climate vulnerability of communities, including nature-based solutions and actions that prioritize:

· protection of the carbon capture and storage capacity of natural areas;

· low-carbon housing, buildings, transportation, and agriculture;

· preservation, protection, and restoration of biodiversity;

· freshwater sustainability;

· soft shoreline and foreshore protections; and

· wildfire risk mitigation (new)

6.2 Housing Policies

6.2.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, strive to address housing needs in their planning area by identifying appropriate locations where density increases could support safe, secure, and affordable housing, while safeguarding protected area networks, freshwater sustainability, a healthy marine environment, and Indigenous cultural heritage. (new)

6.2.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify and assess the impacts of short-term rentals of dwellings on the availability of safe, secure, and affordable housing in their planning area and, where necessary, regulate and limit the number of short-term rentals accordingly. (new)

6.2.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify appropriate floor area and lot coverage limits for residential development in their planning area, in order to effectively minimize greenhouse gas emissions, cumulative effects, biodiversity loss, climate vulnerability, and destruction of Indigenous cultural heritage. (new)

6.3 Transportation Policies

6.3.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, foster the establishment of appropriately situated public and active transportation networks, including but not limited to bicycle paths and other local and intercommunity transportation systems that reduce dependency on private automobile use and support a transition to electric vehicle and electric bicycles. (5.3.7)

6.3.5 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, strive to ensure that road location, design, construction, and systems do not adversely impact the integrity of protected area networks, contiguous forests, watershed ecosystems, freshwater networks, groundwater recharge areas, agricultural lands, coastal and marine areas, or Indigenous cultural heritage in the Trust Area. (5.3.5)

6.3.6 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, develop a classification system of rural roadways, including scenic or heritage road designations, in recognition of the Islands Trust Object. (5.3.4)

6.3.7 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify appropriate areas for the landing of emergency helicopters. (5.3.6)

6.4 Waste Disposal Policies

6.4.4 Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory bylaws, identify acceptable locations for the disposal of solid waste. (5.4.4)