1. The areas designated as Rural Schedule F: Land Use Plan contribute significantly to the landscape and create the rural character that is valued by the community. These lands are intended to be retained over the long-term for rural residential uses and, where suitable, agricultural uses.
2. Recognizing there are differences in rural areas, the Rural land use designation includes Rural Forest, Rural Shoreline, or Rural Agriculture as shown on Schedule F: Land Use Plan based on the following criteria:
- a. Rural Forest, areas within a forested landscaped or abutting forested park land creating a wildland urban interface, and often within the Erosion District indicating steep slopes. These areas are valued for their natural ecosystems, wildlife habitat and forested areas.
- b. Rural Shoreline, areas with direct shoreline access on both the east and west side of the peninsula or located on the west side of West Saanich Road. These are areas where existing and future development could impact the marine shoreline and where properties may be subject to marine related impacts of climate change.
- c. Rural Agriculture, varying areas of rural pockets throughout the District that may include areas zoned for Agriculture that are not within the ALR.
3. Discourage subdivision of rural lands and consider increasing the minimum lot area to prevent rural sprawl and increasing pressures on municipal infrastructure designed for low density rural areas.
4. Support the consolidation of rural parcels with adjacent agricultural parcels and including viable farmland into the ALR where land is suitable for farming and not located within an environmentally sensitive area.
5. Recognize the rural landscape can play a significant role in climate action by improving resiliency, carbon sequestration, and supporting natural habitats and biodiversity. Encourage preservation of the natural environment through conservation covenants or other means.
6. Recognize that rural lands can provide opportunity for a broader range of Home Occupation businesses than more dense residential neighbourhoods, and consider amending the Land Use Bylaw Home Occupation regulations with specific consideration for a greater range of Home Occupation uses that may be suitable on rural lands.
7. Continue to provide a lower level of municipal infrastructure services in rural areas to avoid costly and inefficient rural sprawl and to retain rural ambiance. In Rural areas, connecting trails and roadside pathways may be considered as identified in the Active Transportation Plan.
8. Encourage property owners to allow W̱SÁNEĆ Nations to have access to private lands, including shoreline access, for the purpose of traditional harvesting and gathering of plants for food, medicinal, or cultural purposes.
