Public Hearings

Public Hearings

The Local Government Act requires that a Public Hearing be held before the Board adopts an amendment to an official community plan bylaw, and some amendments to a zoning bylaw. Public Hearings are held to provide the public with an opportunity to convey their views on proposed land use amendments.

Public Hearings will be streamed live on the RDN website and you may speak at the Public Hearing by phone. Directions to view and/or speak at the meeting by phone are provided below. Anyone unable to attend electronically may attend in person at 6300 Hamond Bay Road in Nanaimo.

Public Hearings are advertised in the local newspaper and online prior to the scheduled Public Hearing. In some instances, Public Notices are also mailed to owners and occupants of surrounding properties and signs are posted on the subject property at least ten days prior to the scheduled Public Hearing.

If you believe that you are affected by a proposed bylaw amendment being considered at a Public Hearing, you may submit written comments prior to, or make a presentation by telephone or in person during a scheduled Public Hearing.

If you would like to participate in the Public Hearing, a comprehensive list of participation methods is provided below.

For more information on upcoming Public Hearings, please visit the RDN Development Applications Page.

I want to...
 

Write to the RDN Board

Email: planning [at] rdn.bc.ca

By mail: to 6300 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 6N2

In person: at the above address, to the mail slot at the main entrance

Written submissions must be received before the close of the Public Hearing. Written submissions received by 4 p.m. the day before the Public Hearing will be posted to the project or application webpage.

Please note, written submissions, including names and addresses, will become part of the public record which includes the submissions being made available for public inspection and on the RDN website.

To Speak at the Meeting

If you wish to speak, dial in by telephone with the following number 1-(778)-907-2071 and enter the Meeting ID and Passcode applicable to the Public Hearing you would like to participate in. Meeting ID and Passcodes are unique to each meeting and can be found on the application's Public Hearing Notice posted on our website and on the RDN Development Applications Page.

Once you have dialed the phone number, entered the Meeting ID and Passcode, you will be admitted into the waiting room until it is your turn to speak. When it is your turn to speak, please make sure you are in a quiet space and turn down or mute the speakers on any device connected to the live video link to avoid audio feedback.

While we can not guarantee that speakers will be called in order, we will do our best to do so and ask that you please be patient as we work our way through the speakers list. Once you have had an opportunity to speak, we ask that you end the call. If you wish to speak again, please feel free to call into the meeting again. This will help staff keep track of who is waiting to speak.

To Access the Live Video Feed and Attend without Speaking
  • go to: https://www.rdn.bc.ca/agendas-minutes-videos
  • on the online calendar, click on the date the Public Hearing is scheduled for
  • click on the Public Hearing you wish to view
  • click on the video link
  • watch and listen to the Public Hearing

Note: The video link is not available until approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the hearing.

There is no need to pre-register to view the live video feed or to be heard. If you have any questions, please call 250-390-6510.


 

Presentations or submissions must be received by the RDN before the Public Hearing is concluded as the Board is not permitted to receive or consider any further submission or information after the conclusion of the Public Hearing.

Speaking Tips for Remote Participants

Limit your comments to the proposed bylaw amendment.  Make sure that you are in a quiet area with no background noise. Ensure that your device is fully charged and that you have access to a charging station should your device need it. Do not put your phone on speakerphone. When it is your turn to speak, the telephone line will become active and you will be permitted an opportunity to speak. Additional instructions may be given by the Chair or staff.

Important Notice

Remote participation will be conducted by telephone only. There is no need to pre-register to view the live video feed or to be heard. If you have any questions, please contact us by telephone or email.

Phone: 250-390-6510

Email: planning [at] rdn.bc.ca