Reports and Plans

The District of Kitimat maintains a variety of reports and plans. See below for a comprehensive list.

If you cannot find what you are looking for, contact us by email or call 250-632-8900.

 District of Kitimat Council Strategic Plan
 

The Strategic Plan was approved by Mayor and Council on July 4, 2023. The Strategic Plan represents the key priorities that will assist Council in guiding decision making and allocating financial resources and staff time.  You can find a link to the Strategic Plan for 2023-2026 below:
District of Kitimat and Haisla Nation Council Friendship Agreement - gi guáƛap̓ ni (Working together / Helping each other)

Since incorporation in 1953, the District of Kitimat has always sat within the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation.

The District's place within Haisla Territory has not always been well acknowledged, in fact the establishment of Kitimat as a community with strong industrial development took place largely without any effective, or meaningful inclusion.

 

Haisla Nation also was not immune to the hardships faced by Nations across Canada through settlement and policies of assimilation, from community displacement, to the residential schools legacy, and to devastating sickness.

 

Reconciliation, partly, is facing a tough past in a new era of understanding.

The District of Kitimat recognizes the importance of creating a new, stronger relationship with Haisla.

We are proud of recent efforts to work closely with the Haisla Nation in developing a unified vision for the direction of our communities.

 

On Sunday, June 2, 2024, the District of Kitimat and Haisla Nation Council signed a friendship agreement, called gi guáƛap̓ ni.

This document sets the foundation of the work that will continue for years to come between the municipality and the Nation.

 

Annual Reports

The annual report contains financial statements for the year and includes goals and performance by the departments within the District of Kitimat.
Accessibility and Inclusion Plan
The Accessibility Plan was created with the participation and input of the District of Kitimat’s Accessibility and Inclusion Committee which is comprised of 11 community members with diverse abilities, backgrounds and experiences. The District’s senior leaders also reviewed and provided input on the Plan, which was approved by Mayor and Council on February 20, 2024.
BC Transit Future Service Plan 

 

In 2022, BC Transit began the process to develop the BC Transit Future Service Plan (TFSP) for the District of Kitimat's transit service. The TFSP sets out local service priorities and infrastructure priorities for 2023-2028 and beyond. The TFSP was presented and approved in principle by Council at its May 15, 2023 Regular Meeting. 
Business Walk Report
Climate Action

Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan

The District of Kitimat with consultants from Community Energy Association (CEA), approved the development of a Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan.  It is important to note that large industry is not included in this planning, as it is dealt with at a provincial level.   

You can read more about the Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) here.

If you have any further questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to send them via email or call us at 250-632-8900 ext 2239. 

 

Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program

In 2012, Kitimat signed the BC Climate Action Charter, committing to "making progress" towards becoming carbon neutral. Kitimat tracks carbon consumption for municipal operations and, in return, receives a grant from the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP). To date, CARIP funds have been used to support pedestrian improvements, including walkways and downtown wayfinding.
Communications Survey
Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan

 

On June 19, 2023, Council received a presentation on the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan. Council has directed that the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan be back for further consideration at a future Committee of the Whole. 
Downtown Design Guidelines
Downtown Design Guidelines
Downtown Master Plan

Update: 5 February 2021

Thank you to everyone who has participated to date with the draft Downtown Plan and Design Guidelines. Results of the public engagement events from September 2020 have been summarized and presented to Council in the following documents. 

Public Engagement Summary

Next Steps

Staff continue to update the Downtown Plan and the Design Guidelines following Council's discussion and direction coming from the 4 January 2021 Regular Council Meeting.  This page will be updated as the documents evolve and as some items come forward for implementation.  Many of the items to watch for are highlighted and discussed in the Council Report linked above as Next Steps.  Future planning activities, bylaws, and policy updates may allow for public comments as each topic is brought forward.  Notices will be posted in the usual places as they become available.  

More Information

All comments and questions are welcome .  Specific opportunities for comment and input will be available during public engagement events.  For general questions and inquiries please contact Community Planning and Development at the District office, 270 City Centre, call us at 250-632-8900 or planning@kitimat.ca.     

 

Background and Process

District of Kitimat is creating a new vision for development in its downtown core.  A new Downtown Master Plan will update current Downtown Design Guidelines and bring new direction for a vibrant city centre.  The project began in 2018 as an update of Kitimat's Downtown Design Guidelines.  Completed in 1994, current guidelines were intended to make Downtown Kitimat a lively, functional, accessible, and cohesive pedestrian-oriented place.  

Following the events in 2018, District of Kitimat and consultants from MODUS Planning, Design, and Engagement agreed that a new master plan was appropriate to create new vision and design principles for Downtown Kitimat.   

Context

Downtown Kitimat is a 35-hectare mixed-use area in the heart of Kitimat townsite, consisting of three precincts: City Centre, Mountainview Square, and Haisla Centre. Together, these areas form the retail and institutional core of the community, providing a diverse range of commercial and government services—and a mix of housing opportunities—that serve the daily needs of Kitimat and Kitamaat residents.

Kitimat's Official Community Plan (OCP) describes downtown as a fragmented collection of buildings with a strong automobile orientation, spread along a series of pedestrian corridors. Community sentiment suggests that the area could be strengthened through improvements to the pedestrian realm and key focal points as well as form and character of buildings.

Purpose

The new Downtown Master Plan and revised Downtown Design Guidelines will:

  • Refresh the overall vision and design direction for Downtown Kitimat
  • Identify and address current challenges
  • Improve the applicability of the Downtown Design Guidelines with the inclusion of greater detail, stronger language and enhanced visual representation of key ideas
  • Provide clear direction for future development and redevelopment of the downtown
  • Integrate best practices and select precedents in pedestrian-oriented urban design

Key Topics

  • What makes a thriving downtown
  • Sustainability (mixed land uses, neighbourhood commercial, residential density, and housing location)
  • Parking
  • Accessibility and mobility
  • Connections to natural park areas and greenways

Key Questions

  • General
    • What opportunities do you see for downtown Kitimat?
    • What challenges do you experience?
    • What are your favourite places?
    • What places do you feel need improvement?
  • What does a vibrant downtown mean to you?
  • How can we make downtown a more liveable, successful, people-friendly place?

Process Timeline
 How to Get Involved
 September 2020 Engagement

Thank you to everyone who has filled out the online survey regarding the draft Downtown Plan and Design Guidelines.  Survey deadline was at 12 noon on Wednesday, 30 September 2020, and is now closed.  Any outstanding comments may be submitted by email. All comments and surveys will be summarized in a report to Council for consideration.  A summary of results is provided in the Engagement Summary Council Report. 

Videos

To provide you with more context, listen to Edward Porter from MODUS and Michael Von Hausen, who was involved in the first round of engagement back in April 2018, discuss key points of the Downtown Plan:

  

 


Past Events

Update (2 March 2020): Big Moves and Design Principles Presentation

At the Regular Meeting of Kitimat Council on Monday, 2 March 2020, consultants from MODUS Planning, Design, and Engagement presented draft "Big Moves", Vision, and Design Principles that will go into the new Downtown Master Plan. Vision and design principles build from ideas and comments collected from the community, Kitimat Council, and staff over the course of this project.  "Big Moves" is a Structure Plan that brings together results of the downtown parking study, identify potential place for infill development, and proposes several changes to the pattern of Downtown Kitimat.  Structure Plan expands on previous design work for Wakashan Avenue and realigns Tsimshian Boulevard to create a "Main Street".  Plan proposes to celebrate entry points to Downtown Kitimat, convert excess surface parking into opportunities for infill, enhance pedestrian connections, and reinforce hubs of activity.  

Online Survey - Closed on 18 February 2020

Public Open House at the Kitimat Public Library (23 January 2020)

 
Vision and Principles Display Boards 
Vision and Principles Display Boards with Comments

Kitimat Downtown Design Guidelines Update - Workshop and Walking Tour (April 2018)
Presentation
Stay Connected

If you would like to receive emails with updates on this project, please send us an email with "Downtown Master Plan" in the subject line.

All materials to date are available for review at the District of Kitimat reception desk, 270 City Centre, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday excluding statutory holidays. Further inquiries should be directed to District of Kitimat at 250-632-8900.
 Resources

The following documents, maps and other resources are intended to provide information and context for this planning process. We will add new resources to the list below as they are developed or collected:

 
Economic Development Strategic Plan (2023-2029)

In January 2023 Council directed that a five year economic development strategic plan be developed through funding from the Northern Development Initiative Trust Capacity Building Program. In March of 2023, the District engaged with a consultant to undertake developing the plan. Between April and June several engagement exercises took place including in person and virtual workshops and an online survey.  (View Survey Results here).

The Economic Development Strategic Plan (2023-2029) was approved by Council on October 30, 2023 and updated by Council July 15, 2024. 
Finance Department Reports

 

Budgets

The financial plan includes a five year operations and capital budget accompanied by goals and objectives of the District of Kitimat.
Tax Rates
Statement of Financial Information (SOFI)

The statement of financial information includes the financial statement within the annual reports.

 
Household Survey

Kitimat residents have recently expressed concerns about seemingly rapid population growth, increased difficulty finding affordable housing, and widening income disparities between permanent residents and newcomers. There is a sense in the community that these trends are at least partially due to the construction and operations of several major projects in the surrounding region, including the LNG Canada project. Major projects have historically been accompanied by an influx of temporary or “shadow residents” seeking to live and work in nearby communities for some time. The economic and social impacts of an influx of shadow residents have been documented in natural resource-dependent regions in Canada, such as in Northern Alberta (Aylward, 2006). The District of Kitimat wishes to better understand the impacts of these major projects on Kitimat residents.

 

View the District of Kitimat Household Survey: Population, Income, and Housing Estimates report by clicking here.

 
Housing Action Plan and Needs Assessment
Kitimat Age-Friendly Assessment Report and Action Plan
Kitimat Cycle Network Plan
Kitimat Healthcare Professionals Attraction and Retention Strategy Final Report

 

After a meeting held July 13, 2023, of agencies and organizations with an involvement in healthcare, and with rising community concerns about the state of healthcare locally, Council resolved on July 17, 2023:

 

“THAT the District of Kitimat work with the Haisla Nation, the Kitimat Health Advocacy Group, Northern Health Authority and local industry and agencies to develop options and a budget for attraction and retention of healthcare professionals.” (R23-148)

 

A consultant was engaged to lead actioning this resolution. It was determined early in the process that a working group would be necessary to inform the strategy development. From August 2023 to December 2023, the consultant worked with Staff and the Working Group to research and interview key stakeholders in the healthcare sector within Kitimat and the region. The attached final report provides an overview of the process taken to develop this strategy, a look at what other communities have done to address similar challenges and recommendations the District of Kitimat can consider. 

 

 
Kitimat Townsite Report

The 1952 Kitimat Townsite Report is a nine-book set of plans and policies that describes how to build and operate a “civically independent new town”. Clarence S. Stein and his co-authors cover everything from administration to zoning. Detailed plans for future development of Kitimat's townsite and industrial area make this report an invaluable document for Kitimat's past, present and future.

The report's Executive Summary is a must read for anyone interested in local history. A full set of the 1952 Master Plan is available for viewing at Kitimat Museum and Archives.

The report includes maps of the recommended townsite design. Most of the neighbourhoods, greenbelt areas, commercial and industrial centres we know in Kitimat today were laid out in the original plan.

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) honours one community plan each year that has made a significant contribution to national planning heritage. In 2013, the enduring quality of Kitimat's original master plan was recognized with CIP's Vision in Planning Award.
Leisure Services Master Plan
Minette Bay West Concept Plan

Work at Minette Bay West Park is ongoing.

The Minette Bay West Concept Plan was a planning and design exercise adopted by Council in September 2017 for 191 hectares of municipal land on the west side of Minette Bay. This site presents a significant opportunity to provide public access to the ocean, which is a key priority for Kitimat Council. 
 Neighbourhood Development Options Study
 Neighbourhood Development Options Study: Comparative Review, Urban Systems, May 1995
Official Community Plan (OCP)

An OCP is a broad statement of community objectives, goals, and policies with a special emphasis on land use and development. The OCP is also one of the three key documents (budget, five year capital plan and OCP) which guide all Council decisions. Each Council may aslo prepare a strategic plan with a time horizon of one to four years.

Kitimat's 2008 OCP was developed through a collaborative process that included stakeholders, local businesses, community groups, and over 200 residents.

For zoning information, please see Part 9 of the Kitimat Municipal Code.

Poverty Reduction Strategy

On August 22, 2022, the Kitimat Poverty Reduction Strategy was received for information by the District Council.


In March of 2023, Council approved a grant application to the UBCM Poverty Reduction Planning and Action Grant Program Stream 2 to further the 2022 Poverty Reduction Strategy. 
Water Conservation Plan
At the February 22, 2022 Council Meeting, Council adopted the District of Kitimat Water Conservation Plan.
Water Report

Contact Us