Share your feedback on the Official Community Plan Second Draft!

On September 22, 2022, Council received the second draft of the Official Community Plan (OCP). This revised version is based on the public feedback and stakeholder input received to date. Input was received from Council, the OCP Advisory Committee, external referral agencies and the general public. (A summary of input has been compiled in the What We Heard Report, see the comments and/or survey results, see the July 25, 2022 staff report.)

Watch staff present a 13-min overview of the second draft in this video.

How is the second draft of the OCP different?

1. It’s shorter. One of the messages we heard was to make reduce the size and make the document more reader friendly. This has largely been achieved by:

• Removing the advocacy policies, which will instead be used as reference material when Council is developing its Strategic Plan in 2023.
• Removing the ‘Implementation’ section, however retaining the implementation policies in each section.
• Combining numerous policies into one where practical.
• Shortening or removing bulleted lists within policies.
• Removing the ‘History and Context’ section and instead using it to augment information currently on the District’s website.

2. Some policies have changed, these include but are not limited to:

• Agricultural land reserve (ALR) policies:
  1. The policy regarding when ALR subdivision boundary adjustments are supported is removed, with boundary adjustments referenced in the broader policy on subdivision.
  2. The draft OCP reverts back to the blanket “do not support ALR exclusions” policy. Should the District want to consider excluding land from the ALC in support of a major community/infrastructure project and application, the OCP could be amended if needed.
• Land Use Designations:
  1. The change in land use designation near the intersection of Keating Cross Road and Central Saanich Road has been removed due to the time frame for completion of the Keating Flyover and a high level of public concerns regarding traffic impacts, consideration of a change in land use designation should be postponed until traffic flow patterns are re-established following the flyover construction and infrastructure improvements to improve pedestrian/ cycling safety occur in the area.
• Additional policies to support attracting health care services to the community have been incorporated.
• Specific references to third parties were removed unless germane to the policy.
• A requirement was added to the policy supporting moderate and high-density housing along main corridors, including townhouses and apartments up to 4 storeys (where it can be demonstrated that the development is sensitive to the surrounding neighbourhood). The addition notes proposals would require Council approval for amendments to the OCP and the Land Use Bylaw, and require a Development Permit to ensure the form and character is consistent with guidelines and sensitive to the neighbourhood context.

• The updated draft OCP changes the ‘Good Governance’ section to ‘Institutions and Community Services’ with more emphasis on providing services in the community and less emphasis on governance overall.
• The policy regarding the re-alignment of Keating Road when the Butler Pit is exhausted has been removed.

• Numerous edits to improve clarity, readability, or strengthen policies.

Included in the Second Draft are all maps and schedule, and the existing Development Permit Guidelines, which will be updated through a separate project.

See the detailed changes in the OCP Draft Revisions table.

What’s next?

In early in 2023, staff will present Council with a Final draft, containing more imagery, for consideration of first reading. A Public Hearing would be scheduled following First Reading.

Where to Find It:

A Second Draft OCP has been prepared that is available here for viewing/ downloading.

How to Provide Comments:

Please provide comments before FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2022. If you would like to provide comments on the Second Draft OCP, you can do so by:

• Email OCP@csaanich.ca
• Write to Planning Department, Central Saanich Municipal Hall, 1903 Mt Newton Cross Road, Saanichton, BC, V8M 2A9.

Is this the last time I can provide comments?

• Once Council gives First Reading to a Draft OCP there needs to be a Public Hearing for the community an opportunity to provide input directly to Council.
• At this time, we anticipate a Public Hearing will occur in early 2023.

A big thanks to everyone who provided input on the 80% Draft OCP, your input has been invaluable to the project.