Electoral Area C: Discovery Islands – Mainland Inlets Official Community Plan (OCP)

An OCP:

• Communicates a community’s vision, goals, and objectives;
• Reflects the community’s social, environmental, and economic interests over the long term;
• Outlines long term plans for a community; and
• Guides planning and land use management.

The current OCP was adopted in 2007 and the new OCP will need to reflect the needs and vision of the current community and address modern challenges.

See your community’s OCP guiding plans linked here:

• Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (2023)
• Quadra Island Official Community Plan, 2007 (Bylaw No.3050)
• Desolation Sound Rural Land Use Bylaw, 1993 (Bylaw No. 1460)

The ICSP establishes a long-term vision and goals for Electoral Area C giving high level direction to plan for the future. The vision for Electoral Area C is

“Area C is a beautiful coastal area of high ecological diversity and unique communities working to protect the natural environment, mitigate climate change, maintain their rural character and community vitality, and meet diverse community needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.”

Additionally, the Quadra Island OCP, 2007, Bylaw 3050 and the Desolation Sound Rural Land Use Bylaw 1460, 1993 provide historical context and foundational objectives to be explored and validated further.

Community involvement is key to ensure the OCP reflects the ideas and input of the people who live and work in Electoral Area C and speaks to the unique context of local concerns.

In accordance with section 473 of the Local Government Act, an OCP must include statements and maps regarding:

• The approximate location, amount, type, and density of residential development required to meet anticipated housing needs over a period of at least 5 years;
• The approximate location, amount and type of present and proposed commercial, industrial, institutional, agricultural, recreational, and public utility land uses;
• The approximate location and area of sand and gravel deposits that are suitable for future sand and gravel extraction;
• Restrictions on the use of land that is subject to hazardous conditions or that is environmentally sensitive to development;
• The approximate location and phasing of any major road, sewer, and water systems;
• The approximate location and type of present and proposed public facilities, including schools, parks, and waste treatment disposal sites;
• Housing policies of the local government respecting affordable housing, rental housing, and special needs housing; and
• Targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the area covered by the plan, and policies and actions for the local government proposed with respect to achieving those targets.

These land use and infrastructure needs are based on population, dwelling and employment projections that are expected over the time horizon of the plan. The foundational structure of an OCP is expressed as a map with the future land use designations for all lots in the plan area. The land use policy framework in an OCP is guided towards achieving the vision of the future state of the community. Creating a vision provides for Area C residents an opportunity to articulate collectively what it values in its community and to create a shared community identity.

Further optional content in an OCP includes policy statements related to social needs, social well being and social development, maintenance and enhancement of farming, as well as reservation protection, and restoration and enhancement of the natural environment.

The Local Government Act enables regional districts to adopt OCPs. OCPs set the overarching planning framework for the planning area and local area plans. OCPs are informed by a community’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan and Housing Needs Report and are implemented through a Zoning Bylaw. The goals, objectives, and policies of an OCP set the stage and provide broad guidance for future planning and development. OCPs inform future local area plans, such as the Quathiaski Cove Village Plan, and other regulatory documents such as the zoning bylaw. Following the adoption of the OCP, other bylaws undertaken must be consistent with the Plan.  You can think of an OCP like an umbrella that all other plans and studies fall under and must be consistent with.

The OCP is used as a critical planning tool to help make decisions related to:

• Future development
• Housing locations
• Lands to be protected from development
• Protection of development from hazards
• Provision of services for more sustainable development in the next 10 to 15 years

A zoning bylaw assigns zones to land and water within a local government jurisdiction, such as Area C, and specifies what kind of development and activities are permitted within each zone.

For example, zoning may regulate the following on a property:

• Land use (e.g. residential, agricultural, commercial or industrial)
• The number of homes and secondary suites permitted on a property (“density”)
• Maximum size and height of buildings and structures
• Setbacks from lot lines
• Minimum lot size
• Maximum lot coverage
• Home based businesses
• And more.

This phase involves the project initiation and background work being undertaken by staff to prepare for the project as well as raising awareness about the project by inviting the community to learn more about the project and become engaged.

Initial engagement involved a series of community meetings throughout Area C to learn about each community’s topics of interest related to the OCP.

Summary: 

• Outer Discovery Islands Community Meeting | October 16^th 2024
  • Display Boards >
  • What We Heard Summary >

• Quadra Island Community Meeting | November 27^th, 2024
  • Display Boards >
  • What We Heard Summary >
• Community Context Summary Report

• Kids Art Contest
  • As part of the Area C Official Community Plan project, the SRD ran an art contest where children and youth were encouraged to create a piece of art inspired by where they live.
  • This contest has now closed, congratulations to the winners and thank you to all the young artists who entered!
  • View the winners here

• Focus Groups with Community Organizations
  • Does your community group want to meet with us? Email us at planning@srd.ca
• Ongoing engagement with special interest groups and First Nations

• Drafting and revising policies
• Revision and approvals