
Electoral Area C: Discovery Islands – Mainland Inlets Official Community Plan (OCP)
Project Launch
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is pleased to announce that work toward a new Official Community Plan for Electoral Area C is beginning Fall 2024, and we need your input!
What is an Official Community Plan (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 existing OCP linked here:
- Quadra Island Official Community Plan, 2007 (Bylaw No.3050)
- Desolation Sound Rural Land Use Bylaw, 1993 (Bylaw No. 1460)
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.
What content does an OCP contain?
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.
How does the OCP relate to other plans?
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
What is a zoning bylaw?
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.
What is involved in the OCP review process?
Where are we now? Project Phases
We are currently in Phase 1
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.
Upcoming Events
- November 27, 2024 – Quadra Island Community Meeting
- 6 pm to 8 pm – Quadra Community Center
- Display Boards >
Completed Events
- October 16 2024 – Outer Discovery Islands Community Meeting
- Phase 2
- Phase 3
- Phase 4
Questions?
Please contact SRD Planning Services at 250-830-6718 | planning@srd.ca