Official Community Plan (OCP) Highlights
This is a summary of the key goals and objectives of the Official Community Plan, presented in plain language for your convenience. It is not the official, legally binding OCP. You can download the full text of the bylaw and accompanying document — which includes Schedules A, B, and C — from the menu.
Overview
Click on a tile to view a brief summary of the report section. If further interested, click the "read more" button to launch a detail page addressing the section.
Introduction
Our vision for 2030: Inspired by nature, enriched by people
The Official Community Plan (OCP) sets the direction for future growth and change in the District through 2030, as guided by the community's vision.
As a broad policy framework, the OCP guides planning and decision making about the future of our community, and works together with more detailed strategic action and implementation plans, such as corporate and financial plans, our Centres Implementation Plans, the Transportation Plan, the Parks and Open Space Strategic Plan, and others.
Managing growth
We envision that 75-90% of new homes will be located in our town and village centres by 2030
Effectively managing growth and change is one of the key functions of an OCP. Well planned development can provide lasting benefits through the efficient use of land, resources, infrastructure, facilities, and services.
Our objective is to proactively manage growth and change in the District to achieve a compact, efficient, environmentally sustainable, prosperous, and socially equitable community.
Urban structure
We envision that 45% of homes in the District will be attached (apartments, condos, townhouses) by 2030
The OCP establishes a network of connected town and village centres, and directs future growth and renewal to these centers. Each centre supports effective transit, walking, and cycling, promotes healthier living and social interaction, and protects our surrounding green space.
Our objective is to create vibrant and complete communities that provide diverse housing, employment, and recreational opportunities, and offer safe, beautiful, and inclusive environments for residents of all ages.
Employment lands
We envision a 33% increase in built square feet in employment lands by 2030
The development of employment lands should provide for a continued and expanded supply of quality local jobs, enable reduced commuting times and associated greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance the municipality’s prosperity.
Our objective for employment lands is to encourage wealth-generating investment resulting in net new employment and increased tax revenue, which benefits the whole community.
Parks and open spaces
We will continue to exceed the minimum recommended standard for available park space to 2030
Parks and open space provide opportunities for active and passive recreation, places for people to gather, space to relax and experience nature, and linkages between community facilities and other destinations.
Our objective is to provide a variety of year-round recreational experiences, meet the needs of users, and protect the ecological integrity of our natural systems.
Transportation
We envision that 35% of resident trips are by walking, cycling, or transit by 2030
The transportation needs and patterns of the community are changing, with most of our trips now being made for non-work purposes, outside of rush hour, and within the North Shore.
Our objective is to respond to our changing needs and meet our social, economic, and environmental goals by providing greater transportation choice.
Social well-being
We plan to have a community hub facility within easy access of every centre by 2030
We have a critical role to play in making neighbourhoods healthy, vibrant, diverse, and inclusive. Fulfilling this role requires a combination of direct municipal action as well as partnering with various organizations, government agencies, and non-profit service providers.
Our objective is to foster a safe, socially inclusive, and supportive community that enhances the health and well-being of our residents.
Housing
We envision a net increase in rental housing by 2030
Providing more diverse and affordable housing choice is needed for seniors, young singles, couples, and families with children so that a wide mix of ages can thrive together and ensure a healthy, diverse and vibrant community. Emergency, transitional and social housing is also needed to support vulnerable populations.
Our objective is to increase housing choices across the full continuum of housing needs.
Economic development
We envision the District will have 36,000 jobs by 2030
The OCP is a mechanism for creating and enhancing economic opportunity through land use policies that encourage new investment, quality jobs, and increasing tax revenue from the business sector.
Our objective for economic development is to become an increasingly successful, economically viable and dynamic community where existing and potential employers and employees want to be.
Environmental management
We expect to have integrated stormwater management plans for all urbanized watersheds by 2030
Natural areas including our shorelines, rivers, streams, wetlands, and forested mountain slopes make up 70% of the District’s overall land base. These areas provide a spectacular setting and strong identity for our community and also contain ecosystems that provide many functions necessary for our health and the well-being of a wide variety of plants and animals.
Our objective is to protect and improve the ecological health of our natural systems, preserving our rich natural heritage for future generations while enjoying it responsibly today.
Climate action
By 2030, we envision a 33% reduction in community greenhouse gas emissions
The OCP’s network of centres concept establishes an urban structure that will allow people to live closer to jobs, shops, and services which will result in reduced per capita transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Taking other actions to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, improve our energy efficiency, and adapt our infrastructure for changing environmental conditions is good long-term policy.
Our objective is to become a more energy-efficient community that reduces its greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on non-renewable fuels while adapting to climate change.
Infrastructure
We will work to ensure funding accommodates both aging infrastructure and growth
The District owns and operates a wide array of physical infrastructure assets, ranging from civic buildings and facilities (libraries, recreation centres, fire halls, municipal hall) to roads, utilities (water, sewer), and parks and public space improvements.
Our objective is to maintain our municipal infrastructure in good working order to sustain the public health, safety and economic well being of our residents.
Implementing the plan
Targets and indicators measure a number of the OCP’s social, economic, and environmental goals
As a living document that sets a path to the future, it is useful to establish targets to help identify what it is we are striving to achieve in the OCP
For this reason, each section of the OCP highlights refers to a headline target to reflect one significant element. In some cases these targets reflect official regional or provincial figures, and in many cases they represent “stretch” targets that may require further development with the community. In addition to these headline targets, a series of community indicators have also been established.
