Picture Sooke: The Final Frame – Completing our Official Community Plan

Thank you for your thoughtful message and for sharing your past work with Council on the concept of tiny home communities. We recognize the growing interest in smaller, more affordable forms of housing, and we appreciate your continued advocacy on this important issue.

At present, the District’s Zoning Bylaw does not specifically permit “tiny homes on wheels.” This has historically been tied to provincial taxation and building code regulations, which classified movable dwellings differently from permanent housing. The Zoning Bylaw does, however, allow for a range of small-scale housing types, including secondary suites, detached small suites (sometimes called “garden suites” or “carriage houses”), duplexes, and other forms of ground-oriented housing, that can achieve many of the same affordability and lifestyle benefits as tiny homes.

To enable tiny home communities specifically, changes would need to be made through the Zoning Bylaw (following adoption of the OCP). That could include defining “tiny home” as a use, clarifying building code and servicing standards, and establishing locations where such communities are appropriate. It’s important to note that the OCP provides the high-level policy framework, and zoning is the tool that regulates the specifics. If the community wishes to see tiny homes considered more formally, that feedback will be noted through this OCP engagement process and can inform future zoning bylaw updates.

Thank you for raising this important concern. The Draft OCP does not promote unlimited growth - it sets a clear growth management framework that directs most new housing and businesses to the Town Centre and within Community Growth Area, where services like sewer, water, and transportation can be provided most efficiently. Growth outside this area is limited by policy, zoning, and, in some cases, the Agricultural Land Reserve.

The OCP also acknowledges the limits imposed by infrastructure capacity and natural hazards. For example:

• Infrastructure: Growth must align with sewer expansion plans, water availability, and transportation improvements, with developers contributing through Development Cost Charges.
• Wildfire risk: Development Permit Areas include requirements for building near steep slopes, riparian areas, and forests. The District is also working with provincial agencies on wildfire readiness, evacuation planning, and fire-resilient community design.
• Climate resilience: Policies throughout the plan link land use with climate adaptation, including wildfire risk reduction and emergency preparedness.

We take evacuation planning seriously. The District recognizes that adding population increases the importance of having effective and efficient evacuation routes and strategies. For this reason, the OCP is closely tied to the Transportation Master Plan and the District’s Emergency Program, so that growth is managed alongside improvements in infrastructure and preparedness, with community safety always in mind.

Thank you for your comment. You are correct - sea level rise is driven by global warming, not rainfall, through thermal expansion of oceans and melting glaciers and ice sheets. The intent on page 25 was to highlight that Sooke faces multiple climate impacts - including wetter winters, more intense storms, and rising sea levels - rather than to suggest that one causes the other. These combined risks are why the Draft OCP includes policies on shoreline protection, flood management, and resilient infrastructure.

Thank you for your comment and for sharing the resource.

The temperature projection on page 25 of the Draft OCP comes from the Climate Atlas of Canada, which provides standardized data for municipalities across the country. That source indicates a median increase of 1.55°C in annual mean temperature for Sooke by 2050, relative to the 1993–2013 baseline.

We recognize that different climate models and scenarios (such as those from the University of Washington’s Pacific Northwest Climate Projection Tool) can show higher levels of warming — particularly under continued high-emissions pathways. 

Your point is important: actual outcomes depend on global greenhouse gas emissions trends, which are still rising. That is why the OCP treats climate projections as minimum baselines and incorporates a strong climate lens throughout the plan, with policies to:

• Reduce community-wide emissions (consistent with the District’s Climate Action Plan target of 50% GHG reduction by 2030).
• Strengthen climate adaptation measures, including shoreline protection, wildfire preparedness, and resilient infrastructure.
• Plan for higher variability and more extreme weather, rather than relying solely on median projections. 

In short, the OCP uses the Climate Atlas data for consistency with other Canadian municipalities, but we acknowledge the uncertainty and the risk that warming may be greater. That’s why the plan emphasizes flexibility, precaution, and proactive action in both mitigation and adaptation policies.

The District agrees that upgrading and expanding infrastructure is essential to support our growing community. The Draft OCP makes this a priority by directing growth to the Community Growth Area and Town Centre, where sewer, water, transportation, and other core services can be provided most efficiently.

A few key examples already underway, planned or recently delivered include:

• Sewer service: The District has recently completed a 50% capacity expansion project at the wastewater treatment plant, providing a foundational first step to support additional sewer connectivity.
• Transportation: The Transportation Master Plan (2020) sets out investments in roads, sidewalks, trails, and transit to improve safety and reduce congestion.
• Parks and facilities: The Parks and Trails Master Plan (2020) guides improvements to green spaces, while new schools and community facilities are generally coordinated with School District 62, SEAPARC, and other partners.
• Utilities and climate resilience: The Climate Action Plan (2022) and subdivision servicing standards address water, energy, and stormwater systems, with a focus on resilience and sustainability.

In short, the OCP ensures that new development contributes to these systems through Development Cost Charges (DCCs) and frontage improvements, while the District continues to seek provincial and federal funding to support major upgrades. The intent is to improve existing infrastructure while adding new capacity in step with community growth.

We hear this concern often. The Draft OCP recognizes that growth and infrastructure must be closely linked. That’s why the plan directs most new housing and businesses to the Town Centre and serviced areas, where sewer, water, and transportation services already exist or can be upgraded efficiently.

The District has also adopted long-term plans - including the Transportation Master Plan (2020), the Parks and Trails Master Plan (2020), and the Climate Action Plan (2022) - to guide investments in roads, sidewalks, trails, transit, and utilities. These plans are integrated with the OCP so that when new development occurs, it contributes to building the infrastructure needed to serve it.

In practice, this means:

• Developers are required to pay for on-site and frontage improvements (roads, sidewalks, utilities) and to contribute Development Cost Charges (DCCs) that fund larger system upgrades.
• The District prioritizes infrastructure improvements in step with growth, for example through the planned extension of sewer service within the Community Growth Area.
• Provincial and federal grants are also pursued to fund major projects, since local taxes and DCCs alone cannot cover the full cost.

So, while growth can feel like it is happening quickly, the OCP and related bylaws are designed to ensure infrastructure is expanded alongside development, not after the fact.

Yes - nature, trees, and green space are central to Sooke’s Draft OCP, even as we implement new provincial housing requirements under Bill 44. The OCP includes strong policies in the Natural Environment (Part 4.2), Parks and Trails (Part 4.3), and Green Building (Part 4.4) sections that require new development to integrate with Sooke’s natural character.

Some of the ways this is addressed:

• Tree retention and planting: The OCP calls for protecting significant trees and encouraging tree planting in new subdivisions to preserve Sooke’s “wild by nature” identity. Street trees are also addressed in the Subdivision and Development Standards (SDS) Bylaw, which requires boulevard trees when new roads are constructed as part of a subdivision or building permit.
• Green space in housing areas: Development Permit Area guidelines require landscaped yards, buffers, and screening to soften density and maintain natural character.
• Innovative practices: The plan encourages sustainable site design such as green roofs, rain gardens, and natural stormwater management.
• Partnership with T’Sou-ke Nation: Policies also recognize Indigenous stewardship practices and support collaboration to integrate cultural and ecological values into land use decisions.

While Bill 44 requires municipalities to allow more small-scale multi-unit housing, the Draft OCP balances this by ensuring growth is focused in the Town Centre and serviced areas, while still requiring green space, tree planting, and climate-friendly design.

We are also watching what other communities, like Saanich, are doing to address similar challenges, and will continue to refine our practices based on lessons learned in the region.

Food security is an important part of The District’s Draft Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 800. The OCP includes a dedicated Agriculture and Food Systems policy section (Part 4.6), which sets directions to protect farmland, support local food production, and strengthen access to healthy and affordable food.

Some of the key ways the draft OCP promotes food security include:

• Protecting the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and limiting urban sprawl to ensure farmland remains available for food production.
• Encouraging community gardens, farmers’ markets, and local food infrastructure to increase access to fresh, local food.
• Supporting climate-resilient farming practices and integrating food systems planning with broader climate goals (consistent with the District’s 2022 Climate Action Plan).
• Promoting collaboration with T’Sou-ke Nation and local farmers to sustain traditional food knowledge and enhance community resilience.

On the second part of your question - the OCP does not create a stand-alone “food sovereignty plan.” Instead, it sets policy directions that support food sovereignty principles: protecting agricultural land, encouraging local production, and recognizing the cultural and ecological importance of food systems. These policies are intended to be implemented through future programs, bylaws, and partnerships (for example, with local food groups or regional initiatives).