Picture Sooke: Official Community Plan Review

At the March 28, 2022 Regular Council Meeting, Council discussed the next steps for the OCP currently under review and directed staff to bring forward an OCP with the following revised for consideration of first reading at the April 11, 2022 Regular Council meeting:

• in section Section 3.14 Comprehensive Development, change the second bulletin from "consent" to "consult"
• Whiffin Spit land use designation of Community Residential be replaced with Rural Residential and include a Neighbourhood PAre Plan boundary (similar to section 3.15 Billings Spit/Kaltasin Neighbourhood Are Plan).
• Development Permit Are guidelines for the foreshore area, replace "30 m" with "15 m."
• Replace Lot 6, Plan VIP26066 (West Ridge Trails) land use designation of Rural Residential with Community Residential

To receive the meeting agenda by email, sign up here. Attend the April 11th meeting in person at the municipal hall or watch it on our YouTube channel.

At the March 7, 2022 Committee of the Whole/Special Council meeting staff were directed to provide further information on the draft Official Community Plan (OCP) as they relate to the topics raised by the public at that meeting. Staff summarized the comments into themes and provided additional context related to the recommendation to include the policy in the current draft OCP.

The staff report also compares and contrasts the current (2010) OCP and the draft OCP to identify the big changes. The themes discussed include:

• Land Use Designations;
• Shoreline Building Setbacks and;
• Density and how we address housing affordability and diversity in the draft OCP.

Read the staff report in the March 21, 2022 Committee of the Whole Meeting Agenda >>

Watch the meeting recording:

Many thanks to those who attended the Committee of the Whole and Special Council meeting on March 7, 2022.

Recommendations arising from the Committee of the Whole and supported at the Special Council meeting which followed, include:

• THAT Council direct staff to report back on the questions, concerns and public feedback raised at the March 7, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting prior to the OCP open house.
• THAT Council direct staff to schedule an OCP public open house and a subsequent Committee of the Whole to review the findings.

Timelines for these items are being determined.

DIALOG, the District's consultants assisting with the review of the Official Community Plan and staff will present the Official Community Plan Bylaw for discussion at the Committee of the Whole on Monday, March 7th, 2022.

Staff are seeking consideration THAT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RECOMMEND COUNCIL:

1. Introduce and give first reading to the District of Sooke Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 800, 2022;
2. Consider the District of Sooke Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 800, 2022 in conjunction with the Budget and Five-Year Financial Plan;
3. Consider the District of Sooke Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 800, 2022 in conjunction with the Waste Management Plans;
4. Refer the bylaw to all external agencies and partners for comment;
5. Direct staff to report back at a future council meeting(s) on the input and recommend any adjustments to the draft prior to council considering second reading of Bylaw No. 800.

SEE MARCH 7, 2022 MEETING AGENDA >>

A special Council meeting will follow the Committee of the Whole, on the same evening, to consider the committee recommendations.

SEE MARCH 7, 2022 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA >>

On December 15, 2021 the OCP Advisory Committee received a revised Draft OCP. At that meeting, it was resolved for the committee to review the draft and provide final written remarks before the draft OCP would enter the formal, legislated process.

The draft document has been updated based on comments from the committee and will be presented to the Advisory Committee at a public meeting taking place virtually (via MS Teams) on Wednesday, February 16 at 10:00 a.m.

Register to attend the meeting by contacting Corporate Services by noon on Tuesday, February 15th.

Contact Corporate Services:

• Email corp@sooke.ca
• Call 250.642.1634

VIEW FEBRUARY 16 AGENDA & UPDATED DRAFT OCP >>

Dialog, the District's consultants assisting with the review of the Official Community Plan, has prepared the final draft OCP for the OCP Advisory Committee's review.

The new draft incorporates community, committee, and staff input received in the latest round of engagement.

On Wednesday, December 15th, staff will ask the OCP Advisory Committee to receive the revised draft for information. The committee will then take time to review the draft and provide final written remarks before the draft OCP will enter the formal, legislated public process.

The December 15th meeting is open to the public and will take place in the council chamber at municipal hall at 10:00 a.m. Public may comment on any public meeting agenda item in person or by submitting written correspondence to Corporate Services by noon the day before the meeting.

Contact Corporate Services by email at corp@sooke.ca or phone at 250.642.1634.

Related:

• OCP Phase 3 Engagement Summary
• OCP Phase 3 Engagement Summary Appendices

VIEW THE DECEMBER 15 MEETING AGENDA >>

Many thanks to all who provided feedback on the draft OCP. Your feedback is being incorporated into a revised plan.

After further revisions with public feedback incorporated, the OCP Advisory Committee will make a recommendation to Council to proceed with making the Draft Plan into a Bylaw. This specific time of this milestone is not yet known, but it is anticipated to take place in early 2022.

The OCP Bylaw will then come before Council for the first reading (tabling or introduction) and the second reading (discussion in principle and on the content of the OCP Bylaw).

After the second reading, a public hearing on the OCP Bylaw (where the public can provide further feedback) will take place.

Following the public hearing, the OCP Bylaw will proceed to the third reading (final discussion, including any changes made along the way) before adoption.

Discussion forums are available online throughout this phase of engagement, September 14-October 17, 2021.

The Official Community Plan is a big document. We're breaking down topics by common themes residents identified over the last year of engagement and by policy areas so that you can dive into the topics that interest you most.

Instructions:

• Choose a discussion forum that interests you
• Check out the recommended reading materials
• Use the provided questions for discussion, sharing comments and responding to comments from other community members
• Return to the discussion forums at any time during the engagement period to add more comments and see what the community is saying

The discussion forums will close on October 17, 2021.

By participating in a discussion forum, your username will be public. If you feel uncomfortable with sharing your name in the forums, you are welcome to use a pseudonym (pen name) as your username. Your personal information will remain confidential.

Prefer to participate in person?

Stop by at one of these in-person events to learn about the OCP and our community vision, provide input on policies and action items that will bring our vision to life and help prioritize action items.

The draft Official Community Plan (OCP) is available and the public is invited to provide feedback online and through upcoming in-person open house events.

The draft OCP has been shaped by a series of public engagement opportunities over the last 12-months, starting with the development of our community vision – Picture Sooke. This final phase of OCP engagement builds on these conversations and explores a range of topics specific to how our community grows, such as growth management, transportation and safety, greenhouse gas emission reductions, natural areas, community economic development, arts and culture, and recreation and community services.

“Sooke’s draft OCP is the culmination of community participation,” shares Katherine Lesyshen, Senior Planner with the District and Project Manager. “We are really looking forward to checking in with the community and asking if we heard you correctly – do you feel the policy direction and actions captured in this draft will effectively support Sooke’s vision of a small town, with a big heart?” Lesyshen adds.

The OCP provides a policy framework for Council to address issues such as housing, transportation, infrastructure, parks, equity, and the natural environment. Reexamining the OCP allows us to update land uses, mapping and policies to reflect the community’s vision now and into the future.

Public feedback will help refine and finalize the plan which will then be presented into a bylaw early next year.

The public can provide input through online discussion forums at letstalk.sooke.ca/ocp – which will remain open until October 17th or participate at an upcoming open house.

Open House #1:

• Date/time: Saturday, September 18^th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Location: Outdoors at John Phillips Memorial Park and a part of the Celebrate Sooke!
• Note: Drop-in, anytime. No registration is required.

Open House #2:

• Date/time: Thursday, October 7^th, 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Sooke Municipal Hall, Council Chambers, 2205 Otter Point Road
• Note: Indoor event, registration required – register here or call 250.642.1634 to register.

Learn more and participate:

• picturesooke.ca
• Draft Official Community Plan
• Draft OCP Discussion Forums: letstalk.sooke.ca/ocp