Draft Official Community Plan for the Electoral Areas (Bylaw 4373) & Ideas Book

ABOUT THE DRAFT OCP FOR THE ELECTORAL AREAS

The CVRD is modernizing the Official Community Plan for the Electoral Areas (OCP Bylaw 4373). The OCP sets out a vision for the electoral areas over the next twenty years. The OCP is nearing completion except for developing the Local Area Plans (Schedule B).

The following draft Schedules were presented to the Electoral Area Services Committee March 19th 2025.

Schedule A – OCP Policies and Objectives

Part One Vision Goals & Equity Framework

Part Two Land Use Designations

Part Three Policies

Appendix I Process and Planning

Appendix II Performance Metrics

Appendix III Methodology

Schedule C – Development Permit Areas Designations and Justifications

Schedule D - Agricultural Land Maps

Schedule E – Fire Protection Maps

Schedule F – First Nations Maps

Schedule G – Growth Containment Boundaries and Growth Areas Maps

Schedule H – Heritage Designation Maps

Schedule J – Sand and Gravel Deposits Maps

Schedule L – Land Use Designations Maps

Schedule M – Marine Area Maps

Schedule O – Floodplain and Dam Maps

Schedule P – Terrestrial Parks Maps

Schedule S – Service Area Maps

Schedule T – Transportation and Major Roads Maps

Schedule U – Development Permit Area Maps

For clarity, Schedule B Local Area Plans are still in development and are not anticipated to be completed until Fall 2025. Schedule B will be adopted as part of the OCP bylaw 4373.

The Draft OCP was referred to 38 agencies and organizations. Eight organizations responded, 3 provided comments (Agricultural Land Commission, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Municipality of North Cowichan). A recent referral response was received by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. Any changes resulting from the comments will be tabled when the next draft version of the OCP is presented to the Electoral Areas Services Committee.

NEXT STEPS

1. Draft OCP Information Meeting mid April to Directors and Advisory Planning Commission members.

2. Second Reading.

3. Public Hearing.

SCOPE OF DRAFT OCP

The scope of Bylaw 4373 includes all nine of the CVRD's electoral areas:

Area A - Mill Bay/Malahat
Area B - Shawnigan Lake
Area C - Cobble Hill
Area D - Cowichan Bay
Area E - Cowichan Station/Sahtlam/Glenora
Area F - Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls
Area G - Saltair
Area H - North Oyster/Diamond
Area I - Youbou/Meade Creek

Watch the 'A Place to Look After' VIDEO for an overview of the electoral areas.

The OCP's framework for organizing land use is called the Transect. Watch the 'Transect' VIDEO for an explanation of how the process helps us develop and inform land use in the CVRD.

DRAFT OCP CONSULTATION & ENGAGEMENT HISTORY

WHAT IS THE IDEAS BOOK?

Ideas from public engagement from 2020 to 2025 have been compiled into an Ideas Book. This is a living document, and ideas will be added after each consultation.

View the Ideas Book here.

WHAT IS A STORY MAP?

The Story Map is a visual representation of some of the key portions of the OCP. It will take you through the different land use designations and what they mean for the CVRD. This tool will help users interact with land use designations and the OCP.

It's an immersive resource where you can click, zoom, and explore the CVRD through maps and graphics - Click Here or on the image below to launch the Story Map.