Central Saanich’s new and improved official community plan has been drafted and the district now wants residents to have their say.
The new plan, in the works for two years and molded with input from the community, features new policies designed to improve relationships with First Nations, attack climate change and improve governance, while mapping out future plans and development regions within the municipality.
“The official community plan is the key document for our community,” said Mayor Ryan Windsor. “Your voice matters, and council wants to hear your feedback to help us make informed decisions when we receive the draft OCP this spring.”
The review of the plan started in 2020 and has included meetings with stakeholder groups, the Tsartlip and Tsawout First Nations, public engagement opportunities, and an OCP advisory committee comprised of residents.
The project has tried to align with Sidney and North Saanich, which have been reviewing their OCPs at the same time.
That allowed all three municipalities to consult together with the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council and their staff.
The Central Saanich plan is unchanged when it comes to the urban containment boundary, the overall policy toward land use has not changed and the protection of rural character, small-town charm and protecting agricultural land and farming remain in place.
New features include climate action policies, a longer-term vision for the Keating business district and three areas — Saanichton Village, Dignan Road in Brentwood Bay and the intersection of Keating Cross Road and Central Saanich Road — identified for higher density, multi-unit development to improve housing options.
Community members and stakeholders are invited to join a public online session with district staff to review the document and provide feedback that will be used for the next draft of the plan.
A digital version of the new plan is available at LetsTalkCentralSaanich.ca/OCP.
Online sessions will run between Feb. 3 and 5. A link to pre-register is available on the website. District staff will also meet with groups of 10 and more. Those meetings can be arranged by send an email to [email protected].
A survey will also be available online between Feb. 1 and March 6 for residents to provide feedback.
