This time around, the process to update North Saanich’s Official Community Plan (OCP) is moving along on schedule and without any major meltdowns, according to an update given at the May 6 district council meeting.
The district is currently working through open house engagement sessions with local residents to help develop the new OCP, which will guide future development decisions in the district.
Planning staff told councillors on May 6 that things are going well.
Staff say the primary concern they have heard from residents is about preserving the rural character of the district. In upcoming sessions, staff plan on explaining and “de-mystifying” how some new provincial mandates will effect a new OCP.
These open house sessions have also given residents an opportunity to engage with councillors themselves.
This is a far cry from March of 2023, when a consultant working on the OCP, MODUS Planning, ended its contract with the district citing “a deep sense of distrust” shown by councillors toward the firm. This stalled the process and meant council had to effectively start again.
Since then, the district hired a new planning director, who in turn hired someone to work internally on the OCP.
Public engagement sessions are to continue through the year, getting more and more focused until a draft OCP is created, sometime in the fall.
Then three town halls will be held, with the first scheduled on Nov. 28.
If all continues according to schedule, councillors could see a final draft available for adoption in February of next year.
READ MORE: North Saanich approves new OCP timeline, engagement to start in March
