Official Community Plan Review
The Draft OCP is now ready for your review!
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The Draft OCP is now available for public review!
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This is the time to review the Draft OCP - and provide input until March 6, 2022.
We are please to share a Draft OCP for based on input we received from the community, stakeholders and our OCP Advisory Committee.
We want to make it easy for you to understand what the Draft OCP is all about. There are a number of ways to get the highlights or the details!
- Draft Central Saanich Official Community Plan
- Draft OCP overview
- A live information session or a recorded video prepared by staff (register below)
- January 2022, Staff Report to Council
How to Participate:
The District of Central Saanich encourages all residents, stakeholders, organizations, and businesses to share their views on the OCP vision, policies and direction.
1. ONLINE SURVEY: February 1- March 6.
2. VIRTUAL SMALL GROUP INFORMATION SESSIONS:
Staff will host a number of group information sessions during the consultation period.
These sessions will be small groups to enable time for questions, discussion and feedback.
- 1:00-2:00 p.m. here: https://csaanich-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qcumsrjksE9f-GgZX8M9ZzVqp6xI5cTJP
- 3:00-4:00 p.m. - FULL
- 6:00-7:00 p.m. here: https://csaanich-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtdu2trz4sG9UAyUrN0jB3UQVVI8w7PVNq
Register for Fri, Feb 4:
- 1:00-2:00 p.m. here: https://csaanich-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIod-CtqjIuH9YF2XPN1khHx2zzXMSXD6TG
- 3:00-4:00 p.m. here: https://csaanich-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpfuiqrDIiGtNyA9i3gQTuOWL_iXxFFiuu
Register for Sat, Feb 5:
- 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. here: https://csaanich-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsce-qqj8jE9JfOT5jqyzUKnFfS0OaSHEe
- noon-1:00 p.m. here: https://csaanich-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcudeysrzIjGddzGrMae0Z9tpPxs5kk83TQ
3. REQUEST A PRESENTATION (for groups 10 or more):
Our planning staff are available to make virtual short presentations and discuss the OCP at request.To make the most effective use of the opportunity to meet, the following guidelines are encouraged:
- Participate in the survey and information sessions.
- Identify the types of topics and questions you would like to focus on, if you have a special area of interest.
- Presentations and discussions will generally last 40 minutes during the workday.
- Make requests by contacting staff at OCP@CSaanich.ca
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Provide feedback on the draft vision & principles
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Following on initial public engagement (What We Heard Engagement Summary) and research, a draft Community Vision Statement and Fundamental Principles are now published for review and feedback.How to provide feedback
After reviewing the below, please email any comments to OCP@CSaanich.ca.
Staff are also holding in-person sessions outdoors in the community this week if you'd like to talk about the project in person.
Join us
Wednesday, October 6, Brentwood Crossing, 10 am - 1 pm
Friday, October 8, outside Municipal Hall (1903 Mt Newton Cross Road), 10 am - 1 pm
DRAFT COMMUNITY VISION STATEMENT
Central Saanich is a community where residents value our great natural beauty and rolling rural landscapes, and where active agriculture co-exists in harmony with vibrant, compact villages. Located within a growing metropolitan region, Central Saanich maintains rural, small-town character and a strong sense of community pride by neighbourly residents whom welcome diversity.
The District is a leader in climate action, and the natural environment benefits from peninsula-wide collaboration to minimize negative impacts on the environment, our waterways, and marine shorelines.
The built environment supports inclusiveness, vibrancy and active lifestyles, and the road and trail network prioritizes active transportation. A diverse housing stock provides for a range of ages, incomes, and abilities, located within walking distance to services or public transit.
The economy is thriving with a variety of local businesses supported by the community that contribute to Central Saanich's character.
DRAFT FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
The following principles will provide the foundation for the objectives and policies of the OCP:
- Maintain Rural, Small-Town Character
- Manage Growth Carefully
- Demonstrate Climate Leadership
- Protect and Enhance the Environment, Biodiversity and Natural Ecosystems Advance First Nations Truth and Reconciliation
- Support Agriculture and Food Security
- Provide a Range of Housing Opportunities and Protect Housing Affordability Support Local Business and Community Economic Development
- Ensure Mobility and Transportation Systems for All
- Foster a Sense of Community
- Respond to Community Needs
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Discuss community vision statement at outdoor OCP events
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Join Planning staff at an in-person pop-up event to learn about the Official Community Plan Review underway, and how you can get involved.
The pop-ups are an.opportunity to:
- learn about the draft community vision statement
- learn about the themes emerging to date
- provide some initial feedback and have in-person conversations
Wednesday, October 6, 10am - 1pm Brentwood Crossing, 7103 West Saanich Rd
Friday, October 8, 10am - 1pm Municipal Hall parking lot, 1903 Mt Newton Cross Rd
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What We've Heard to Date
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As the second phase of the OCP Review concludes, we would like to summarize what took place.
In phase two, we conducted meetings with stakeholder groups and local First Nations. We hosted public engagement opportunities including, an Emerging Themes Town Hall, a Priorities and Community Character Survey, Community Conversation Workbooks, and a Big Ideas Contest. In addition, we continued to engage with the OCP Advisory Committee through monthly committee meetings, and with committee members and Central Saanich’s Mayor and Council through a Land Use Workshop.
Throughout spring 2021, we met with stakeholder groups, as well as with W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip) Chief and Council and the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. We hosted an Emerging Themes Town Hall open to all community members; a recording of the Town Hall is available on this project site. The Priorities and Community Character Survey was available as were Community Workbooks for small groups to use. The OCP Advisory Committee and Central Saanich’s Mayor and Council participated in a workshop on emerging key topics related to land use.
Through these conversations and survey, we heard about community members’ top priorities for Central Saanich today and in the future.As shown in Figure 1, growth management, agriculture and food security, environmental protection, and parks, trails and recreation access are high priority topics.
When community members think about priorities for today, they lean more towards local business and economic development, and accessing nature and recreation.
When they think about priorities for the future, they lean more towards agriculture and food security, supporting an aging population, and climate and disaster resilience.
Community members hoped for Central Saanich to maintain its rural and small-town character, and especially to retain the quiet and safe nature of the community. They hoped to maintain a balance between agricultural surroundings, compact village life, and the community’s distinction from nearby urban areas. Many hoped Central Saanich would stay lower density, experience a reasonable or lower level of population growth, and maintain its semi-rural infrastructure. Similarly, community members are concerned about balancing new development with Central Saanich’s rural, agricultural community roots. Many are concerned increasing densification will change the sense of community, architectural design, and overall rural and small-town community character. On the other hand, there is concern the high cultural value placed on agriculture and farming has dominated the culture of the peninsula, with a lack of focus and respect for Indigenous heritage and culture. There were suggestions to increase the awareness of Indigenous history and presence in the community, especially through design elements, cultural artifacts like totem poles, educational signage, and naming.
The input from the community was extensive and invaluable. You can read a detailed summary in the OCP Review What We Heard report.
The summary represents a variety of interests and perspectives from across Central Saanich. At the end of each phase of the project, we will continue to update this document with a summary of what we have heard to date.
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Community Conversation Toolkit
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To plan for the future of Central Saanich together, we need to discuss some complex issues, involve people from across the District, and consider many different viewpoints.
This Community Conversation Workbook will help you participate in these important conversations in a more comfortable setting that suits your schedule.
We invite you to host a discussion with your bubble (or a wider group online) Meet outside or hop on a video call with your family, friends, co-workers, classmates, and neighbours (in accordance with public health orders). Or, complete the Workbook on your own.
The thoughts and ideas that you and your group share with us through the Community Conversation Workbooks will help us learn more about the community’s needs and aspirations. They will help us to ensure the OCP:
- reflects current values and priorities;
- addresses current and trending issues; and
- prepares the community for challenges and opportunities that lie ahead
This Workbook will help you and those gathered with you discuss the topics that are most important to you:
- Agriculture and food security
- Growth management, housing and affordability
- Jobs and economic development
- Parks, recreation and open space
- Environmental protection and climate action
- Transportation and mobility
Feel like providing higher-level input at this stage?
Complete the Our Community Map and Our Future activities on pages 5 and 6.
Feel like diving into one or two key topics?
Complete the topic-based activities starting on page 7.
If you’d like to do it all, please do!
- reflects current values and priorities;
Draft OCP and background docs
Videos
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Central Saanich launches OCP review - 2021
Who's Listening
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Central Saanich
Email ocp@csaanich.ca
