Official Community Plan Policies

Official Community Plan Policies

Land Use Designation

• Policy LU1.1 Neighbourhood Centres
  • Create a network of neighbourhood-serving, mixed-use centres and encourage new and infill residential and commercial growth
• Policy LU1.4 Diversity of Forms and Uses
  • Support a variety of residential and commercial forms and uses to encourage socio-economic diversity
• Policy 2.1 Residential Character
  • Protect the rural and suburban character of established residential areas located outside of the mixed-use centres by maintaining zoning and development standards that identify detached housing as the priority use, and through the establishment and enforcement of Form and Character Development Permit Areas (See Part 4.)
• Policy LU4.2 Support Walk, Cycling and Transit
  • Encourage higher density and mixed-use development at neighbourhood centres and along major transit corridors to promote walkability, cycling and transit use. Support higher residential density, commercial intensity and reduced parking requirements in areas well served by transit.
• Policy LU4.3 Complete Streets
  • Promote “complete streets” that provide safe and attractive pedestrian and cycling amenities, and are well connected to adjacent areas. Examples of pedestrian and cycling amenities include street trees and landscaping; wide sidewalks with comfortable building enclosure; street furnishings and pedestrian scale lighting; fenestration with transparent glazing; bike racks; and weather protection.
• Policy LU4.4 High-quality Development
  • Promote high-quality design, planning, construction and maintenance of public and private development and infrastructure projects.
• Policy LU4.5 Street-oriented Buildings
  • Encourage street-oriented buildings
• Policy LU5.4 Urban Growth Boundary
  • Maintain the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and continue to direct new urban development and improvements within the boundary.

Transportation

• Policy TR1.1 Multimodal Transportation System
  • Support and encourage the development of View Royal’s pedestrian, cycling, public transit networks as part of an interconnected multimodal transportation system. Roads within View Royal shall be viewed as a “community resource” for the benefit of all users of the road, not just motor vehicle users. New measures to enhance opportunities for walking and cycling will increase their appeal, convenience and safety for all residents. Walking, cycling, bus transit and other alternatives to the motor vehicle will be integrated into the Town’s regulations, plans, budgets, programs and operations.
• Policy TR1.2 Pedestrian Improvements
  • Enhance pedestrian access and movement through the development of a system of sidewalks, multi-use trails and pedestrian paths integrated with public transit in all areas. Improvements should be carried out according the Transportation Master Plan.
• Policy TR1.3 Cycling Infrastructure
  • Promote cycling for commuting, personal transport and recreation purposes through improvements to infrastructure and facilities as identified in the Transportation Master Plan. The inclusion of bicycle parking areas and facilities such as showers, lockers, and change rooms shall be encouraged at commercial, institutional, public, recreational, and multi-family residential development sites.
• Policy TR1.4 Transit Services
  • Promote transit use as a viable alternative to car travel. Advocate for increased transit service and options to meet the diverse needs of the community, including youth, working adults, seniors and people with mobility challenges. Continue to work with BC Transit to improve the level of service to View Royal’s neighbourhoods, particularly in the Thetis Vale area.
• Policy TR3.7 Beautify Streets
  • Beautify the appearance of the major transportation corridors in conjunction with traffic calming.
• Policy TR3.12 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
  • Encourage new developments to install infrastructure that will serve plug-in electric or hybrid vehicles.

Housing

• Policy HS1.1 Range of Housing Types
  • Ensure the policies of this Plan and the regulations of the Zoning Bylaw support a range of housing, including detached homes, small lot subdivisions, apartments, townhouses, secondary suites and other typologies that meet the housing needs of current and future residents. Special consideration will be given to the provision of ground-oriented units in order to accommodate continued demand for family housing. Increasing the number of garden suites, townhomes, small lot detached houses and other housing forms with ground level entries is essential to realizing the Town’s Vision.
• Policy HS1.6 Loss of Rental Housing
  • Where a proposed subdivision of multi-unit residential development would result in the loss of rental housing for low income household or special needs clients, require the applicant to provide a statement outlining what provisions have been made regarding notice and relocation assistance to the tenants.
• Policy HS1.7 Multi-Unit Housing
  • Support the development of multi-unit market housing in conjunction with the provision of public amenities and park space in appropriate locations, including Thetis Cove and the property on the corner of Helmcken Road and Watkiss Way.

Natural Environment, Energy and Climate Change

• Policy NE 1.4 Covenants
  • Continue to use and maintain covenants to permanently protect greenspaces, greenway connections and environmentally sensitive spaces from future development.
• Policy NE1.6 Native Trees and Vegetation
  • Encourage the protection of native trees and vegetation in natural and developed areas.
  • Promote the retention and restoration of native habitat.
  • Actively promote the removal of invasive trees and plants, and the use of native species in private and public landscaping through education, incentives and regulations.
  • Encourage the use of native trees and plants species in all municipal landscaping and public works projects. Exceptions may be allowed for seasonal projects, such as hanging baskets and targeted annual gardens.
  • Enforce the provisions of Town’s Tree Protection Bylaw. A permit is required for cutting down or altering trees of specific species and size.
• Policy NE1.7 Urban Forest
  • Maintain a healthy urban forest be encouraging the retention of trees and ecological features, promoting tree coverage expansion and enhancing wildlife biodiversity.
• Policy NE2.3 Natural Setting
  • Conserve the quiet, natural character of established residential and rural areas. Planning considerations for these areas should include:
  • Protecting open space and greenspace.
  • Mitigating the detrimental impacts of urban development and infrastructure on ecological features.
  • Protecting and enhancing the verges and boulevards of roads as natural spaces, providing shade, shelter, texture and colour, and habitat.
  • Planting hedgerows and groves of trees along roadways to absorb noise and the effects of pollution.
  • Maintaining important public views to natural areas and scenic vistas.
• Policy NE 2.10 Comprehensive Development Zoning
  • Comprehensive Development zoning may be required in areas that require special care in dealing with difficult terrain, preservation of natural features and access challenges. Due regard should be given to maintaining special natural characteristics.
• Policy NE2.11 Urban Growth Boundary
  • Maintain an Urban Growth Boundary to preserve greenspace and habitat outside of the Boundary and encourage more sustainable development settlement patterns within the boundary.

Community Infrastructure and Services