Attachment 6: Official Community Plan Policies

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN BYLAW NO. 811, 2011

Relevant Official Community Plan Policies

Policy LU1.5 Land Use Designations [...]

• Mixed Residential – detached homes on small lots, townhouses and low-rise apartments. Up to 3 storeys and a maximum Floor Space Ratio of 1.25 for townhouses; up to four storeys and a maximum Floor Space Ratio of 1.5 for apartments. [...]

Policy LU1.6 Community Amenities Foster the provision of community and neighbourhood amenities associated with new development through the development of amenity density bonus provision in the zoning bylaw or through negotiated Phase Development Agreements.

Policy LU4.2 Support Walking, 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 where practical in terms of physical terrain and street configuration.

Policy LU4.13 Sustainable Structures and Buildings Encourage the design and construction of sustainable and environmentally responsible structures and buildings that reduce demand for services, create less waste, make efficient use of resources and create healthier living environments.

Policy LU5.4 Urban Growth Boundary Maintain the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and continue to direct new urban development and improvements within the boundary.

Policy TR3.9 Sound Attenuation Address existing and potential traffic noise impact, and ensure noise mitigation is considered in new developments.

Policy TR3.12 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Encourage new developments to install infrastructure that will serve plug-in electric or hybrid vehicles.

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 HS1.2 Age in Place Encourage appropriate housing – both market and non-market – for seniors to allow residents to age in place within the View Royal community. This includes promoting the development of accessible and adaptable units that are specifically designed for those with physical constraints and mobility limitations.

Policy HS1.4 Housing Amenity Contributions Ensure that any proposed multi-unit residential development requiring a rezoning provides a “housing amenity” contribution to the Town, which could be directed to the Regional Housing Trust Fund as part of the Town’s annual contribution.

Policy HS1.9 Innovative Approaches Support innovative approaches to creating affordable housing including market rental, cooperatives, co-housing and other forms of shared ownership, mixed market and non-market projects, and public private partnerships.

Policy NE2.5 Ecologically Sensitive and Energy Efficient Design Ensure that all private and public building and infrastructure projects support environmental enhancement practices and the policies contained in this OCP. Encourage development proposals that design “with the land”, and employ best practices for ecological sensitivity and energy efficiency. Planning and design considerations should include:

• Integration of natural features and topography into the planning and design.
• Measures to maximize the amount of greenspace and reduce the development footprint.
• Protection of soil and vegetation during construction.
• Use of native landscaping.
• Energy and water efficient building design.
• Bio-retention, alternative energy and best practices for reducing energy needs, and promoting resource conservation, onsite wastewater management and natural systems.
• Measures to minimize impermeable surface areas.
• Measures to avoid light pollution from artificial lighting and mitigate noise from development, transportation and other human-generated sources.
• Restriction of utilities to underground corridors wherever possible.

Policy NE2.7 Stormwater Discharge Ensure that the discharge of stormwater does not negatively impact adjacent water quality and that there is no increase in stormwater discharges as a result of new development. Encourage innovative design techniques that maximize groundwater recharge.

Policy NE2.10 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 NE4.9 Alternative Transportation In accordance with other sections of this plan, encourage the use of car alternative transportation and support the reduced dependence on private vehicle travel.

Policy IS1.1 Sustainable Development Pattern Plan new infrastructure and services to support compact and sustainable development. Prioritize investments that support new housing, commercial and facility development within the planned Town Centre, Neighbourhood Centres, Community Corridors areas.

Extension into un-serviced areas will only be built in tandem with new development and will be financed by development projects. Extension of services in areas outside the Urban Growth Boundary or for developments that are not in conformance with the policies of this plan will not be supported.

Policy IS1.2 Adequate and Appropriate Infrastructure Ensure that development will only occur if appropriate infrastructure systems (water, wastewater, and sewer) and standards are in place, and designed to the satisfaction of the Town. Work with developers and regional agencies to ensure adequate systems that promote conservation and expand only as necessary to accomplish goals and policies within this plan.

The presence of adequate infrastructure is not in itself a justification for development.

Policy IS1.4 New Development Ensure that new developments utilize best practices for infrastructure design, operations and maintenance. Developers will be required to meet the Town’s standards and should be encouraged to incorporate innovative strategies, such as:

• On-site stormwater management and surface stormwater treatment.
• Underground services.
• Water conservation and wastewater reduction.
• Use of pervious surfaces and permeable landscaping materials.

Policy IS1.5 Comprehensive Drainage Studies Require comprehensive drainage studies that include drainage improvement recommendations and implementation procedures for all major developments.