Appendix A: Community Profiles

Spanning coastal, forest and agricultural landscapes, communities in the capital region range from seaside towns to rural farms, to suburban and downtown neighbourhoods. This diversity is our strength. Residents can access a variety of lifestyles thanks to the commitments of municipalities and the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area to protect and perpetuate our natural environments and to foster shared regional amenities and resources. This is made possible by our communities working together as a region, creating a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Regional Growth Strategy champions a collaborative approach to realizing our vision and objectives. It supports decision-making that takes a regional perspective while valuing the community characteristics of the 13 local municipalities and the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area.

Community profiles/vision statements are described below.

Central Saanich

The community of Central Saanich, including the Tsartlip and Tsawout First Nations, spans the centre of the Peninsula. The municipality includes the greatest concentration of agricultural production in the region, along with light industrial land, residential areas with rural and suburban character, and compact village centres. In order to maintain rural character and protect the function of natural ecosystems, slow and managed growth is accepted within defined urban settlement areas and outside of rural and agricultural lands. The intensification of high quality knowledge-based and light industrial business and industrial growth is encouraged in the Keating Industrial Area.

Colwood

Colwood will become a more urban community while retaining its exceptional heritage resources and natural areas. Colwood Corners is transformed into an attractive, welcoming town centre. Royal Bay, Olympic View and Colwood Corners have expanded as complete communities. Hatley Park Estate is the home of Royal Roads University and features extensive public open space.

Esquimalt

Esquimalt’s high quality parks and recreation facilities along with its walkability are valuable community assets. Through infrastructure investment and redevelopment, Esquimalt Road will transition into a vibrant, urban environment. It is Esquimalt’s intention to strengthen its commercial/retail sector to service the expanding needs of the community and to market our central location to businesses and high-tech industries. The Esquimalt graving dock and CFB/BFC Esquimalt are an important contributor to the regional economy.

Highlands

The Highlands will continue to preserve large areas of natural green space protecting elements of the regional ecosystem and providing outdoor recreational opportunities for CRD residents and visitors. Lands retained in a natural state preserve diversity of plant and animal life. Development remains primarily residential on rural acreages or large lots, with no role as an area for urban development.

Juan de Fuca Electoral Area

The Juan de Fuca Electoral Area comprises approximately 151,189 hectares or about 61% of the CRD land area. It contains significant provincial, regional and locally controlled parks and trail systems, ecological reserves and the CRD Water Supply area. The Rural Resource Lands comprise approximately 132,000 ha or 83% of land in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area and is primarily Crown Forest or Private Managed Forest Land. These lands are preserved for renewable resource working landscapes, and provide for natural green space and outdoor recreational and eco-tourism opportunities for residents and visitors to the Capital Region. Port Renfrew, a tourism and forestry based community provides for small-lot tourism-oriented urban development. Five small community areas, East Sooke, Otter Point, Malahat, Shirley/Jordan River and Willis Point maintain the rural character while providing rural residential choices.

Langford

The City of Langford has a cohesive town centre with pedestrian areas, commercial districts, and convenient vehicle access, providing a central community focus and an enhanced regional role. An open space system made up of treed areas, lakes and streams links and defines neighbourhoods.

Metchosin

Metchosin is a community of rural character with a choice of rural lifestyles. The vibrant and locally-supported agricultural industry continues to thrive and diversify with a range of products and organic crops. Our natural areas, shorelines, sensitive ecosystems and biodiversity are valued, preserved and protected. There is an expanded system of local and regional parks and natural open spaces linked with multi-use trails, along with improved access to shoreline areas, allowing increased recreational opportunities and fostering active healthy lifestyles. Metchosin village continues to be the community hub and primary commercial centre for local businesses and retailers, with some limited room for expansion. Metchosin’s rural character is an integral component of, and valued contributor to the broader complete regional community.

North Saanich

Situated at the northerly tip of the Saanich Peninsula approximately 27 kilometres north of downtown Victoria, the District of North Saanich is a collection of coastal focused neighbourhoods which surround agricultural lands. The community’s long term development plans are based on the desire of residents to retain rural character and safeguard environmental qualities. The District’s policies reflect a strong commitment to preserve the agricultural land base and agricultural activities in the municipality.

Oak Bay

Oak Bay continues to be a green, landscaped, quiet residential community with a mix of housing types and neighbourhood commercial centres with a special emphasis on heritage preservation. Oak Bay village is a strong shopping area and the historical, cultural, community and business core of the municipality. Public access to waterfront amenities including clean safe beaches is maximized.

Saanich

Environmental integrity is paramount to ensuring social wellbeing and economic vibrancy. Saanich remains a series of community focused neighbourhoods, within an urban containment boundary that clearly separates the urban area from the rural portion of the municipality. This growth framework is based on principles of sustainability and livability. Rural Saanich forms part of the peninsula farm lands. Population increases are managed within the context of the local area planning process, where land use, density and development policies direct growth to “Centres” and “Villages” to build complete communities that encourage diversity of lifestyle, housing, economic and cultural opportunities.

Sidney

Sidney remains the commercial centre for the north Peninsula and the economic competitiveness of Sidney is maintained and enhanced. Commercial/industrial lands are available and there are growing knowledge-based industries. Orientation between the town and the ocean is strong, including enhanced ocean–side amenities.

Sooke

Sooke, located on the Sooke Harbour and Basin, will become a complete, vibrant community with a mix of businesses, affordable housing, services and public open spaces. The highest population densities and commercial growth occur in the Town Centre, serving the growing population base and the surrounding coastal communities. Residential growth will continue within the designated Community Growth Area. Large parcel sizes will maintain the rural ambiance, and limit the development outside the town’s core.

Appendix A: Community Profiles