Email from Laura Webster regarding Official Community Plan
Resident correspondence expressing concern that provincial mandates are overriding the community's vision in the OCP draft.
From: Laura Webster Sent: April 13, 2026 9:58 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Official Community Plan
Mayor and Council Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Ave View Royal, BC V9B 1A6
RE: View Royal 2050 Official Community Plan (OCP) Draft
Dear Mayor and Council,
As a resident of View Royal, I am writing regarding the ongoing update of our Official Community Plan (OCP) and housing strategy. After attending a recent OCP meeting, I was surprised to see that some councillors were voting out of fear of provincial repercussions rather than following the community’s vision. While I understand the immense pressure from the Province of British Columbia to conform to housing targets and mandates, I urge Council not to be afraid of potential provincial repercussions. Instead, I encourage you to prioritize the voices of View Royal residents. As the mayor said during this meeting, and I am paraphrasing, if we are running our town as per the provincial demands, what is the purpose of local government?
One of the changes in this Draft OCP is the change of land use in some areas from Residential to Small Scale Multi Unit Housing. I have concerns regarding the height of buildings proposed in Small Scale Multi Unit Housing land use designated areas and parking requirements for those units. I am concerned that 3 story buildings will negatively impact the character of our quiet residential neighborhoods, obstruct views, and decrease natural light. Reduced parking requirements can lead to street parking on narrow residential streets, increased tension between neighbours and reduced safety for pedestrians and emergency vehicles. The OCP should include mandatory, higher parking minimums for all new multi-unit developments and development approvals should be contingent on providing adequate on-site parking.
This Council was elected to make decisions tailored to our community’s capacity and desires, not to act merely as a branch office of provincial administration. While we recognize the need for housing growth, blanket provincial mandates often overlook local infrastructure limitations, environmental constraints, and the specific needs of our neighborhoods.
Please stand firm in representing your constituents, even if it brings political friction with higher levels of government. True leadership requires courage to defend the community's voice over provincial conformity.
We want a thoughtful, sustainable, and truly community-driven OCP that provides a well-laid out township and a cohesive and desirable living space for everyone. Thank you for your hard work in developing the OCP for our community.
Sincerely,
Laura Webster View Royal, BC