View Royal 2050: Our Future View Official Community Plan DRAFT

Official Community Plan DRAFT

Territorial Acknowledgement

The Town of View Royal humbly acknowledges that it is situated upon the unceded traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Peoples, known today as the Xʷsepsəm (Esquimalt) and Songhees Nations. We honour and respect the history, languages, ceremonies, and culture of the First Nations peoples, including the Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Nations, as well as the Métis, Inuit, and Non-Status Aboriginal Peoples whose presence and culture enrich the community.

These lands have been stewarded by the lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples since time immemorial, and their connection to the land and waters and Title and rights in these territories remain intact. As a local government, we are settlers and guests on these lands and acknowledge our responsibility to the land, its resources, and its people. We give thanks to the lək̓ʷəŋən People—past, present, and future—for their stewardship, care, and leadership on these lands.

Contents

Part One: The Plan Context (1)

1.0 Plan Overview (2) 1.1 What is an Official Community Plan? (2) 1.2 How We Got Here (5) 1.3 How to Use This Official Community Plan (13) 2.0 View Royal 2050 (16) 2.1 Overview (16) 2.2 Vision (16) 2.3 Goals (17) 2.4 Commitments and Targets (22) 3.0 Reconciliation (23) 3.1 Context (23) 3.2 Xʷsepsəm Nation Today (26) 3.3 Songhees Nation Today (26) 4.0 The History of View Royal (28) 4.1 Colonial Settlement (28) 4.2 Physical Setting (29) 4.3 Community Traits (29)

Part Two: Land Use (30)

5.0 Land Use (31) 5.1 General Framework and Considerations (31) 5.2 Western Gateway Employment District Corridor Designation (45) 5.3 Hospital Transit-Oriented Area Designation (49) 5.4 Neighbourhood Village Designation (52) 5.5 Neighbourhood Centre Designation (54) 5.6 Commercial Designation (56) 5.7 Intensive Mixed Use Designation (58) 5.8 Neighbourhood Mixed Use Designation (59) 5.9 Mixed Residential Designation (62) 5.10 Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Designation (64) 5.11 Residential Designation (67) 5.12 Large Lot Residential Designation (69) 5.13 Rural Designation (70) 5.14 Community Facility Designation (71) 5.15 Parks, Trails and Open Space Designation (72) 5.16 Thetis Cove Special Planning Area Designation (75)

Part Three: Reconciliation (76)

6.0 Reconciliation (77) 6.1 Context (77) 6.2 Objectives (78) 6.3 Policies (78)

Part Four: Policies (80)

7.0 Housing (81) 7.1 Context (81) 7.2 Objectives (83) 7.3 Policies (83) 8.0 Transportation and Mobility (88) 8.1 Context (88) 8.2 Objectives (92) 8.3 Policies (93) 9.0 Community Infrastructure and Services (105) 9.1 Context (105) 9.2 Objectives (110) 9.3 Policies (110) 10.0 Economic Development (114) 10.1 Context (114) 10.2 Objectives (115) 10.3 Policies (116) 11.0 Natural Environment and Hazards (119) 11.1 Context (119) 11.2 Objectives (125) 11.3 Policies (125) 12.0 Climate Action and Sustainability (132) 12.1 Context (132) 12.2 Objectives (133) 12.3 Policies (134) 13.0 Parks, Trails, and Recreation (138) 13.1 Context (138) 13.2 Objectives (140) 13.3 Policies (141) 14.0 Community Well-Being and Culture (145) 14.1 Context (145) 14.2 Objectives (148) 14.3 Policies (149)

Part Five: Implementation (154)

15.0 Action Plan (155) 15.1 Context (155) 15.2 Ongoing Actions (156) 15.3 Short-Term Actions (158) 15.4 Medium-Term Actions (168) 15.5 Long-Term Actions (176) 15.6 Plan Monitoring and Evaluation (179) 16.0 Regional Context Statement (180) 16.1 Context (180) 16.2 Regional Context Statement Alignment (181)

Part Six: Development Permit Areas (195)

Appendix A: Community Profile (239)

Community Profile (240)

Glossary (270)

Table of Maps

• Map 1: Land Use (40)
• Map 2: Agricultural Land Reserve Lands (74)
• Map 3: Corridors (90)
• Map 4: Mobility (91)
• Map 5: Existing Active Transportation Network (97)
• Map 7: Future Pedestrian Network (98)
• Map 6: Future Pedestrian Network (98)
• Map 9: Future Cycling Network (99)
• Map 8: Future Cycling Network (99)
• Map 10: Street Classification (102)
• Map 11: Sewer Servicing System (107)
• Map 12: Stormwater Servicing System (108)
• Map 13: Water Servicing System (109)
• Map 14: Environmentally Sensitive Areas (122)
• Map 15: Species at Risk (123)
• Map 16: Steep Slopes (124)
• Map 17: Parks, Open Spaces, Trails, and Community Facilities (139)

Part One: The Plan Context

1.0 Plan Overview (2) 2.0 View Royal 2050 (16) 3.0 Reconciliation (23) 4.0 The History of View Royal (28)

1.0 Plan Overview

1.1 WHAT IS AN OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN?

This Official Community Plan titled “View Royal 2050: Our Future View" represents the Town’s vision and goals for the coming decades. It is a comprehensive, long-term policy document that guides how the community will grow and respond to key opportunities that arise. The Official Community Plan provides direction for land use decisions and addresses the provision of community services and amenities. This plan will ensure that future changes and growth align with the community’s values and priorities, supporting a sustainable and vibrant View Royal for generations to come.

Typically, all local government master plans, policies, and bylaws are updated following the adoption of a new Official Community Plan to ensure consistency in policy direction across documents. This consistency informs decision-making by Town Council and staff, in addition to priority setting during annual strategic planning and budgeting cycles.

The Official Community Plan is intended to serve as a living document that would be amended from time to time and updated every 5 years to remain relevant as the community evolves and grows. The last comprehensive Official Community Plan review and update occurred in 2011 and much has changed globally, regionally, and locally. This Official Community Plan addresses the context of View Royal in the years 2025 and 2026.

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS

The Local Government Act grants local governments in BC the authority to adopt an Official Community Plan. This legislation outlines what must be discussed in an Official Community Plan, along with other items that a local government may choose to include. It also outlines requirements for public and interest holder consultation, such as provincial agencies, school districts, and Indigenous communities.

In November 2023, the provincial government released legislation requiring municipalities to develop an Interim Housing Needs Report, to identify the 5- and 20-year housing needs projected for the community over the next 20 years and support a subsequent review and update of their Official Community Plans and zoning bylaws by December 31, 2025 to align with the Interim Housing Needs Report. The Town fulfilled its legislative requirements by adopting three new land use designations, including the Hospital Transit-Oriented Area, Neighbourhood Village, and Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing to provide the necessary housing capacity to meet its housing need, and align with zoning bylaw amendments.

The legislation requires that municipalities prepare Housing Needs Reports every five years, and review and update their Official Community Plans and zoning bylaws thereafter. The next Housing Needs Report must be completed by December 31, 2028, and the Official Community Plan and zoning bylaw alignment must be completed in 2030.

SMALL-SCALE, MULTI-UNIT HOUSING AND TRANSIT ORIENTED AREAS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS

In November 2023, the province adopted Bill 44: Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, 2023 and Bill 47: Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Areas) Amendment Act, 2023 to increase the supply of housing and streamline development approvals.

Under Bills 44 and 47, the province mandated municipalities to update zoning bylaws to permit Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH), and designate Transit-Oriented Areas, by June 2024. To satisfy the provincial legislation, the Town amended all existing single-family and duplex zones in the Zoning Bylaw to permit SSMUH, which allows up to 3, 4, or 6 dwelling units, depending on lot size and location in the Town.

The Town also amended the Zoning Bylaw to add a new Transit-Oriented Area designation. The Town’s Transit-Oriented Area is located west of the existing Victoria General Hospital Transit Exchange, which is further discussed in Section 5.3. Higher densities are planned to be accommodated to help provide more housing in this area.

Under Bill 44, a local government must not hold a public hearing on a proposed zoning bylaw if the bylaw is consistent with the Official Community Plan and permits a residential development in which at least half of the gross floor area of all buildings and other structures is residential.

HOUSING TARGET ORDER

Since receiving the Housing Target Order in July 2024, the Town has completed two housing target reports, a third will be completed in the summer of 2026 and reviewed by Council in the fall. At this time, the approximate total number of completed units is 499. The Town is on track to complete its housing target order within the five-year period.

REGIONAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK

As a member municipality within the Capital Regional District, View Royal’s Official Community Plan must be consistent with the Regional Growth Strategy per requirements outlined in the Local Government Act. Conformity to the Regional Growth Strategy is discussed in greater detail in section 16.0 Regional Context Statement.

Planning Framework Diagram:

• PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION leads to REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY.
• REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY leads to OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN.
• OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN is horizontally linked with STRATEGIC PLAN, MASTER PLANS / OTHER PLANS AND STRATEGIES, and FINANCIAL PLAN.
• OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN leads to ZONING BYLAW and OTHER BYLAWS AND POLICIES.

1.2 HOW WE GOT HERE

A SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS

The Official Community Plan update is being carried out in three phases, each phase focusing on specific content in the document. The work completed between January 2025 and the summer of 2026 focused on the completion of the first two phases, with the third phase scheduled for completion in 2027.

PHASE 1: Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 Vision, Land Use, Housing, & Special Planning Areas

PHASE 2: Oct 2025 to Jul 2026 General Policies, Regional Context Statement, & Action/Implementation Strategy

PHASE 3: 2026 to 2027 Development Permit Areas & Guidelines

Phase 1 (January 2025 to December 2025) The first phase focused on establishing a new vision for the Official Community Plan, a foundational element of the document that provides a forward thinking target for where the community envisions it will be in the future. This vision statement is supported by 12 new goals, which act as guiding principles for decision-making.

This phase also required that the Town align its 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report with the Official Community Plan by December 31, 2025, a date established through provincial legislation. The alignment required that the land use map be updated to provide capacity to meet the anticipated 20-year housing need, and to establish housing policies that addressed each of the six key components as part of the standardized Housing Needs Report methodology.

Phase 2 (October 2025 to July 2026) The second phase shifted focus to a review of the nine policy chapters in the Official Community Plan. Each policy chapter is built on a series of objectives, which outline the overall purpose of the policies. The policies inform decision making processes in the Town which aid in development and planning processes, operations, budgeting, and additional plan and policy development.

To support each of the policy chapters, actions were created to clearly identify what is required to achieve desired outcomes, the timing, and which municipal department is responsible.

This phase also required a review and update of the Regional Context Statement, to ensure alignment with the Regional Growth Strategy.

Phase 3 (Fall 2026 to 2027) The final phase will focus on updating Form and Character and Environmental Development Permit Areas and guidelines. In addition, this phase will also consider the opportunity to develop new Development Permit Areas, including hazard areas prone to wildfire and flooding.

A SUMMARY OF ENGAGEMENT

The update of the Official Community Plan has provided multiple engagement touchpoints to inform updates to the Plan. The phased approach outlined above has supported a comprehensive process that balances technical analysis with community feedback to shape a vision, goals, and policies that reflect the needs and aspirations of View Royal residents.

Throughout the process, Council, the Committee of the Whole, and the Town’s Official Community Plan Review Advisory Committee have provided input and perspectives on key issues related to the Official Community Plan update. Together, they have participated at key milestones by reviewing draft materials, sharing community insights, and providing feedback on engagement activities, and emerging policy directions.

Official Community Plan Review Advisory Committee: A group of community members appointed by Council to assist with the review and provide feedback on draft content and engagement material.

ENGAGEMENT BY THE NUMBERS

Across these engagement touchpoints, residents participated through surveys, open houses, workshops, pop ups, and stakeholder meetings. Feedback from each phase was summarized in What We Heard Reports and shared with Council and the Official Community Plan Advisory Committee to help inform the evolving draft, which is a reflection of the cumulative input received through each stage of engagement.

The draft Official Community Plan reflects five rounds of community engagement, each focused on a different component of the Plan. While participation levels varied between engagement phases, feedback received was considered alongside technical studies, legislative requirements, and Council feedback.

• 8 Pop-up events
• 6 Open houses
• 6 Workshops
• 2,110 Video views
• Project website: engage.viewroyal.ca
  • 3,452 Unique visitors
  • 6,681 Views
  • 181 People on the mailing list
• 199 Social media posts
• 17 Presentations to Council / Committee of the Whole
• 6 Stakeholder emails
• 12 Subscriber email campaigns
• 7 OCP Advisory Committee Meetings
• 540 Survey responses
• 86 Youth survey responses
• 54 Map comments

ENGAGEMENT AT A GLANCE

2024

• September: Staff met with the Esquimalt Nation Executive team

2025

• January 13: Official Community Plan Advisory Committee Meeting #1
• January 24: View Royal 2050 website launch
• January 24 – February 18: Vision and Guiding Principles Survey
• February 5, 8, 10, 13: Vision and Guiding Principles Pop-ups
• February 21 – 28: Youth Vision Survey
• February 24: Official Community Plan Advisory Committee Meeting #2
• March 6: Official Community Plan Business Mixer Workshop
• March 7 – April 4: Community Growth Survey and Social Mapping Activity
• March 8: Community Growth Open House and Workshop
• March 12: Community Growth Open House
• March 13: Community Growth Virtual Workshops (2)
• March 26, 28: Community Growth Engagement Pop-ups
• April: Staff met with Esquimalt Nation Executive team and Councillors
• May 5: Official Community Plan Advisory Committee Meeting #3
• June 2: Official Community Plan Advisory Committee Meeting #4
• June 4: Staff presented on the Official Community Plan to Songhees Chief and Council
• July 18 – September 7: Vision and Goals Survey
• August 20: Vision and Goals Pop-up
• August 25: Official Community Plan Advisory Committee Meeting #5
• October 7 – November 12: Western Gateway Community Corridor Survey
• October 18: Western Gateway Community Corridor Open House and Workshop
• October 21: Western Gateway Corridor Focus Group: Business & Land Owner Workshop
• October 22: Western Gateway Community Corridor Open House
• November 3: Official Community Plan Advisory Committee Meeting #6
• November 8 – November 30: Policy Review Survey
• November 8, 13: Policy Review Open Houses

2026

• February 24: Special Council Meeting on the Western Gateway Corridor
• March 30: Official Community Plan Review Advisory Committee Meeting - First Draft Official Community Plan Review
• March 31: Special Council Meeting - First Draft Official Community Plan Review
• April 7: Council Meeting - First Draft Official Community Plan Review

ENGAGEMENT TOUCHPOINT #1: VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES (JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2025)

Participants were asked to provide input on the future vision of View Royal. Feedback was collected through an online survey and pop-ups.

Key Takeaways:

• 2 surveys
• 1 workshop
• 4 pop-up events
• Participants identified the following foundational values for their future community: protecting parks and natural areas; maintaining safe and walkable neighbourhoods; improving transportation options; and supporting diverse and affordable housing.

Who Participated:

• 130 survey participants
• 86 youth survey participants
• 36 workshop participants
• 158 pop-up event participants

How People Heard:

• 1,158 Engage View Royal project website visits
• 9 Facebook posts, 2 Instagram posts, and 6 Bluesky posts
• 250 stakeholder emails
• 30 posters
• 1 Inside View Royal e-newsletter
• 1 newspaper ad
• 1 news releases
• 1 project video
• 4 pop-up events

ENGAGEMENT TOUCHPOINT #2: HOW WE GROW ENGAGEMENT (MARCH – APRIL 2025)

Participants were asked to provide feedback on how and where the community may grow and change over the next 20 years. Participants were asked to consider the Town’s existing growth areas and corridors, and provide feedback on potential opportunities for additional housing, services, employment space, and amenities.

Key Takeaways:

• 1 survey
• 1 online mapping activity
• 2 pop-up events
• 2 virtual community workshops
• 1 open house
• Participants indicated overall support for an increase in residential height and density and mixed-use development in both existing growth areas and along corridors in the community.

Who Participated:

• 176 survey responses
• 54 social map responses
• 42 open-house participants
• 11 virtual workshop participants
• 16 pop-up event participants

How People Heard:

• 930 Engage View Royal project website visits
• 19 Facebook posts, 19 Instagram posts, and 19 Bluesky posts
• 250 stakeholder emails
• 17 posters
• 2 Inside View Royal e-newsletters
• 1 newspaper ad
• 4 news releases
• 2 pop-up events

ENGAGEMENT TOUCHPOINT #3: VISION SURVEY (JULY – SEPTEMBER 2025)

Participants were asked to provide feedback on three draft vision statements and 11 community goals, developed from earlier feedback.

Key Takeaways:

• 1 survey
• 1 pop-up event
• Participants preferred vision statement that focused on the community’s relationship with nature and green space, and the need to be forward thinking as a community leader to ensure action is taken on environmental stewardship, climate action, affordable housing, and economic development.

Who Participated:

• 85 survey responses
• 16 pop-up event participants

How People Heard:

• 886 Engage View Royal project website visits
• 11 Facebook posts, 11 Instagram posts, and 8 Bluesky posts
• 250 stakeholder emails
• 17 posters
• 1 Inside View Royal e-newsletter
• 1 pop-up event
• 1 news releases

ENGAGEMENT TOUCHPOINT #4: WESTERN GATEWAY COMMUNITY CORRIDOR (OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025)

The Western Gateway Corridor was identified as a key growth area with opportunities for new housing, businesses, services and employment space. Participants were asked to provide feedback on the three growth scenarios for the Western Gateway Corridor, including low, medium, or high potential development scenarios.

Key Takeaways:

• 1 survey
• 2 workshops
• 2 open-houses
• Participants preferred a medium growth scenario that focused on the development of the Western Gateway south of Parson’s Bridge as a commercial and light industrial area, and the area north of Parson’s Bridge as a mixed-use neighbourhood village. Feedback provided through engagement informed a proposed land use scenario for the Corridor area.

Who Participated:

• 59 survey responses
• 11 workshop participants
• 7 focus group business workshop participants
• 43 open house participants

How People Heard:

• 668 Engage View Royal project website visits
• 9 Facebook posts, 9 Instagram posts, and 7 Bluesky posts
• 250 stakeholder emails
• 10 posters
• 2 Inside View Royal e-newsletters
• 1 news releases
• 1 newspaper ad
• 50 hand delivered notices to residents
• 50 (approximately) notices to businesses

ENGAGEMENT TOUCHPOINT #5: POLICY REVIEW ENGAGEMENT (NOVEMBER 2025)

Participants were asked to provide feedback on draft policies from each of the policy chapters in the draft Plan. This gave participants an early snapshot of draft content. Early feedback helped shape and further revise new draft policies on major topic areas, such as housing, transportation and mobility, economic development, parks and recreation, environment, climate action, and infrastructure.

Key Takeaways:

• 1 survey
• 2 open house events
• The survey respondents indicated that they support the draft policies overall. However, there are some policies that respondents provided mixed feedback on, indicating that further review and revisions could be required if desired.
• Participants identified the challenges with traffic congestion, the need to provide more diverse and accessible employment opportunities and services in the community, and more affordable housing. The preservation and enhancement of the Town’s parks and natural spaces is also important to the community.

Who Participated:

• 43 survey responses
• 16 open house participants

How People Heard:

• 579 Engage View Royal project website visits
• 11 Facebook posts, 11 Instagram posts, and 8 Bluesky posts
• 250 stakeholder emails
• 1 Inside View Royal e-newsletters
• 1 newspaper ad
• 1 news releases
• 2 newspaper ads

ENGAGEMENT TOUCHPOINT #6: FIRST DRAFT REVIEW (MARCH TO APRIL 2026)

Participants were asked to review and provide feedback on the draft Official Community Plan through an online survey. To make participation flexible and accessible, respondents could choose to answer the full survey or focus only on specific chapters within the draft Official Community Plan. A supporting summary document highlighted the major shifts in the draft document from the previous (2011) Official Community Plan was also made available for participants.

Key Takeaways:

• 1 survey
• The survey respondents expressed strong support for the draft vision statement, goals, and policy objectives, particularly those related to natural amenities, housing, mobility, community well-being, and sustainable service delivery.
• While feedback was generally positive, some respondents raised concerns related to growth management, transportation impacts, and reconciliation, with several participants seeking greater clarity on how policies would be implemented and balanced with community character.

Who Participated:

• 47 survey responses

How People Heard:

• 1,035 Engage View Royal project website visits
• 14 Facebook posts, 14 Instagram posts, and 12 Bluesky posts
• 1 town-wide postcard mail-out, sent to approximately 3,500 homes and businesses
• 250 stakeholder emails
• 1 project video
• 1 Inside View Royal e-newsletters
• 2 newspaper ads
• 2 news releases

1.3 HOW TO USE THIS OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN

The primary objective of this Official Community Plan is to establish a clear framework for decision-making to guide View Royal Council and staff, residents, partners, agencies, developers, and other interest holders in the Town. All sections are interconnected and considered through the lens of the vision statement and twelve goals, which are referenced in Section 2.0 of View Royal 2050. When evaluating concepts within the Official Community Plan and determining how policies apply to specific developments, projects, or decisions, it is crucial to acknowledge the broad scope of the document and how the initiative would be considered holistically across all policy areas of the Official Community Plan.

The Official Community Plan will be interpreted and applied with care by Council, staff, residents, partners and other interest holders in the town. Departure from the plan must demonstrate clear public benefit and support the community’s vision and goals for growth and development.

Navigating the Official Community Plan requires consideration of its six parts, descriptions for which are provided below.

Part One: The Plan Context

This part encompasses introductory elements of the plan, including what an Official Community Plan is, presentation of the community’s vision and goals for the year 2050, discussion on the Town’s commitment to ongoing reconciliation and government-to-government relationships with the Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Nations, and providing context on the community related to its geography, traits, and community statistics, along with context on regional trends that were factors considered at the time of writing this plan.

Part Two: Land Use

This part outlines how View Royal will develop over time and how land may be used. It includes objectives and general policies for growth and development that will be considered as part of the development approvals process. In addition, land use designations are identified and apply to different areas of the community, with each designation providing specific context, intended uses, heights, and densities, and supporting policies that apply.

Part Three: Reconciliation

This part outlines objectives and policies that support View Royal’s reconciliation and government-to-government relationships efforts with Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Nations and enable the Nation’s journeys towards self-determination. Part Three provides objectives and policy direction to support collaboration and long-term partnerships with Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Nations by focusing on strengthening government-to-government relationships, advancing First Nations presence and cultural recognition in the community, and supporting reconciliation in decision-making, land use decisions, land stewardship, and economic development.

Part Four: Policies

This part provides high-level direction across a range of topic areas within the scope of a local government through objectives and policies. These are organized by chapters, including Housing, Transportation and Mobility, Community Infrastructure and Services, Economic Development, Natural Environment and Hazards, Climate Action and Sustainability, Parks, Trails, and Recreation, and Community Well-Being and Culture.

Part Five: Implementation

This part describes how the Town may transform the policy direction outlined in Parts Two and Three into concrete actions. Actions are categorized into one of four timeframes for implementation (short-, medium-, long-term, and ongoing) with relevant policies and implementing Town departments referenced. This part also includes the Regional Context Statement, which explains how the Official Community Plan aligns with the Capital Regional District’s Regional Growth Strategy.

Part Six: Development Permit Areas

This part identifies and designates seven development permit areas in the Town applicable to areas that require special development considerations. The permit areas are split across two development permit area classifications: Form and Character, and Environmental. Development permit guidelines inform the Town in the decision-making process when considering a development permit application. Overall, the intent of development permit areas is to achieve the following:

• Protection of the natural environment, its ecosystems and biological diversity;
• Protection of the public, buildings, and development from hazardous conditions;
• Establishment of objectives for the form and character of garden suite development; and
• Establishment of objectives for the form and character of commercial, industrial or multi-family residential development.

2.0 View Royal 2050

2.1 OVERVIEW

The Official Community Plan’s vision and goals are intended to guide the community to the year 2050. The policy direction of this plan stems from these key guiding statements. The vision and goals are informed by input received from the community as part of engagement undertaken in 2025 and 2026.

2.2 VISION

The following statement outlines the Town’s aspirations to the year 2050 and beyond:

View Royal is a thriving, welcoming, inclusive community where people live close to nature, services, and amenities that foster health and well-being.

2.3 GOALS

1. MOBILITY & CONNECTIVITY

Goal: Provide a variety of transportation options within a well-connected network to support mobilizing all ages and abilities.

While private vehicles are still the primary method of travel, the Town continues to strive towards the creation of an improved transportation network. Developing a well-connected regional network will ensure that residents are able to get where they need to go via different transportation modes: walking, cycling, rolling, transit, and vehicular use. The Town will work closely with the Capital Regional District and nearby municipalities to address ongoing traffic challenges and streamline local and regional connections.

2. DIVERSE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Goal: Provide diverse, attainable, and affordable housing types and tenures for all residents.

Encouraging the development of a wide range of market and non-market housing options will ensure existing and future residents can continue to call the Town home. Emphasis will be placed on housing that supports aging-in-place, multi-generational households, and the creation of more rental and home ownership opportunities. Where possible, these options will be within close proximity to transportation and everyday services and amenities.

What is affordable and attainable housing? What constitutes ‘affordable’ is directly tied to a household’s gross annual income. Households who spend less than 30% of their before-tax income on housing are deemed to have ‘affordable’ housing. Attainable housing considers what a household needs in terms of size and type of housing, as well as what level of housing costs may be appropriate for a household given the cost of living in a community.

3. GROWTH MANAGEMENT & COMMUNITY CHARACTER PRESERVATION

Goal: Allow for context-sensitive, fiscally responsible growth and development throughout the community.

As a desirable community to live in, View Royal must balance opportunities for growth and the need for infrastructure services, while ensuring the character of the community is considered to complement or inspire new development. Natural amenities comprise much of the Town’s existing character, and these attributes are highly valued by the community. New development must ensure these amenities can be appreciated by existing and new residents alike.

4. COMMUNITY WELL-BEING

Goal: Enhance community well-being by providing safe, inclusive, and accessible spaces, while integrating arts and culture into everyday life.

Community well-being is achieved when every member feels safe, included, and has access to essential services and opportunities. It means embracing diversity and ensuring that all voices are heard and valued, creating a sense of belonging for everyone. Integrating arts and culture enriches our community by celebrating creativity and heritage, fostering a vibrant and dynamic environment that brings people together and enhances the quality of life for all.

5. RECONCILIATION

Goal: Strengthen government-to-government relationships with the Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Nations to support their efforts towards self-determination and autonomy. Collaborate with both Nations on shared priorities and decision-making that advance reconciliation across Town programs and services.

View Royal is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples. To support community interest in advancing reconciliation efforts and government-to-government relationships, the Town will continue to build relationships with the Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Peoples. Emphasis will be placed on facilitating increased collaboration, supporting the Nations’ efforts towards self-determination, celebrating values and culture, and fostering synergies between our communities to better understand where alignment exists on core values.

Reconciliation is the ongoing process of establishing and maintaining mutually respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples, grounded in recognition and respect of rights, histories, traditions, cultures, languages, and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples, and commitment to learning from and working in partnership with First Nations.

6. NATURAL AMENITIES

Goal: Preserve, protect, and expand the Town’s natural assets and amenities.

Parks, trails, and green space are regularly identified as some of the greatest benefits of living in the Town. Ensuring the coastal and forested landscapes are preserved and protected for the enjoyment of current and future generations is a community priority. These efforts will include ensuring a balanced approach to growth and adopting strong climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Natural amenities are place-based attributes created by the environment that provide local benefits. Examples of natural amenities may be parks where community members can hike, lakes where kayaking can be enjoyed, trees that clean the air, and creeks that support with managing drainage.

7. COMMUNITY SAFETY & SECURITY

Goal: Foster a safe and secure community that is prepared for emergencies.

Community safety and security are achieved when people feel that their needs and quality of life are a priority. It means integrating best practices related to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and working collaboratively to better understand what community safety and security means to View Royal residents and business owners. Preparing and responding to health and climate emergencies, such as pandemics, climate disasters, earthquakes, etc., will strengthen the community over the long-term.

8. CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE

Goal: Undertake climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives to support the community’s resiliency.

As a forested coastal town, View Royal is particularly vulnerable to wildfires, coastal storms, flooding, and sea level rise attributable to the changing climate. In response, the Town is taking initiative to become a low carbon community, reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and adopt climate adaptation and mitigation strategies to continue maintaining a high quality of life for everyone.

Greenhouse gas emissions, commonly known as GHGs, are gases released by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere and impact the global climate.

9. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Goal: Identify and incentivize opportunities for tourism and mixed-use and non-residential development to support local and regional economic priorities.

Encouraging non-residential growth through development incentivization and policy amendments will support View Royal’s economy and further develop employment lands, including the Western Gateway Employment District Corridor and Transit-Oriented Development areas. By attracting investment and business into the Town, this additional economic activity will support local demand for shops, restaurants, and services within walking distance of neighbourhoods and create more opportunities for regional economic growth in adjacent communities. In addition, many opportunities exist to expand and enhance tourism in View Royal due to its central location within the Capital Regional District, and become a regional hub for health and medical services adjacent to the Victoria General Hospital.

10. COMMUNITY INPUT AND GOVERNANCE

Goal: Ensure View Royal community members are meaningfully informed and involved in the advancement of community goals and priorities.

As View Royal grows and evolves, the Town will continue to build capacity and seek feedback and input from all community members, especially from those who have been marginalized or historically underrepresented. Through good governance, community leaders will steward decision-making processes and ensure they remain transparent.

11. REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

Goal: Continue to strengthen the Town’s relationships with partners and stakeholders, including member municipalities, on regional matters.

View Royal is a gateway community bordering seven jurisdictions within the Capital Regional District. Maintaining strong relationships with these local governments and First Nation communities is important to ensure alignment on regional priorities, such as the enhancement of regional transportation management and connectivity.

12. SUSTAINABLE SERVICE DELIVERY THROUGH ASSET MANAGEMENT

Goal: Manage the Town’s assets over their full lifecycle to support long-term, sustainable service delivery that meets community needs.

The Town provides a wide range of services though the management of engineered and natural assets (e.g. roads, culverts, parks). Recognizing the importance of ensuring equitable and sustainable services for current and future generations, emphasis will be placed on a holistic and systematic approach to asset management that balances service delivery with cost and risk.

Asset management is an integrated approach to planning, operating, and maintaining physical infrastructure and amenities, such as roads, sewer systems, and treatment facilities, amongst others.

2.4 COMMITMENTS AND TARGETS

Delivering on the View Royal 2050 vision requires steady progress toward clear targets and milestones that support the Town’s long-term goals. A number of commitments and targets are identified throughout this Official Community Plan to support the achievement of the vision and goals identified in sections 2.2 and 2.3. These commitments represent outcomes the Town will seek to achieve through policy, partnerships and advocacy. Tracking the targets can aid Town staff, Council, and the community in keeping apprised of progress towards their achievement.

A summary of this Official Community Plan’s commitments and targets is provided in this section, which is intended to complement the Action Plan in Section 15.0. Unless otherwise stated, targets are measured from a 2025 baseline. Both sections may guide annual departmental planning, budgeting, and coordination. Progress will be reviewed and reported on at least annually through the Town’s strategic priority setting and planning process. Commitments, targets and actions may be updated over time to reflect changes in policy or new information.

OUR COMMITMENTS AND TARGETS

1. Achieve 1 unit of below-market housing for every 15 units of market housing constructed in View Royal.
2. Achieve 1 unit of supportive housing for every 44 units of market housing constructed in View Royal.
3. Achieve a minimum replacement of 1:1 for all below-market and affordable rentals that are lost through redevelopment.
4. Require new multi-unit residential developments of four or greater storeys, with the exception of seniors housing, supportive housing, and affordable rental housing projects, to allocate a minimum of 30% of units with two bedrooms or more and a minimum of 10% of units with three bedrooms or more.
5. Achieve 10% of units in all new multi-unit housing developments of four or more storeys to be accessible or adaptable units designed and constructed in accordance with the BC Building Code, or an equivalent standard.
6. Pursue the following mode share targets by the year 2050: 25% walking, cycling and micromobility; 15% public transit; and 60% private vehicle.
7. Achieve 30% canopy coverage by 2045.
8. Achieve a 45% reduction in emissions below 2007 levels by 2030, and a 100% reduction in emissions below 2007 levels by 2050.
9. Achieve a minimum of 5.0 hectares (12.4 acres) of parkland per 1,000 people, residents living within a 400 m radius, or a 5-minute walk of usable park space, excluding regional parks and schools.

3.0 Reconciliation

3.1 CONTEXT

In 2007, the United Nations passed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), a legally non-binding resolution. In 2015, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released 94 Calls to Action. The following actions call upon municipal governments to take action:

• Action 43: fully adopt and implement UNDRIP as the framework for reconciliation;
• Action 47: repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty;
• Action 57: provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal Peoples and intercultural competency skills-based training;

In 2019, the Province of British Columbia enacted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Act (DRIPA), becoming the first jurisdiction in Canada to formally adopt the internationally recognized standards. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Act provides the framework for reconciliation in British Columbia, focusing on four themes:

• the right to self-determination;
• the right to be recognized as distinct Peoples;
• the right to free, prior, and informed consent; and
• the right to be free from discrimination.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, commonly referred to as UNDRIP, was adopted in 2007 as a tool to support the rights of Indigenous peoples. It provides guidance on matters related to self-determination, culture, and land rights, and serves as a framework for reconciliation within Canada. The Province of British Columbia aims to endorse UNDRIP through its Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

The journey of Truth and Reconciliation for municipalities in relation to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adoption and implementation begins after foundational groundwork has been established. View Royal is committed to integrating a reconciliation-centric approach to current and future planning initiatives, as evident in the policy direction threaded throughout this Official Community Plan, and particularly in Part Three which aims to establish a joint vision for reconciliation. The Town aims to take concrete and meaningful actions towards reconciliation and government-to-government relationships, beginning with incremental relationship-building measures.

View Royal is committed to actively supporting economic reconciliation by creating partnerships that advance the Nations' economic interests and capacity, and by encouraging initiatives that promote local economic development led by Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Nations. View Royal is also committed to creating opportunities to collaborate with the Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Nations to ensure municipal planning is grounded in the history, ongoing land stewardship, and enduring presence of the lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples. As stewards of the land, View Royal recognizes its responsibility to protect and sustain the natural environment for future generations, ensuring that decisions made today honour both First Nations and municipal values. The recognition of the Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Nations remains central to View Royal’s planning for both the present and the future.

The Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Nations are stewards of both reserve lands and the broader traditional territory, which extends across much of the Greater Victoria area, including what is now known as View Royal, Esquimalt, Langford, Colwood, and Oak Bay, as shown on Figure 1. The Xʷsepsəm and Songhees Nations are actively planning for their communities within current reserve boundaries and through potential acquisition of future lands. View Royal’s commitment to reconciliation and government-to-government relationships acknowledges the Nations’ rights to make decisions over their lands, resources, and economic future, and strives to ensure that municipal processes empower and reflect their aspirations.

Figure 1. lək̓ʷəŋən Traditional Territory

3.2 XʷSEPSƏM NATION TODAY

Xʷsepsəm Nation, also spelled Xwsepsum, is a Nation located on the waters of Esquimalt Harbour, immediately adjacent to the Songhees Nation and Town of View Royal. The Nation has approximately 385 members who are descendants of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, with close to half living in the main community on the approximately 19-hectare Esquimalt reserve.

The Nation’s connection with the land and resources of its large territory goes back thousands of years. In that time, Xʷsepsəm Nation have learned to live in a finely balanced relationship with the seasons, the lands, the tides, and the seasons of their lives that have sustained them. Xʷsepsəm has repaid the land through their commitment to stewardship and through ceremonies which are understood as their Sacred Trust. The Sacred Trust has been transmitted through oral teachings, usually contained in the stories of the Nation, and they articulate a set of Natural Laws. The Sacred Trust determines the relationships between the land, water, and resources, the Community and the Spiritual Path.

Xʷsepsəm Nation’s mission statement is rooted in a desire for promoting the importance of traditional teaching and values, and importantly for View Royal, a desire of the Nation to work with their partners for beneficial goals. It is important that the Town cultivates a respectful and meaningful partnership with Xʷsepsəm Nation through its commitment to reconciliation.

The Nation’s mission is: Our mission is to build a legacy for present and future generations of Esquimalt Nation members by ensuring our work is rooted in the teachings and natural laws that flow from the Sacred Trust. We will promote and advance holistic health, self-sufficiency and safety of Esquimalt Nation members by offering meaningful programs and services, and working with our partners for mutually beneficial goals.

3.3 SONGHEES NATION TODAY

Songhees Nation are a lək̓ʷəŋən People with a longstanding and ongoing presence in the region. The Nation has approximately 690 members, with over half living on the Songhees Reserve located immediately adjacent to the Town of View Royal and Xʷsepsəm First Nation. The community is approximately 60 hectares and is developed with a mix of residential and commercial areas.

The Songhees community is comprised of five main families and several smaller families descended from the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking signatories of the Douglas Treaties in 1850. Traditional governance is by consensus among extended family heads, guided by their families. Today, the community is still guided by consensus among families represented by advisory committees, focus groups and an elected Chief and Council. Referendums and ratification votes are held for important Community decisions.

The Nation’s mission, vision, and values are significant, serving as a reflection of the relationship that View Royal seeks to establish and its intent to encapsulate the core principles upheld by the Nation.

The Nation’s mission is: Songhees Nation strives to achieve community vision through good governance, delivering programs and pursuing projects and initiatives for the benefit of the Songhees People.

The Nation’s vision is: A healthy, self-reliant, progressive community that honours tradition and culture and invests in future generations.

The Nation’s Values are: With One Heart and One Mind, we commit to help one another, to forgive one another and to love one another with respect, honesty and courage.

4.0 The History of View Royal

4.1 COLONIAL SETTLEMENT

The early documented history of View Royal began in the 1850s when the Puget Sound Agricultural Company commenced corporate farming along the shores of Esquimalt Harbour. This company was a subsidiary of the Hudson’s Bay Company and was responsible for colonizing and settling communities across Vancouver Island under the Royal Charter of Grant from the British Empire. The establishment of agricultural enterprises was a significant shift from the long-established fur trade economy at the time.

The development of Maple Point farm began in 1853 by Mr. Kenneth McKenize. The area was renamed Craigflower Manor and was completed in 1856 with the addition of a sawmill, flour mill, blacksmith shop, brick kiln, slaughterhouse, general store, as well as multiple farm dwellings. Maple Point School, later known as Craigflower Schoolhouse, was completed in 1855 and provided education to those living in Craigflower Country, as well as the surrounding area. The school provided living space for the teacher’s family as well as boarders. The Craigflower Schoolhouse remains the oldest surviving school building in Western Canada.

Craigflower Manor is located at 1801 Admirals Road, at the intersection of Admirals Road and Island Highway, and the Craigflower Schoolhouse is located at 2755 Admirals Road, on the Gorge Waterway, within the District of Saanich. Each site is located at opposite ends of the Craigflower Bridge.

Four Mile Pub at 199 Island Highway and the Six Mile Pub at 494 Island Highway are two historic sites, originally operated as ‘roadhouses’. The pubs have been serving patrons for over 160 years. Originally built for mail delivery service for stagecoaches along the E&N railway, the sites continue to operate as well-loved local eateries. The Six Mile Pub stands at the site of the former Millstream Mill.

The name View Royal was originally coined circa 1910 by a real estate developer promoting the area's “royal views” of Esquimalt Harbour. At the time, the area was marketed as a getaway destination with seasonal cottages. Urbanization of View Royal started to take off by the 1930s, which saw increased development near Esquimalt Harbour and Portage Inlet.

4.2 PHYSICAL SETTING

View Royal is located on Southern Vancouver Island in the Capital Regional District. It is situated between the West Shore, which includes the District of Sooke, District of Metchosin, City of Colwood, District of Highlands, City of Langford, and the region’s core area, comprising the City of Victoria, Township of Esquimalt, Xʷsepsəm Nation, Songhees Nation, District of Oak Bay, and District of Saanich. Its geographic location and major transportation corridors such as the Trans-Canada Highway, regional Island Highway, and regional trails (Galloping Goose and E&N Trail) allow the community to function as a gateway within the region, serving as an integral connection point between the West Shore and the core areas of Greater Victoria. While View Royal’s location presents various opportunities for the community’s future growth and development, its location also poses local and regional challenges.

View Royal is a growing community of over 12,500 people. It is largely residential and offers a high standard of living with natural amenities like the Esquimalt Harbour, Portage Inlet, Thetis Lake Regional Park, and Craigflower and Millstream Creeks. View Royal is shaped by a rich variety of ecosystems, including its marine environments, estuaries, and freshwater lakes, as well as terrestrial environments from moist Douglas Fir forests to Garry Oak meadows. View Royal also hosts historic structures, the most notable being Craigflower Manor.

4.3 COMMUNITY TRAITS

Since incorporation in 1988, the Town of View Royal has been transforming from a quiet suburb into a distinct and vibrant community, complete with its own unique neighbourhoods, commercial services, and highly desired parks and green spaces. View Royal is home to the regionally critical Victoria General Hospital, a growing development node supporting health care and services in the Capital Regional District. Residents enjoy recreation services through West Shore Parks and Recreation, which oversees the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, along with the many parks and natural green spaces located throughout the Town. The Western Gateway Corridor straddles the View Royal and Colwood border, offering a mix of business, as well as much future development potential. The community is serviced by two other large commercial hubs, including the Eagle Creek Shopping Centre, located just east of Victoria General Hospital and Admirals Walk, located along Admirals Road.

• Current population (2025): 12,539
• Projected population (2050): 21,574
• Growth scenario: Medium Growth of 2.2% annually

Part Two: Land Use

5.0 Land Use (31) 5.1 General Framework and Considerations (31) 5.2 Western Gateway Employment District Corridor Designation (45) 5.3 Hospital Transit-Oriented Area Designation (49) 5.4 Neighbourhood Village Designation (52) 5.5 Neighbourhood Centre Designation (54) 5.6 Commercial Designation (56) 5.7 Intensive Mixed Use Designation (58) 5.8 Neighbourhood Mixed Use Designation (59) 5.9 Mixed Residential Designation (62) 5.10 Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Designation (64) 5.11 Residential Designation (67) 5.12 Large Lot Residential Designation (69) 5.13 Rural Designation (70) 5.14 Community Facility Designation (71) 5.15 Parks, Trails and Open Space Designation (72) 5.16 Thetis Cove Special Planning Area Designation (75)

5.0 Land Use

Land Use determines the physical framework of the community, providing direction for how and where View Royal will grow in the future. This plan provides guidance on the approach and priorities for where development and growth are supported and in what form.

5.1 GENERAL FRAMEWORK AND CONSIDERATIONS

5.1.1 CONTEXT

View Royal has a long rural and suburban history, but has transformed into a vibrant community with local and regional services. Most of the land within the Urban Containment Boundary has been developed. Future growth will have to occur through redevelopment and infill of existing lands. There are also land use and density constraints as a result of View Royal’s geographical location and limited transportation commuter infrastructure.

Thetis Lake Regional Park is an expansive natural regional recreational amenity located in the north part of View Royal. It provides a buffer between developed areas and the rural areas to the north of Thetis Lake Regional Park. The Thetis Lake area has some existing low-density housing, but it is largely preserved and protected for long-term green space use.

Higher residential density and commercial activity in View Royal are currently concentrated along Island Highway, Admirals Road, Helmcken Road and at key intersections. These areas are referred to as corridors (as shown on Map 3) and provide the potential for further infill development and opportunities for enhancement as there are many underutilized parcels of land that could accommodate residential and commercial growth near transit and active transportation infrastructure.

In recent years, commercial and institutional development along with multi-unit residential development have steadily increased, highlighting the growing demand for businesses and services in View Royal. For example, the opening of Eagle Creek Village in 2016 has encouraged further development of the Victoria General Hospital area as an important node with mixed-use, providing key commercial, office, retail, restaurant, healthcare, and other related services. The regional significance of this area was recognized through the designation of the Hospital Transit-Oriented Area (see Section 5.3) in 2024.

View Royal has two mobility hubs – the Atkins Mobility Hub and the Hospital Mobility Hub – which serve as key intersections of land use and transportation. These mobility hubs act as central community gathering spots that promote connection and access to community and regional services and amenities.

Mixed-use is a development typology that accommodates a variety of uses with clear and convenient connections to the public realm. Mixed-use developments typically have retail, commercial, civic, or industrial uses located on the ground level and lower floors, and residential or office units occupying the upper floors. Mixed-use developments provide conveniently located amenities and services accessed by multi-modal transit within a neighbourhood.

Mobility Hubs are mobility oriented development areas that offer seamless access to multiple transportation modes, connecting people to key destinations, employment, and services with quality public spaces and clear wayfinding. Mobility Hubs are the strategic intersection of frequent transit corridors and shared mobility infrastructure supported by high density residential and employment land uses.

The vision for View Royal is to provide more commercial space, amenities, and services to a growing community in the form of mixed-use development focused along the five major corridors (as shown on Map 3, Section 8.0), including Admirals Road, Helmcken Road, Island Highway from Admirals Road to Atkins Road, Watkiss Way, and the Western Gateway Corridor portion of Island Highway from Atkins Road to the Colwood border. The intersection of Helmcken Road and Island Highway, Six-Mile Road and Island Highway, and Watkiss Way and Helmcken Road have the opportunity to be established as walkable areas providing neighbourhood level, mixed-use amenities and services.

The following Official Community Plan Goals may be achieved through the policy direction provided in this section:

• Mobility and Connectivity
• Diverse and Affordable Housing
• Growth Management and Community Character Preservation
• Economic Development
• Reconciliation

5.1.2 OBJECTIVES

1. Spaces for Sustainable, Compact, and High-Density Development: Create a more complete, walkable, and sustainable community by directing most new growth to the corridors and mobility hubs which focus on mixed-use, transit-oriented development and urban design.
2. Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing and Infill Development: Encourage the development of new compact housing near amenities, services, and transit-serviced routes within existing Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing areas inside the Urban Containment Boundary as desirable forms of small-scale infill development.
3. Quality and Complementary Built Form: Support high-quality development that complements existing built forms and achieves sustainable urban and building design, safety, and dynamic public and private spaces.
4. Community Connections: Continue to advance opportunities to enhance existing connections and identify opportunities to establish new access connections between neighbourhoods and mobility hubs.
5. Manage Development and the Natural Environment: Manage development to protect, preserve, and enhance the natural environment, parks, trails, and waterbodies and recognize these spaces as vital physical features that define the Town.
6. Functional, Connected Green Spaces: Establish a functional and interconnected greenspace and trail network in the Western Gateway Corridor, focusing on the areas along Millstream Creek and Esquimalt Harbour. This network will support ecological connectivity, recreational opportunities, and enhanced access for residents, while integrating within the Town’s broader system of parks, trails, and natural spaces.
7. Spaces for People: Enhance the social fabric of the community by planning and designing public and private spaces that meet the diverse daily needs of residents to foster a sense of community, encourage social cohesion, and interaction through planned and unplanned events and activities.

5.1.3 GENERAL POLICIES

A. Create viable conditions for local businesses to thrive and provide for the diverse needs of residents by directing higher levels of housing and employment densities to nodes, mobility hubs, and corridors.

B. Prioritize the review of development applications that meet one or more of the following criteria for approval by Council or staff for permit issuance: i) Below-market housing developments; ii) Purpose-built rental housing; iii) Supportive housing; iv) Age-friendly housing; v) Provide significant public benefit, including parks, and/or community facilities; vi) Housing led by non-profit organizations; vii) Hotel development; or viii) Advance overall Official Community Plan objectives.

C. Strengthen connections between existing residential neighbourhoods, nodes, corridors, and mobility hubs by: i) Providing multi-modal trails and pathways; ii) Creating linear parks; and iii) Enhancing public spaces and streetscape improvements (i.e. street trees, landscaping, wide sidewalks, street furnishings, pedestrian scale lighting, etc.).

D. Integrate existing neighbourhood characteristics into the design of new developments to acknowledge the unique social, cultural, and environmental characteristics of the town.

E. Encourage the development of public gathering places such as parks, plazas, and landscaped seating areas near activity-generating uses, including nodes, corridors, and mobility hubs.

F. Developments of four storeys or greater should incorporate commercial or public use space.

G. Do not support rezoning or bylaw variances that would facilitate the subdivision of waterfront lots in order to protect the integrity of the shoreline, aquatic environments, and ecologically sensitive areas.

H. Do not support aggregate extraction activities within Town boundaries. Aggregate materials should be sourced from neighbouring regional communities to meet development needs, given the non-existence of aggregate extraction operations within View Royal.