COUNCIL REPORT: OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 1156, 2025 (October 20, 2025)

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT

TO: Council
DATE: October 20, 2025
FROM: Stirling Scory, RPP, MCIP, Senior Planner
MEETING DATE: November 4, 2025

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 1156, 2025

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT following the Public Hearing, Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 811, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025, be given third reading.

ALTERNATIVE

THAT Council does not proceed with third reading of Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 811, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide necessary information for the Public Hearing scheduled on November 4, 2025, for the proposed Official Community Plan No. 811, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025. The proposed amendments to the Official Community Plan (OCP) will ensure alignment with the Town’s 5- and 20-year housing need calculated in the Town’s 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report (IHNR) and provide housing policies that address each of the six classes of housing need identified in the Housing Need Report (HNR) by December 31, 2025. The amendments also include the addition of a policy to encourage the provision of commercial or public use space in mixed-use developments four-storeys or greater.

ANALYSIS:

Updates to the OCP and the content required or permitted to be included is regulated under section 473.1 in the Local Government Act (LGA). The proposed amendment bylaw has satisfied these requirements.

At the regular Council meeting on October 7, 2025, Council gave first and second reading to Official Community Plan No. 811, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025.

A copy of staff’s October 7th report detailing the amendments has been attached for review.

Following the October 7th Council meeting, the Town prepared a referral for external agencies to provide comments on the proposed amendment bylaw. The referral was sent to School District 61, City of Colwood, City of Langford, Township of Esquimalt, District of Saanich, the Capital Regional District, and Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations. The Town received no comments.

Staff recommend that the bylaw receive third reading.

Impacts and implications can be summarized as follows:

Impact Category	Description
Community Impact:	A Public Hearing has been scheduled to allow members of the public to provide feedback on the proposed amendment bylaw.
Financial Implication:	A Public Hearing for consideration of the proposed land use and housing amendments was anticipated in the project scope and budget.
Intergovernmental Relations Impact:	The proposed amendment bylaw was referred to external agencies for review and comment prior to the Public Hearing.

ALIGNMENT:

The recommended option aligns with the Town’s following core guiding documents as follows:

Category	Alignment Details
Strategic Plan:	Sustainable Development Goal 1: Managed Growth Official Community Plan (OCP) review to align with Housing Needs Report and Zoning Bylaw, update Development Permit Area design guidelines, and other aspects of the OCP. Community Engagement and Good Governance Goal 1: Strong and active citizen participation in community engagement in Town of View Royal meetings, open houses, surveys, budget development.
Official Community Plan:	2011 OCP: Community Vision Goal 2: Create an inclusive community that provides housing, transportation and healthy living options, and services and facilities for families and individuals of diverse backgrounds, cultures, ages and economic means. Goal 9: Ensure that all citizens of View Royal have opportunities to be informed and meaningfully involved in planning and decision-making processes.
Other Policy Documents:	N/A

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GOAL:

The desired level of public participation for the recommended option is:

☐ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
☐ N/A

TIME CRITICAL:

The report is time critical for Council’s review because the proposed amendment bylaw must be adopted prior to the legislated December 31, 2025, deadline, to ensure alignment of the OCP with the Interim Housing Needs Report and provincial legislation.

CONCURRENCE:	Initials	Comments
Chief Administrative Officer	SS	I concur with the recommendation.

REVIEWED BY:	Initials
Director of Corporate Administration/Deputy CAO	N/A
Director of Finance & Technology	N/A
Director of Development Services	LT
Director of Engineering	N/A
Director of Protective Services	N/A

ATTACHMENTS:

Staff Report – Council Meeting October 7, 2025 – Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025
Staff Report – Committee of the Whole Meeting on September 9, 2025 – Proposed Amendments to the Official Community Plan