Correspondence: Strategic Official Community Plan Update

Re: Strategic Official Community Plan Update • File No. 2330-25

We wish to advise you that the District of Saanich has begun a strategic update of its Official Community Plan (OCP). The purpose of this project is to update key elements that reflect recent trends and Council directions. The current vision and overall direction will not change. The project has a one-year timeline which reflects the project’s focused scope of work.

Five priorities guide this work:

1. Incorporate recent District work, such as the Climate Plan, Housing Strategy and Active Transportation Plan, into the broader directions of the OCP.
2. Integrate updated demographic data and statistics.
3. Update the land use framework to address emerging policy priorities (i.e. corridors, missing middle/infill housing, walkable neighbourhoods).
4. Refine its sustainability approach and link it with One Planet Living (https://oneplanetbc.com/)
5. Strengthen monitoring and implementation.

Initial consultation with stakeholders and community members will be held in June 2022. A draft plan will be circulated to you for comment in early 2023. Council consideration of the updated OCP is targeted for spring 2023.

The project terms of reference and updates are available at www.saanich.ca/ocp. Should you wish to provide input on specific issues or find out more about the project, please contact me at amber.walker@saanich.ca, or 250-475-5494 ext. 3452

Sincerely,

Amber Walker, RPP, MCIP Planner (Community) – Project Lead Strategic OCP Update

AW/aw