Attachment E: Official Community Plan - Harbour Helmcken Community Corridor vision
Excerpts from the OCP describing the long-term vision for the Harbour-Helmcken Community Corridor as a pedestrian-friendly activity hub.
Attachment E. Official Community Plan - Harbour Helmcken Community Corridor vision
“The Harbour-Helmcken Community Corridor mixed-use area is planned along the Island Highway located between the Harbour and Helmcken neighbourhoods. Mixed residential and limited, ground-level and small format commercial development will support a more pedestrian-friendly environment, intended to serve local residents in both neighbourhoods. The revitalization of this corridor will reinforce the Island Highway-Helmcken Road intersection as an important “crossroads” in the community.” (OCP p.26)
“While little development potential remains for the existing residential sections of the neighbourhood, major opportunities for increasing housing options and locating more services close to residents exist through the planned Island Highway and Harbour-Helmcken Community Corridor mixed-use area and Town Centre. There is great potential to connect these areas to residential streets, Helmcken Road, the school, View Royal Park and the E&N Rail Trail to create a complete neighbourhood, and an active and attractive central area of the Town.” (OCP p.28)
“The Harbour-Helmcken Community Corridor is located along the Island Highway between the Helmcken and Harbour neighbourhoods. This section of the Island Highway has historically supported small-format commercial uses combined with a mix of housing. New housing and limited mixed-use development will be encouraged to concentrate around the intersection of Island Highway and Helmcken Road and will be restricted to lots fronting the Island Highway. The area around the intersection is envisioned to be a small, walkable activity hub with supporting residential land uses extending east and west. The character and scale of the Harbour-Helmcken Community Corridor will need to respond to shallow lot sizes, limited parking and the valued character of adjacent residential areas. This Plan envisages the remainder of the properties outside the Helmcken/Island Highway intersection as a mix of residential types, including townhouses and low-rise apartments.” (OCP p.43)