Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025 (Staff Report)
A report from the Director of Development Services regarding updates to the OCP to align with housing needs and new provincial legislation.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT
TO: Council DATE: November 6, 2025 FROM: L. Taylor, MCIP, RPP, Director of Development Services MEETING DATE: November 18, 2025
OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 1156, 2025
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Council rescind second reading of Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 811, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025;
AND THAT Council give a new second reading to Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 811, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025 as amended;
AND FURTHER THAT following second reading, a public hearing date be scheduled for December 2, 2025.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
THAT Council decline second reading of Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 811, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to introduce Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025 for consideration of first and second reading. The proposed amendments to the Town’s 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), in accordance with the Local Government Act. The proposed 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.
BACKGROUND:
A public hearing was held on Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025 on November 4, 2025. Following the Public Hearing, Council considered third reading of Bylaw No. 1156 and passed the following motion:
THAT Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 811, Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025 be referred back to staff to address concerns with respect to certain parcels being added to the new Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing Land Use Designation that are not currently zoned for small-scale, multi-unit housing in the Zoning Bylaw.
FURTHER THAT for parcels where small-scale, multi-unit housing is not permitted in accordance with the Zoning Bylaw, the current land use designations remain as Residential or Large Lot Residential in the Official Community Plan.
In response to Council’s motion, Bylaw No. 1156 has been amended accordingly.
ANALYSIS:
The proposed changes to Bylaw No. 1156, 2025 are as follows:
- retained the Residential and Large Lot Residential Land Use Designations for all parcels not currently zoned for small-scale, multi-unit housing (SSMUH) in the Zoning Bylaw;
- amended the land use designation from Residential and Large Lot Residential to the new SSMUH land use designation for those parcels with SSMUH zoning; and
- updated the existing land use designation table and map in the OCP to reflect the proposed changes.
Staff recommend that Bylaw No. 1156 be given a new first and second reading, and a public hearing date be set for December 2, 2025, to meet the December 31, 2025, provincial deadline to align the OCP with the Interim Housing Needs Report.
Impacts and implications can be summarized as follows:
| Impact Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Community Impact: | Following first and second reading of Bylaw No. 1156, a public hearing date would be set to allow the public to provide comments on the proposed bylaw amendments. |
| Financial Implication: | There are no costs associated with these proposed changes. |
| Inter-governmental Relations Impact: | On October 7, 2025, Bylaw No. 1156 was referred 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 from external agencies. Given that the proposed amendments identified in this report are to retain the existing land use designations in the 2011 OCP for parcels that do not have SSMUH zoning, staff did not refer amended Bylaw No. 1156 to external agencies. |
ALIGNMENT:
The recommended option aligns with the Town’s following core guiding documents as follows:
| Document | 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. Enhance Liveability Goal 3: Access a broad range of housing options to meet the needs of various ages, family types and incomes. 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 [x] Consult [ ] Involve [ ] Collaborate [ ] Empower [ ] N/A
TIME CRITICAL:
This report is time critical to satisfy the provincial deadline of December 31, 2025 to ensure alignment of the OCP with the Interim Housing Needs Report and provincial legislation.
CONCURRENCE:
| Role | Initials | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Administrative Officer |
REVIEWED BY:
| Department | Initials |
|---|---|
| Director of Corporate Administration | 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:
- OCP Amendment Bylaw No. 1156, 2025
- Council Report dated October 20, 2025
- Council Report dated September 15, 2025
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