Attachment 3: Regional Context Statement (Redline Version)

Vision

The RGS vision is that in 2038, residents enjoy a healthy and rewarding quality of life with a vital economy, livable communities, environmental/natural resource stewardship and a commitment to collective action on climate change. The OCP’s Community Vision Statement is consistent with this vision and is supported by the associated principal goals of the plan.

Population Projection

Based on 2011 Census figures, the RGS projects that View Royal will have a population of 15,000 by 2038. This represents an increase of 5400 residents. Between 2011 and 2016 View Royal’s population increased by 9.5% (161 people per year) to 10,408. The 2038 target could be in range with an average population increase of 160-200 additional residents per year. RGS Review Measure I-6 states that the next update to the 2018 RGS will include updated projections using the most recent census data.

An RGS amendment is currently in a consultation phase to adopt updated projections at the sub regional level instead of the municipal level. View Royal is part of the Core Sub Region for which a population increase of 14.5% is projected between 2018 and 2038. If the Town’s average population growth of 161 people per year for the 2011-2016 period were to continue, the population would increase from 11,200 in 2018 to 12,816 in 2038 for an increase of 14.4%.

Managing and Balancing Growth

Keep Urban Settlement Compact

The OCP has established an Urban Growth Boundary (see Schedule K) that is consistent with the Urban Containment Boundary Policy Area shown on RGS Map 3(a) (Growth Management Concept Plan). Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the OCP contains a range of policy tools that direct growth and servicing to appropriate locations within the RGS Urban Containment Boundary Policy Area. The OCP explicitly directs new growth into higher density mixed-use centres and as infill in existing neighbourhoods. Auto-dependent suburban growth patterns and outward expansion of non-rural uses beyond the Urban Growth Boundary are not supported in the OCP. These policies support the RGS target of at least 95% of the region’s new dwelling units to be within the Urban Containment Policy area by 2038.

Protect the Integrity of Rural Communities

View Royal plays a part in the regional management of urban sprawl as a considerable area of privately held rural land (mostly in the Thetis Planning Area) is separated from the Town’s urban area by the RGS Urban Containment Boundary. The OCP is consistent with RGS Objective 1.2 to protect the integrity of rural communities through policies such as Policy LU1.5 to ensure that the character of rural areas are maintained through low residential densities, limited uses and open space conservation and Policy LU12.2 to focus growth within the Urban Growth Boundary.

Environment-related policies are also consistent with RGS objectives for the integrity of rural areas, such as OCP policy NE2.15, which seeks a balance between protecting the natural environment and supporting rural and agricultural uses north of Thetis Lake Regional Park.

Environment and Infrastructure

Protect, Conserve and Manage Ecosystem Health

Thetis Lake Regional Park and Mill Hill Regional Park are regionally significant parks. The OCP land use designation of these parks and other major parks is Parks, Open Spaces and Recreation. This land use designation and OCP policies LU12.1 and PR2.2 support the long-term protection of these parks and are consistent with the RGS Capital Green Lands Policy Area.

Policy LU6.1 supports the preservation of existing parks, trails and conservation areas, and the acquisition of additional dedicated greenspace. Policy TR1.7 also supports the expansion of both local and regional trail networks to enhance connectivity and public access.

The OCP aligns with RGS Objective 2.1 to protect, conserve and manage ecosystem health through policies such as the following:

• Instituting the Environmental Protection and Natural Hazard Development Permit Areas which have guidelines for the protection of the natural watercourse/shoreline areas and sensitive terrestrial ecosystems. Along with Policy NE2.7 to manage stormwater discharges, these aim to minimize the environmental impacts and to enhance the quality of fresh and marine water.
• Policies NE1.9, NE1.10, and NE1.12, which respectively support inter-jurisdictional watershed planning, community stewardship, and public education.

The RCS has a target to reduce contaminants in fresh and marine waterbodies by 2038. The OCP supports this goal through implementation of the Natural Watercourse Development Permit area and the progress can be tracked in the annual CRD Core Area Stormwater Quality reports.

Manage Regional Infrastructure Services Sustainably

The OCP is consistent with RGS Objective 2.2 for the management of regional infrastructure for water and sewer service in a cost-efficient and sustainable manner by promoting densification for more efficient infrastructure and through policies such as Policy IS1.1 to support a sustainable development pattern for the extension of services, and Policy IS1.2 to ensure adequate and appropriate infrastructure. The CRD manages and maintains the water service infrastructure in the Town.

Housing and Community

Create Safe and Complete Communities

RGS Objective 3.1 to locate services, jobs and amenities closer to where people live is supported throughout the OCP. The creation of more self-sufficient neighbourhoods and a complete community is a cornerstone of the Plan. Chapter 1 includes a wide range of policies related to developing a series of compact, mixed-use centres throughout the Town to promote walkability, enhance access to services, reduce automobile reliance, strengthen the Town’s sense of place and increase housing choice. Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 include policies for supporting higher density housing and a variety of housing forms to create choice and diversity in the mixed-use centres. Key policies are LU1.1 to create self-sufficient neighbourhood centres, LU4.6 to address the unique housing needs of families, seniors and people with disabilities and HS1.2 to support aging in place.

Chapter 2 further describes how the centres will be interconnected and easily accessed from established neighbourhoods through a multimodal transportation network.

In accordance with RGS Objective 3.1 Policy 3, OCP Policy NE3.4 and the Natural Hazard development permit area guidelines discourage development near potential seismic, slope stability and water hazards.

The RGS calls for municipal targets for the number of people living in complete communities to be identified in the regional context statement. The OCP directs future growth to areas within the Urban Containment Boundary and does not support additional growth north of Thetis Lake. This is consistent with the RGS policies directing growth to complete communities.

Improve Housing Affordability

The RGS targets an increase in the supply of affordable housing and a reduction of the number of people in core housing need. The OCP supports affordable housing and a diverse range of housing types to meet different needs through housing that is “affordable by design”. Policies in the Land Use and Urban Design chapter and the Housing chapter of the OCP include the following policies: LU2.4 to support the continuation of the Town’s existing Secondary Suites Program, LU1.6 to encourage financial contributions to the Regional Housing Trust Fund, HS1.8 to support collaborations and partnerships with other levels of government and non-market housing providers, HS1.9 to encourage innovative approaches to residential infill, and Policy HS1.10 to facilitate “affordability by design”, i.e. a range of incentives for encouraging smaller and more affordable units.

Action HS3 supports an Affordable Housing Policy that would identify issues, establish strategies and set targets which is consistent with the objectives of the RGS.

Transportation

Improve Multi-Modal Connectivity and Mobility

The RCS has a target of 42% of all trips to be by walking or cycling by 2038. The OCP draws on the View Royal Transportation Master Plan, which is consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan by identifying major routes and setting goals for a strong regional multimodal network. The OCP is consistent with the RGS emphasizing multimodal transportation throughout the Town, and recognizing walking, cycling and transit as priority transportation modes. Key policies address a wide range of issues for improving multimodal connections and transportation choice, including TR1.1 to encourage a multimodal streetscape enhancements, TR1.2 for pedestrian improvements, TR1.3 to encourage cycling improvements, and Policies TR1.4, TR1.5 and TR1.6 to support expanded transit services, rapid transit and commuter rail.

The OCP directs the Town to work with community organizations, transportation agencies and other levels of government towards improvement of local and regional networks, including multiuse trails, rapid transit service and commuter rail. All the transportation policies of the OCP are consistent with RGS Objective 4.1 and are supported with complementary land use policies aimed at locating people closer to transit, trails and multimodal corridors, including:

• Supporting LU1.1 for the creation of compact, walkable and cycling friendly hubs
• LU1.2 and LU2.2 for centres connected to neighbourhoods and surrounding areas by a range of transportation choices

Economic Development

Realize the Region’s Economic Potential

The RGS targets a jobs/population ratio of 0.60:1 in the Core Area by 2038. The RGS Settlement Concept Map (3)b also identifies three nodes in View Royal: Hospital Neighbourhood Centre (Eastern Gateway Corridor), Town Centre and Atkins Centre (Western Gateway Corridor) areas. Policies ED1.1, ED1.3, LU11.2 (Hospital), LU8.2 (Eastern Gateway), and LU6.3 (Atkins) supporting investment, economic development, and employment in these areas complement the RGS objectives. There are no RGS Renewable Resource Lands within the Town.

Food Systems

There is very little active farmland and only one parcel within the Agricultural Land Reserve. Nevertheless, Part 1 of the OCP supports RGS Section 6.1 through policies such as LU5.8 encouraging the preservation of existing farmland, LU5.9 supporting urban agriculture, and Action LU10 to consideration of a food security strategy. Due to limited agricultural land in View Royal, the RGS target does not apply.

Climate Change

Significantly Reduce Community-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The RCS targets reductions of community Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from 2007 levels by 33% by 2020 and by 61% by 2038. One of the nine principal goals of the OCP is “to confirm View Royal as an environmentally responsible community committed to becoming a more sustainable place and planning for global climate change.” This is consistent with RGS objectives of a low-carbon built form that supports efficient energy use, the provision of clean and renewable district energy, active transportation modes, transit service, and low/zero emissions vehicles of a low-carbon built form to reduce energy demand. Following RGS Objective 7.1 Policy 2 to adapt to climate change and set greenhouse gas emission (GHG) targets, targets are set out in Policy NE4.2 for total community GHG emissions; Policy NE4.3 for on-road and building source GHG emissions; Policy NE4.4 for corporate GHG emissions; and Policy NE4.5 for carbon neutral municipal operations.