Official Community Plan
In BC, the Local Government Act requires all municipalities to prepare and adopt an Official Community Plan (OCP). An OCP is a bylaw that sets out the broad objectives and policies that guide decisions on planning, land use and provision of municipal services in the community. It also establishes a degree of certainty about the location and nature of community change to residents and landowners while providing a framework for guiding and managing future development and growth.
Official Community Plan Review Project
At the January 2019 Strategic Planning Session, Council indicated that a review of the Town of Sidney OCP was a high priority and directed staff to begin work on this project. The January 24, 2019 staff memorandum from that meeting contains an overview of the legislative requirements for OCPs, potential Town objectives, and more.
Housing Needs Assessment
Provincial legislation requires municipalities to undertake Housing Needs Assessments (HNA) in advance of the development of a new Official Community Plan. Staff focused their efforts during 2019 on completing the HNA. The HNA project was successfully completed in October 2019, and staff are now focusing on the OCP review as the top planning priority for 2020 and 2021.
Proposed Approach
A staff report to provide Council with an overview of the proposed approach to the OCP Review project, its objectives, and process will be considered at the December 9, 2019 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Sidney's Current Official Community Plan
Sidney's Official Community Plan was adopted by Council on May 14, 2007.
Sidney's OCP includes the Downtown/Downtown Waterfront Local Area Plan (LAP) as Schedule A. The LAP is a specific plan for the downtown core and waterfront area. Sidney's OCP also includes the West Side Local Area Plan (WSLAP) as Schedule B. The WSLAP provides detailed policies and recommendations to guide the future of the West Side neighbourhood over the next 30 years.
OCP Documents
- Official Community Plan Bylaw 1920
- OCP - Downtown/Downtown Waterfront Local Area Plan
- OCP - West Side Local Area Plan
- OCP - Map
Town Resources
Contact Information
Development Services
250-656-1725
developmentservices@sidney.ca