April 29, 2026
Town of Sidney Council Meeting Highlights: April 27, 2026
Sidney BC
Highlights from regular Council meetings provide a brief summary of some items of broad public interest. The summary is not inclusive of all agenda items. Please refer to sidney.civicweb.net/Portal for the full agenda, minutes, and webcast.
Amendments to Official Community Plan heading to public hearing
Council has given first and second readings to proposed amendments to the Official Community Plan, advancing these changes to a Public Hearing, anticipated to be held in May.
The proposed amendments would ensure the Official Community Plan aligns with Council decisions and initiatives in recent years. Key amendments include:
- Expanding eligibility for Temporary Use Permits: To give Council greater flexibility to support short-term or trial uses such as seasonal businesses or temporary community needs, Temporary Use Permits could be considered in all residential land use designations, as well as in additional areas including the Neighbourhood Commercial, Airport Commercial, Harbour Road Marine, Institutional, Marine, and Park land use designations.
- Creation of a Tenant Protection Development Permit Area: To help mitigate the impacts on tenants where there is a loss of affordable rental housing, eight older purpose-built rental properties in Sidney would be included in a new Tenant Protection Development Permit Area. If Council later adopts a Tenant Protection Bylaw (currently in development), it would apply to these properties.
- Updating park land designation: The proposed amendment would update the Official Community Plan map to reflect the newly acquired park at 10097 and 10103 Third Street, purchased in 2024. This is an early step in formally establishing the nearly one-acre site near downtown as a municipal park. The property is currently used as open green space. The Town will engage with the community in the future to develop a detailed park concept plan.
- Aligning height limits across residential areas: Following Provincial Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing legislation, which now permits up to three storeys in areas previously designated for single-family residential use, the Neighbourhood Townhouse designation would be updated to a maximum height of three storeys from the current 2.5 storeys. This would create greater consistency across residential areas in Sidney, ensuring the Neighbourhood Townhouse designation has a similar height limit with surrounding residential areas. Any increase in permitted height for subsequent developments within the Neighbourhood Townhouse designation would still require Council approval through a zoning amendment or Development Variance Permit.
Council supports next steps for Sidney Transit Hub
Council has approved in principle a revised concept plan for the Sidney Transit Hub proposed for Lot E, across from the Mary Winspear Centre, along with continued planning and design work to refine the project, develop cost estimates, and support a future funding application by BC Transit.
The decision follows a presentation by BC Transit at the April 20 Committee of the Whole meeting, which included results from public and stakeholder engagement conducted in 2025, as well as a revised concept plan. Design updates include removing previously proposed turning restrictions, maintaining access for adjacent properties, and exploring pedestrian safety improvements and potential washroom facilities.
The transit hub would support future RapidBus service connecting the Peninsula to downtown Victoria. Construction by BC Transit could begin within two to three years, subject to funding.
BC Transit Presentation: Sidney Transit Hub Update Video
Updated Development Cost Charge Bylaw moves forward for Provincial Review
An updated Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw has been given three readings by Council and will now be submitted to the Provincial Inspector of Municipalities for review and approval.
The Town has been working toward updating Sidney’s DCC Bylaw to ensure that new growth contributes more appropriately to the cost of infrastructure such as water, sewer, drainage, parks, and roads. The current bylaw from 1998 no longer reflects today’s construction costs or community needs.
The proposed new rates, developed with input from the development community, would remain lower than most in the region, helping to keep Sidney an attractive place to build.
Over the next 20 years, the updated DCC program is projected to generate more than $22 million to support growth-related infrastructure and promote a more financially sustainable approach to community development.
Once the bylaw is adopted, any in-stream applications would have 12 months to apply for a building permit under the existing rates. The new DCC rates would apply to all applications received after the bylaw is adopted.
Multi-sport court installation and parking lot paving planned for Philip Brethour Park
Philip Brethour Park will undergo two significant upgrades this year: the construction of a new multi-sport court and the paving of the parking lot. Following a competitive procurement process, Council approved the construction of the multi-sport court project to Five Star Paving Co. Ltd. for $262,660. The new full-size, asphalt-based court will accommodate a number of sports including basketball and ball hockey, and will include fencing and sports equipment to support active living on the west side of Sidney.