Overview
A lot has changed in the world and in our community since Victoria’s OCP was last updated in 1995. For example, provincial legislation now requires OCPs to address affordable, rental and special needs housing, and to establish targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The BC Local Government Act requires an OCP to address:
- Residential development
- Commercial, industrial, and industrial land uses
- Land subject to hazardous conditions or environmentally sensitive to development
- Major road, sewer and water systems
- Housing policies related to affordable housing, rental housing, and special needs housing
- Public facilities, including schools, parks, and waste treatment and disposal sites
- Greenhouse gas emission policies, targets, and actions
- Regional Context Statement (links the OCP to a Regional Growth Strategy)
Victoria’s OCP, guided by the themes of the Victoria Sustainability Framework, will address a much broader range of topics. Additional topics include heritage, urban design, neighbourhood planning, economic development, transportation, resiliency, and food security.
