North Saanich Council holds Official Community Plan Workshop
On September 22, Mayor and Council participated in a Special Meeting of Council about the Official Community Plan (OCP) review and directed staff to return in November 2021 with a revised schedule, budget, and detailed plan for further engagement with the public for Phase 3.
The Special Meeting of Council, a facilitated workshop, was designed to re-establish a shared understanding of the principles and foundations of the OCP, provide Council direction on the early concepts presented to the public this spring, and confirm the engagement aproach for Phase 3.
“Council was satisfied with the outcome of the facilitated workshop, which provided a very good opportunity to discuss, in depth, the varied and important components of the OCP review,” said Mayor Geoff Orr. “Council looks forward to further deliberations in November.”
The population of North Saanich is expected to grow by 800-1,150 people over the next 20 years. With this growth, and as the needs of current residents change, the OCP will help guide how the community will respond to the community’s diverse needs over time.
Council emphasized the importance of highlighting the history of North Saanich, protecting and enhancing its greatest attributes, and grounding the OCP directions in six key themes: agriculture and local food systems, marine and natural systems, climate action, housing and affordability, healthy communities, and jobs and the local economy.
Council directed the project team to make a number of revisions to the concepts shared with the the public this spring and develop a detailed engagement plan to engage key stakeholders and the public through a mix of in-person and online events.
The project team will increase its involvement with the OCP Advisory Working Group, and continue conversations with the W̱SÁNEĆ communities, Town of Sidney and the District of Central Saanich, as these were also seen as essential to establishing a holistic vision of the Saanich Peninsula’s future.
To review the presentation slides from the Sept. 22 facilitated workshop, for more information about the OCP Review, and to subscribe to project updates, go to connectnorthsaanich.ca/ocp.
