Official Community Plan Review

The Official Community Plan (OCP) Review is about shaping the future of West Vancouver: how housing needs can be met, where shops, services and community facilities are located, how we move around, how we can protect the environment and how we respond to climate change.

In early 2017, the District began a collaborative review of its 2004 OCP. Over the course of 2017 (through Phases 1 to 3), staff worked with the community to collect and refine your ideas for the future. Phase 4 began in February 2018 with the release and consultation on a Draft OCP.

We want to thank everyone who contributed their time and ideas to the process of planning for the future of West Vancouver.

Proposed Official Community Plan

After four phases of community engagement, including over 100 events and meetings, over 1,000 surveys and submissions, and a review process that included approximately 4,500 instances of engagement, a Public Hearing was held on Monday, June 18. At a Special Council Meeting following the close of the Public Hearing, Council gave the proposed Official Community Plan Second and Third Reading. The Official Community Plan Bylaw will go to Council for consideration of adoption at the Monday, June 25, 2018, Regular Council Meeting.

Proposed Official Community Plan Bylaw 4985, 2018

The Proposed Official Community Plan contains the following components:

Community Wide Directions The updated higher-level District-wide objectives and policies.

Schedule i: Regional Context Statement Describes the relationship between the proposed OCP and the Regional Growth Strategy.

Schedule ii: Area-Specific Policies & Guidelines Existing local area plans, built-form guidelines, and environmental permit controls.

Schedule iii: Glossary Descriptions of some of the plan’s terminology.

We've prepared a two-page summary of the Proposed Official Community Plan that outlines its objectives, targets and key policies for the future.

Proposed Official Community Plan Summary

What Happens Next?

Bylaw Introduction and First Reading: the Proposed Official Community Plan Bylaw received First Reading at the May 28, 2018, Regular Council Meeting.

Public Hearing: A Public Hearing for the proposed Official Community Plan Bylaw was held on Monday, June 18.

Following the close of the Public Hearing, a Special Council Meeting was held where Council gave the proposed Official Community Plan Bylaw Second and Third Reading. Video of the Public Hearing and Special Council Meeting is available.

The Official Community Plan Bylaw will go to Council for consideration of adoption at the Monday, June 25, Regular Council Meeting.

If Council adopts the Official Community Plan, it triggers further, more specific community consultation to update West Vancouver’s Local Area Plans. Local Area Plans will be developed for Ambleside Town Centre, Horseshoe Bay, Taylor Way and Cypress Village. Each of the Local Area Plans will have their own comprehensive public consultation process.

Phase 4 Engagement

Public engagement has shaped all phases of the Official Community Plan Review. In Phase 4, beginning in February 2018, the community was asked to provide input and feedback on a Draft OCP.

To see how the Draft Plan (February 2018) has been edited and refined into the Proposed Plan (May 2018):

Track changes version of the Draft Plan

To see a summary of Phase 4 public engagement and a full transcript of all feedback received on the Draft Plan:

Phase 4 Public Engagement Summary Report

Phase 4 Public Engagement Transcript

To see how the Proposed Official Community Plan compares to the existing 2004 OCP:

Comparison Document

Community Meeting

Thank you to everyone that came out to learn more about the Proposed Official Community Plan on Thursday, May 10 at Sentinel Secondary School.

If you were unable to attend, a video will be available soon. Below is a copy of the presentation from the community meeting:

Community Meeting Presentation

Video of this Community Meeting

Phase 4: Draft Plan

Public engagement for Phase 4 of the Official Community Plan review has been completed.

We thank everyone who participated in one of the various public engagement events in Phase 4 (Draft Plan) and for contributing their feedback on the future of West Vancouver.

Draft Official Community Plan

Area-specific policies and guidelines from the existing Official Community Plan will be maintained and transferred to the new Official Community Plan. They are provided, for information, here:

Official Community Plan: Part 2 (Existing Area-Specific Policies & Guidelines)

Get informed about the Draft Plan & the OCP review process

In Phase 4, we produced an informational video and visual summary of the Draft Plan. For more information, review the materials below.

Visual Summary of Draft Plan

Phase 3: Directions

Public engagement for Phase 3: Directions of the Official Community Plan review has been completed.

We thank everyone who participated in one of the various public engagement events in Phase 3 and for contributing their feedback on the future of West Vancouver.

In Phase 1 we asked about your Objectives and in Phase 2 you gave us your Ideas to make them happen.

Phase 3 was about the directions that have emerged from citizen input into the process so far, and taking deep dives into the five Official Community Plan topics: Housing & Neighbourhoods, Transportation, Local Economy, Parks & Environment and Social Well-Being.

Summary Report

We would like to thank everyone who participated in Phase 3 of public engagement for the Official Community Plan (OCP) Policy Chapter Review and shared their ideas for the future of West Vancouver with us!

A Public Engagement Summary Report that summarizes the feedback and input we received from the community during Phase 3 is now available.

Council Report | Official Community Plan Review: Preparation of a Draft Plan

Phase 3 Public Engagement Summary Report

Phase 3 Full Transcript of Public Comments

Public consultation in Phase 3 included:

topic-specific Directions Workshops
housing pop-up events
a survey on each OCP topic

Directions Papers

A Directions Paper is created for each topic. These resources present the Directions that have emerged from the process to date and were used to inform Public Engagement in Phase 3.

Social Well-being

Local Economy

Housing and Neighbourhoods

Parks and Environment

Transportation

Phase 2: Ideas

Public engagement for Phase 2: Ideas of the Official Community Plan review has been completed.

We thank everyone who participated in one of the various public engagement events for contributing their ideas and energy to the future of West Vancouver.

Phase 2 focused on developing Ideas for how the District could advance or meet the Objectives that emerged from Phase 1. The community will then be engaged in turning these “Ideas” into topic-specific “Directions” that will then form the basis for policies of the Draft Plan.

Staff will be providing an Official Community Plan Review status report and outlining next steps in the process to Council at their October 16 Council Meeting.

Summary Report

We would like to thank everyone who participated in Phase 2 of public engagement for the Official Community Plan (OCP) Policy Chapter Review this summer and shared their ideas for the future of West Vancouver with us!

A Public Engagement Summary Report that summarizes the feedback and input we received from the community during Phase 2 is now available.

Council Report | Official Community Plan Review: Status Report

Phase 2 Public Engagement Summary Report

Phase 2 Full Transcript of Public Comments

Pop-Up Planning Office

Planning staff held Pop-Up Planning Offices throughout August at the West Vancouver Memorial Library, Gleneagles and West Vancouver Community Centres.

Thank you to everyone who came by and visited a Pop-Up Planning Office.

Ideas Workbook

Thank you to everyone that completed an Ideas Workbook. The submission process is now closed and we are no longer accepting Ideas Workbooks. Please contact us if you have any questions about your Ideas Workbook.

Phase 1: Objectives

Public engagement for Phase 1: Objectives of the Policy Chapter Review component of the Official Community Plan review has been completed.

We thank everyone who participated in one of the various public engagement events for contributing their ideas and energy to the future of West Vancouver.

Summary Report

Phase 1–Public Engagement Summary Report

This report provides an overview of the engagement events and public feedback received during Phase 1. Some highlights of the process so far:

over 1,200 web page views
12 stakeholder meetings
Youth Brainstorm
two World Cafés

Phase 1–Public Engagement Full Transcript

Having completed Phase 1, staff presented a Progress Report to Council at their regular meeting on Monday, June 19 and we have now moved into Phase 2: Ideas.

Progress Report

Background

West Vancouver has a tremendous opportunity to plan for its future through a review of its Official Community Plan (OCP) and the development of a robust policy framework to guide planning decisions.

The review process will build upon the key principles and values of the existing 2004 plan, capture a decade of citizen working group input, and engage the community and stakeholders on emerging issues like housing, local area plans and climate change.

The OCP review will provide a number of opportunities for citizen engagement throughout the coming year as various policies are reviewed and local area plans are developed.

The OCP Review is made up of a number of components parts including a review of policy chapters and the development of local area plans for centres and corridors.

Local Area Plans

Another component of the OCP Review is the preparation of Local Area Plans for centres and corridors.

These are locations where growth and change can be anticipated and the process for each of these plans will vary based on the scope and unique conditions of each area.

Marine Drive Local Area Plan and Design Guidelines: A Public Hearing for the Marine Drive Local Area Plan and Design Guidelines was held on June 5, 2017. The amending bylaw to adopt the Plan was adopted at a Regular Council Meeting on June 19, 2017. Please see the project webpage for details on the plan.
Ambleside Town Centre: Pending conclusion on the Marine Drive Local Area Plan, work will begin on the Ambleside Town Centre Plan. The District has tremendous opportunity and need to plan to ensure that development in the decades to come supports the needs of current and future residents and businesses. Anticipated: 2016–18. Stay tuned for information about the launch of the Ambleside Town Centre Planning Process.
Cypress Village: The recommendations of the Upper Lands Working Group will be used as a “framework” in preparing the Cypress Village Area Development Plan. The main private landowner in the Upper Lands, British Pacific Properties (BPP), has begun the “pre-application” phase for this project, which will be followed by a municipally-led planning process including a citizen Working Group.
Upper Taylor Way Corridor: The Taylor Way corridor (from Keith Road to Highway 1) is a prominent gateway into West Vancouver, close to frequent transit and commercial services. Recent land use changes along the corridor have seen new multi-family development and institutional uses (including a memory care centre) and this plan will look at the suitability of other land use changes to guide the future of this corridor. Anticipated: 2018.
Horseshoe Bay: An updated plan for Horseshoe Bay Village is not anticipated to be prepared during the OCP review timeframe (2015-18); however a revised OCP is expected to provide a basis or framework for preparing a plan post- 2018.

Working Group Reports

Following adoption of the 2004 Official Community Plan (OCP), a number of citizen-led Working Groups were formed to respond to emerging issues and develop new plans and strategies.

Significant community engagement occurred as part of these working group projects, which represent our community’s own ideas and objectives for the District. A key part of the OCP review will be to reflect as appropriate these various plans and strategies in a revised OCP to ensure this valuable citizen input is captured.

Consistent with its purpose as a land use document, the OCP review will consider Working Group reports that address land use issues:

Heritage Strategic Plan

Parks Master Plan

Strategic Transportation Plan

Climate Action Plan

Community Dialogue on Neighbourhood Character & Housing

Environmental Strategy

Upper Lands Study Review

Community Energy & Emissions Working Group

Ongoing Initiatives

Demographic , Housing & Employment Projections: Received by Council for Information on July 4, 2016.
Housing Diversity and Affordability: Presented to Council on July 4, 2016 and will be used to inform Local Area Planning Processes and refreshed housing policies.
Neighbourhood Character and Building Bulk: Zoning bylaw amendments for fence heights, on-site landscaping standards and lot consolidation regulations were adopted by Council June 6, 2016 and work will continue on additional regulatory changes through the fall/winter of 2016. Formation of a Tree Bylaw Working Group is currently underway.
Ambleside Waterfront Concept Plan: Endorsed by Council for implementation and consultation June 13, 2016.

How can I get involved?

Stay updated

A significant part of the OCP review will be to capture ten years of public consultation guided by citizen-led working groups. As individual components of the OCP review move forward there will be further opportunities for citizens and stakeholders to get involved with these various projects. This will include the participation in local area plans, the formation of a Cypress Village Working Group, and engagement streams such as workshops, stakeholder meetings, community surveys, open houses and other events to review and discuss updated OCP chapters and policies. In order to stay up to date on the various projects you can:

Sign up for project updates
Follow the District on social media for announcements of events
Review background materials to learn about the work that has already been done

Keep checking this page for more information and updates on the various components of the OCP review project.

What is an Official Community Plan

What’s an Official Community Plan (OCP)?
It's a community-wide land-use policy document that helps shape the future of West Vancouver. It includes policy chapters about housing, economy, transportation, parks, environment and social well-being.

Why is the District reviewing it now?
The current OCP was adopted in 2004 and the time is right to review it to ensure the community has a planning tool to address the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Why does it matter?
Because the OCP is the District’s number one planning tool for the next five to ten years, and because it touches citizens’ lives in some way every day: how housing needs can be met, where shops, services and community facilities are located, how we move around, how we can protect the environment and how we respond to climate change.

Current Projects