Residents of North Cowichan have just one week left to share their thoughts on the guiding principles that could determine development and planning decisions over the next decade or more in the district municipality. Dec. 8 is the last day for filling out a survey, expressing opinions on an Official Community Plan document two-years in the making.
Focus areas in draft OCP are:
- Climate action & social justice
- Growth management
- Resilient communities
- Housing
- Regeneration & protection of natural environment
- Food security & local agricultural systems
- Local regenerative economy
- Infrastructure
For Chemainus, one of North Cowichan’s identified ‘growth areas’, the draft plan includes several ‘targets’ that will affect development in the coming years, including:
- 75% of new residential units will be in growth centres
- Increase number of social infrastructure facilities including quality, affordable childcare, recreation centres, and increase amount of accessible public realm, and park space
- Increase the number of resident trips made by active modes or transit
- Increase the number of purpose-built rental units by 20%.
- New housing units approved and built will be a mix of 30% detached 70% attached
Those targets, and the goals they are listed under, are to be achieved with nine ‘principles’ in mind. Two of the principles – Climate Action and Social Justice & Equity – are overarching, and will influence all aspects of the OCP. The remaining principles come under the headings: Regeneration and Interdependence; Healthy and Safe Community; Economic Opportunity; Community Engagement; Reconciliation and Relationship Building; Change Adaptation and Resilience; Responsive Governance and Active Leadership.
You can read the draft OCP or download a PDF copy from the Municipality of North Cowichan website. You can also complete the survey from the MNC website.
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