A Guide to amending
your property’s Official Community Plan designation
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PDF format.
The Official Community Plan (OCP)
designates areas within the City limits for general types of land use,
to act as a guide for orderly growth. The OCP provides broad objectives
and policies, which address the form and character of existing and
proposed land uses. The purpose of an OCP amendment application is to
change or alter a property’s designation.
When to ask for an
Official Community Plan Amendment
If you are proposing development that is not compatible with the current
OCP designation, you will require an amendment to the OCP. A compatible
designation is required in order to develop.
What to do before you apply
Step 1: Know the
OCP and Zoning Requirements for your property.
You will need to know what
Official Community Plan and Zoning designation your property has. You
can ask Planning Staff or reference the Zoning and Land Use map
(Schedule C) displayed in the Planning Department.
Step 2: Determine
what OCP designation you would like to request.
You will need to evaluate what
your proposal is in terms of the OCP Designation categories.
Step 3: Determine
if your requested OCP designation is compatible with the Zoning.
It is required that the Zoning
is compatible with the Official Community Plan. If it is not compatible,
you may need to apply for a Rezoning with your OCP Amendment (See
Rezoning Brochure).
Step 4: Consider
the appropriateness of your request.
The City chose the OCP
designation for your property for a reason. OCP designations take into
account surrounding land uses when determining the ideal locations for
particular types of development. Be sure your designation fits into this
larger picture.
Step 5: Begin to
prepare your application.
What you need for an
application
A complete list of what is required for your application is listed in
the Submittal Checklist and Site Plan Checklist, including applicable
fees. The checklists are available at the Planning Department Front
Desk. Your application must be complete before Staff can accept your
application.
What happens to your
application
Your complete application will be reviewed by Staff, Advisory Planning
Commission and Planning Committee before it goes to Council. A technical
report will outline the proposal in terms of the appropriateness of the
use, past precedent, Council policy and capital expenditure, program
waste management or economic strategy plans.
After review from the Advisory
Planning Commission, the Planning Committee will make recommendations to
Council on how to process the application at the next available meeting
(Monthly meetings). Council has the option to give the Bylaw readings,
request changes or more information, table or refuse it.
The Bylaw must receive three
readings before it is adopted. Between First and Third Readings, a
public hearing will be held. It will be advertised for two weeks in the
newspaper before the meeting and neighbours within a100 metre radius
will receive notice. Council will consider all comments raised at the
public hearing. Then, Council has the option to give Third Reading and
Final Adoption, table it, refuse it, or request changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How
long will it take to process my application?
Processing times vary. Meeting schedules, Staff workload, the complexity
of the project and comments from other agencies factor into how quickly
the application can be processed. You can expect your application to
take at least 10 to 12 weeks.
Are my
neighbours going to be notified?
Yes, neighbours within 100 metres of your property will receive a notice
and will have the opportunity to view your file and submit comments. A
public hearing will also be held and advertised in the newspaper for two
weeks prior to the meeting.
Can I go to
the meetings?
Yes, you can attend the meetings. Please notify Staff of which meetings
you would like to attend.
What happens
if my application is denied?
If your application is denied, you can reapply six months after the
refusal date.
This publication is
intended to provide general information only. It is not intended to
be used as an official interpretation of the various codes and
regulations in effect.
Updated January 2007
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