The Corporation of the District of North Cowichan Official Community Plan Bylaw Bylaw 3450 [Consolidated and printed by authority of the Corporate Officer under section 139 of the Community Charter. Current to July 19, 2018. Last amended June 6, 2018. Amendments: 3480, 3492, 3560, 3579, 3581, 3588, 3628, 3696.] The Council of The Corporation of the District of North Cowichan enacts as follows: 1 The Community Plan, marked Schedule “A”, attached hereto and made part of this bylaw, is hereby designated as the Official Community Plan for the Corporation of the District of North Cowichan. 2 This bylaw repeals Bylaw 3130, “Official Community Plan Bylaw 2002”, and all amendments thereto. _______________________ Read a first time on February 2, 2011 Read a second time on June 1, 2011 Considered at a Public Hearing on June 20, 2011 Read a third time on July 20, 2011 Adopted on July 20, 2011 Schedule “A” North Cowichan Official Community Plan (OCP) Page i Acknowledgements Page Members of the North Cowichan Advisory Planning Commission Citizens of North Cowichan who provided input to the process Planning staff Page ii TABLE OF CONTENTS North Cowichan Official Community Plan (OCP) ....................................................................................... i Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... iii List of Maps ................................................................................................................................................ v List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................. v Section I. The Plan Overview ................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 How the plan is organized .................................................................................................................. 6 1.2 Where the plan applies and its legal status ....................................................................................... 7 1.3 Principles ............................................................................................................................................ 7 1.3.1 Sustainability ......................................................................................................................... 7 1.3.2 Economic opportunity ............................................................................................................ 7 1.3.3 Smart growth .......................................................................................................................... 8 1.3.4 Healthy and safe community.................................................................................................. 8 1.3.5 Community engagement ........................................................................................................ 8 1.4 North Cowichan’s assets and challenges ........................................................................................... 8 1.4.1 Oceanfront municipality ......................................................................................................... 9 1.4.2 Rural land use ......................................................................................................................... 9 1.4.3 Municipal forests .................................................................................................................... 9 1.4.4 Coastal Douglas-fir Zone....................................................................................................... 10 1.4.5 Water and watersheds ......................................................................................................... 10 1.4.6 Climate change ..................................................................................................................... 10 1.4.7 The economy ........................................................................................................................ 11 1.4.8 Community core vitality ....................................................................................................... 11 1.4.9 Diversity of communities...................................................................................................... 11 1.4.10 Getting around ................................................................................................................... 12 1.4.11 Population .......................................................................................................................... 12 1.4.12 Social development ............................................................................................................ 13 1.4.13 Affordable housing ............................................................................................................. 13 1.4.14 Food security ...................................................................................................................... 13 1.4.15 Coast Salish First Nations ................................................................................................... 14 1.4.16 Regional approach .............................................................................................................. 14 Section II. Plan Goals, Objectives, and Policies ....................................................................................... 14 2.1 Preserve our rural setting ................................................................................................................ 15 2.1.1 Agriculture ............................................................................................................................ 16 2.1.2 Forestry ................................................................................................................................ 19 2.1.3 Mining and gravel extraction ............................................................................................... 23 2.1.4 Landscapes, seascapes and vistas ........................................................................................ 25 2.1.5 Housing and services in rural areas ...................................................................................... 27 2.2 Guard our environment ................................................................................................................... 30 2.2.1 Ecosystem health, biodiversity and critical habitats ............................................................. 30 2.2.2 Air quality and noise pollution .............................................................................................. 35 2.2.3 Natural hazard areas ............................................................................................................ 37 2.2.4 Archaeology........................................................................................................................... 40 2.3 Adjust to climate change .................................................................................................................. 42 2.4 Encourage economic opportunities ................................................................................................. 45 2.4.1 Economic development environment .................................................................................. 46 2.4.2 Rural- and environmental-based economic opportunities ................................................... 49 2.4.3 New technologies .................................................................................................................. 51 Page iii 2.4.4 Waterfront commercial and industrial development ........................................................... 53 2.4.5 Commerce ............................................................................................................................. 59 2.4.6 Industry ................................................................................................................................. 64 2.5 Build strong communities ................................................................................................................. 67 2.5.1 Growth management ............................................................................................................ 67 2.5.2 Housing ................................................................................................................................. 71 2.5.3 Public realm .......................................................................................................................... 77 2.5.4 Safe and healthy community ................................................................................................ 80 2.5.5 Strong neighbourhoods and communities ........................................................................... 84 2.5.6 Transportation ...................................................................................................................... 86 2.5.7 Infrastructure ....................................................................................................................... 93 2.5.8 Parks and recreation ............................................................................................................ 98 Section III. Making the Plan Work ........................................................................................................ 103 3.1 Overview of plan implementation .................................................................................................