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File #: 25-427    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Staff Report Status: Public Hearing
File created: 11/18/2025 In control: Council
On agenda: 12/1/2025 Final action:
Title: Official Community Plan Project – Public Hearing and 3rd Reading of Bylaw, Staff Report No. DEV-25-060
Attachments: 1. Appendix A - Amendment Bylaw No. 3176.pdf, 2. Appendix B - OCP Bylaw - Proposed Amendments Incorporated, 3. Appendix C - OCP Bylaw - Track Changes version, 4. Appendix D - Table describing proposed changes to OCP, 5. Appendix E - September 15, 2025, Committee of the Whole Meeting Report - Draft (DEV-25-041), 6. Appendix F - OCP Consultation List, 7. Appendix G - Engagement Summary Report, 8. Appendix H - Agricultural Land Commission Letter, 9. Appendix I - Staff Presentation
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TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: December 1, 2025 Report No. DEV-25-060

TO: Council
FROM: Jakub Lisowski, Planner
SUBJECT: Official Community Plan Project - Public Hearing & 3rd Reading of Bylaw

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation
That Council give 3rd reading to Official Community Plan Bylaw, 2018, No. 2922, Amendment Bylaw, 2025, No. 3176.
Body

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Recent amendments to the Local Government Act require that the Official Community Plan (OCP) be amended by December 31, 2025. In addition, Council directed staff to amend the Official Community Plan Bylaw based on comments provided by the Committee of the Whole at the September 15, 2025, Council Workshop meeting (Appendix "E"). Finally, Council made three amendments at second reading on November 3, 2025. A table summarizing the proposed amendments is attached as Appendix "D". A summary of comments from the public engagement process is attached as Appendix "G". The proposed Amendment Bylaw No. 3176 is attached as Appendix "A".


BACKGROUND:

The following key amendments are being made to the OCP:

* Making necessary amendments to be compliant with recent amendments to the Local Government Act related to the most recent Housing Needs Report.
* Amending the Commercial/Commercial Mixed-use policies related to height.
* Making housekeeping amendments as outlined in the staff report.

In addition, the Committee of the Whole recommended at their September 15, 2025, meeting that Council amend the Official Community Plan Bylaw, 2018, No. 2922, as follows:

* Restrict the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of townhomes to 0.7 with no density bonusing provisions.
* Allow commercial development in all residential areas throughout the Township, with appropriate guidelines.


Council gave 1st reading and 2nd reading as amended to the amending Bylaw at the November 3rd Council meeting. The amendments at 2nd reading were as follows:

* Delete the word "Average" and remove the brackets around the wor...

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