TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: November 3, 2025 Report No. DEV-25-049
TO: Council
FROM: Jakub Lisowski, Planner
SUBJECT: Official Community Plan Project - 1st and 2nd Readings of Bylaw
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council give 1st and 2nd readings to Official Community Plan Bylaw, 2018, No. 2922, Amendment Bylaw, 2025, No. 3176.
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
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"). 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 Committee of the Whole recommended at their September 15, 2025, meeting that Council amend the Official Community Plan Bylaw, 2018, No. 2922, with the following resolutions:
* Restrict the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of townhomes to 0.7 with no density bonusing.
* Allow commercial development in all residential areas throughout the Township, with appropriate guidelines.
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 and density.
* Making housekeeping amendments as outlined in the staff report.
The final proposed version of the OCP, with suggested changes included, is found in Appendix "B". A Track Changes version of the OCP is found in Appendix "C". Staff have prepared a table that describes the proposed changes in Appendix "D". This table can be read together with the Track Changes version of the OCP in Appendix "C" to better understand the proposed changes.
Chronology:
* November 30, 2023: Bill 44 Housing Statutes (Res...
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