On Monday at Sooke Municipal Hall, council opened more public debate about one of the most significant, most watched, and most hotly debated decisions of their term, the Official Community Plan (OCP).
 
The mayor and council wanted to hear more from residents and stakeholders on their concerns and changes to the 240 page plan, including zoning, development, housing density, the environment, key issues like affordable housing, and transportation.
 
More than 26 people signed up to speak to council, and 149 letters were received about the official community plan (OCP), one of the higher totals in recent years for a single council item.
 
Most speakers were waterfront property owners who opposed a proposal to restrict new development in a 15 metre zone above the high-tide mark.
 
The issue came to a head before the meeting when local developer Randy Clarkston circulated a letter calling on property owners to oppose the OCP draft.
 
Clarkston called the proposal an attack on waterfront homeowners' property rights in his letter.
 
Clarkston did not speak at the meeting.
 
Sooke staff said the proposed 15 metre setback would only apply to existing waterfront properties if the owner applies for a development permit.
 
The OCP encourages softer shoreline protection methods, such as planting beach vegetation instead of building retaining walls and seawalls.
 
Mayor Maja Tait said in an interview before the meeting that she hoped to clarify and enhance the language in the document, adding council and staff are committed to community well-being and developing a plan that works for everyone.
 
Coun. Al Beddows, council's representative on the now-defunct OCP advisory committee, said there is confusion with the OCP, and the district needs to do more to explain it.
 
"I've had trouble with the OCP with some of the wording, sometimes it takes two or three passes to figure out what is meant," he said.
 
He cited the Transportation master plan, and the Parks and Trail master plan, showing a trail system and a boardwalk along the inner harbour.
 
Those reports are included in the OCP and were the cause of concern with the 15 metre setback.
 
Beddows said both plans were produced after lengthy public input and debate.
 
"It's an aspirational thing. It doesn't mean it's going to happen. It doesn't even mean its feasible. We would have to cost that out and it would be prohibitive. We would have to take people's property and we're not about to do that under any circumstance," he said.
 
Municipal staff will present proposed amendments to the official community plan to council on 10 Jul 2023.
 
On 17 Jul 2023 council will hold another meeting to discuss the OCP.
 
The Housing Supply Act proposed by the province is another factor that will impact the finalization of the OCP.
 
It is expected to affect housing targets and governance in local municipalities and is anticipated to be introduced this fall.
 
Kevin Laird.