No one can accuse Sooke council of ramming the official community plan review through at breakneck speed, and that’s a good thing.
There’s a lot of territory to cover in an OCP, which is the guiding light that shapes a community’s vision and future. It defines the framework for how land is used and developed, where homes will be built, and where shops, offices, institutions, and businesses will be permitted and constructed as Sooke moves forward.
A document with ramifications that carries that kind of clout should get all the attention, feedback, debate, and scrutiny it deserves.
Critics of the time it’s taken already argue that enough public input, energy, and expense went into the previous version of the OCP review, which stalled just short of the goal line. The delay was because it was too close to the municipal election, a notion that divided the council of the day. Three years of COVID also limited public debate and engagement to some degree.
In its current incarnation, the plan leans toward higher density and mixed-use development, mostly in the downtown core in a community that aims to achieve zero emissions.
Opponents of the plan have raised many issues, including defining development permit areas, waterfront development, a boardwalk extension and waterfront trails, among other concerns.
One theme that resonates with many who voiced their opinions for and against is a desire for more clarity and definition in the language district staff chose to illustrate the current draft.
It makes sense to tread cautiously down the path to a final decision when there are concerns with clarity and transparency.
There’s no point in hurrying something as important as the OCP when both sides can’t wrap their heads around the fine print. After all, the present council isn’t up against the clock this time for at least another three years.
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