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An Official Community Plan (OCP) guides land use and development. All municipal policies, plans and regulations must be in alignment with the OCP. An OCP review is an opportunity for the District to ensure that the goals and objectives remain relevant.

DRAFT OCP now available for preview.
Public feedback on draft will be received September 14, 2021-October 17, 2021

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  • Since an Official Community Plan is a long-term guiding document, it is important that the community is involved in developing the plan.

In the fall,  these themes emerged from citizen visioning (phase one). This visioning will be combined with scientific data on current growth trends in our next phase of community consultation.

Phase two of the community conversation looked to confirm and apply the vision identified in the fall. View the Phase 2 Engagement Summary to see what we heard from the 1200+ participants.

WHERE WE ARE NOW: Phase three will provide public with the opportunity to comment on the DRAFT OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN. Feedback will be received September 14, 2021-October 17, 2021.

How to provide feedback during phase three:

During the September 14 to October 17, 2021 public feedback period:

  • Join online discussion forums through and interact with comments from other residents through letstalk.sooke.ca
  • Participate at in-person events on September 18th, 10am-3pm, John Phillips Memorial Parks and/or October 7th, 2:30pm-7:30pm, Sooke Municipal Hall, Council Chambers
  • Submit a comment form or email ocp@sooke.ca
  • Connect at community pop-ups around town!


WATCH the Draft OCP Presentation to Council, August 30, 2021:

  • Timestamps: 14:38 Introduction; 17:58 Remarks from OCP Advisory Committee; 25:00 Presentation from DIALOG, Project Consultants; 1:10:20 Discussion

Phase four looks to BYLAW ADOPTION in early 2022.

Infographics

CED Infographic
Housing and Affordability Infographic
Transportation Infographic
What is FAR information sheet
Equitable Community Infographic
Natural Areas Infographic
GHG Reduction Infographic
Arts and Culture Infographic

What Sooke residents are saying

Select centre image to enlarge. Click through comments at your own pace. 
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"I'm surprised that I don't see anyone mention the idea that it is a horrible plan to have a major highway run right through the center of our town. We need to decide the boundaries of the town in a generous way and then run all the highway traffic along that freeway...with roads then coming down to the town from there for local access. If we don't think of this now, then the roundabout area (center of town is going to be chock ablock full. It's like building a beautiful building on no foundation. I'm surprised this is not even being discussed. That's what a long term plan is. Sooke will never have a nice green quality to it if we have a busy highway running right through the center of everything. Perhaps I have missed something? Perhaps I don't know about a new highway plan??? If not then our town will never be a people place. I thought that was the idea. Thanks so much for listening."
Sooke Resident
"Tiny homes can still generate a tax base; albeit an affordable option for many who need a start into the housing market. Retirees, like myself, are also keen to downsize., would contribute as well."
Sooke Resident
"We need another road. Not a straightening of the existing road. We don't need to wait until the road become untenable. We need to build it now and get ahead of the situation. Not so much to make the commute "faster", but maybe reduce the congestion so that it's the same time no matter the time."
Sooke Resident
"A great thing for visitors and residents would be to build that boardwalk from Whiffin spit to Sooke landing marina with future plans to end at Sooke river."
Sooke Resident
“I don’t understand why there are subdivisions that take out all the trees and take out the space people come to Sooke for.”
Sooke Youth ResidentComment received through Sooke Youth Engagement Project
"Keep the community a community that still has small town values we choose to live out here for that reason please don't change this."
Sooke Resident
"I would love to see a beautiful tiny home village. Affordable, beautiful and energy efficient!"
Sooke Resident
"Sooke needs a better town core with water access, shops and restaurants."
Sooke Resident
“Most of the retail and customer service jobs are done by youth for $20,000 a year… how can we afford ‘affordable housing’ and cars?”
Sooke Youth ResidentSooke Youth Community Engagement Project
"Keep park space abundant and local, we live in Sooke for a reason, explore the outdoors and the clean fresh air controlled growth is key more Metchosin than Langford."
Sooke Resident
How can Sooke become a greener, more equitable place to live? "City composting facilities free end product to residents. Tidal turbines to generate power and share the cost savings with residents."
Sooke Resident
"I don't want Sooke to forever be a "bedroom" community. It existed as long as Victoria. Larger businesses, more business diversity and activity for its population. Think Nelson BC, think Squamish. They have much better shopping/stores/access and still maintain a vibrant community. 14,000 people and most things take an hour drive? see large numbers of delivery trucks from stores that could be coming from Sooke instead. Every time I see a delivery truck, I see potential tax revenue going to Langford instead."
Sooke Resident
“Transportation doesn’t match the current housing situation. If you don’t have a vehicle, you can’t get around.”
Sooke Youth ResidentSooke Youth Community Engagement Project
"We want to move away, but we want to come back to raise our families."
Sooke Youth ResidentSooke Youth Community Engagement Project
"Please protect and enhance air quality. Please protect and enhance all aspects of water quality, both fresh water and salt water. Please focus on healthy pedestrian corridors to access city parks and greenways. Please provide pedestrians with protection from all wheeled transportation. Too much municipal efforts everywhere are focused on the wars between motorists and cyclists. Please focus on pedestrians first and foremost. Do not favour one wheeled transportation mode over the other. Provide quality infrastructure for all wheeled transportation modes without compromising pedestrian mobility and safety. When I go to the City of Victoria I now have to watch for my safety and the safety of those I walk with not only from motor vehicles but especially bike lane users as they are now closer to the sidewalks than motor vehicles and those users are increasingly adopting the bad behaviours of roadway users."
Sooke Resident
"Transportation options and housing options must improve greatly for Sooke to grow successfully. Growth will be impossible to stop because of regional land values and the drawbridge and moat mindsets of the core cities. Sooke should study the City of Maple Ridge. Maple Ridge resembles Sooke more than any other Metro BC city I can think of with a provincial highway that slices right through and into the core of the city. Very much like Sooke, Maple Ridge is one hour from the Metro core and has one foot in the urban core (commuters) and one foot in the great outdoors. The set-ups of these two cities makes them almost twins ( One major roadway in and out, unable to compete with neighbouring powerhouse cities for industrial and commercial development and poor pedestrian infrastructure). Sooke has tons of potential but we must think outside the box as it were. Focus on the empty side of Highway 14 at opposite times of the day and use that under utilized transportation portion to our advantage otherwise the congested side of Highway 14 will worsen rapidly and degrade our quality of life rapidly as well."
Sooke Resident
"Sooke can become a greener and more equitable place to live and work by maximizing all choices for transportation and housing options. Provide maximum choices for both and you automatically increase the number and variety of people who will choose to make Sooke their hometown. Favour one over the other and you will create resentment and narrowmindedness. If everyone sees everyone else succeeding no matter their personal choice for transportation and housing then satisfaction will be high. Pedestrians, motorized and non-motorized wheeled transportation users, renters and home owners should be able to choose for themselves. Allow the market place to provide the options for housing. Be creative with housing. Sooke has tons of space for creative housing options. The City should plan and save ahead for all forms of transportation infrastructure. Please let us move around easily and allow us to choose how we want to do it. Carbon-free transportation is at our doorstep. Do not fall into the anti-car trap model please."
Sooke Resident
"Sooke still has a good quantity of natural forest streams and beaches that needs protection from development. We have enough land already designated for human development. Keep it that way."
Sooke Resident
"I would like to see old Sooke Trading Post site (corner of Otter Pt. Rd. & Ayre Rd). be utilized for a All Inclusive Community Centre which brings together volunteer seniors, kids/teens, young/older adults to share/build/learn important life skills (cooperation, kindness, communication, patience, perseverance, etc). from one another. This builds a strong community spirit."
Sooke Resident
"As Sooke’s population grows... our schools need to able to accommodate more students and our commercial/industrial sectors need to keep up. Consideration to dropping certain large scale development fees in return for companies building sidewalks etc."
Sooke Resident
"As Sooke grows our Pacific Coastal Flavour should indeed be maintained. Where we are is “Where the Rainforest meets the Sea.”
Sooke Resident
"For Sooke to be greener and more equitable, things like purchasing land like what is available beside Mariner’s Village at the South-East corner of Sooke Rd & Church Rd."
Sooke Resident
"A shuttle bus to and from Langford is necessary. Many people commute daily for work or for amenities such as healthcare and groceries. Shuttle busses would help diminish single use of cars. It saves gas and the environment. Being allowed to claim a tax deduction would be an incentive for workers to use this system, similar to the transit system on the Mainland."
Sooke Resident
"A "sooke days" festival once a year would be fun!"
Sooke Resident
"We need much more amenities in Sooke, with better hours of operation. Local shops are closed on Sundays and/or Mondays and are not feasible for those who work full-time. Family centres such as bowling alley, laser tag, movie theatre, indoor trampoline, gymnastics, cheerleading. There is nothing here. How about a gun club? or a proper clubhouse for the Sooke sailing club. Creating a resource page would be helpful, with advertising on how to find these types of resources."
Sooke Resident
"I would love to see the waterfront more accessible to residents. Extending the existing boardwalk to the empty lot across fromMariners village. A park by the huge Gary oak tree. Having a central greenspace would be a treasure for Sooke . One with water access. I would hate to see the area completely developed with taller housing units obscuring the gorgeous view we residents have even if its just driving by."
Sooke Resident
"Please protect the views of the Basin (going beyond physical access). These views are what make Sooke stunning and should not be blocked off and privatized."
Sooke Resident
"Population doesn't have to grow. Growth should only occur in zero-carbon developments, in small-scale polycentric design, and in cases where growth allows us to reduce GHG emissions (ie: through better transit access and 5-minute communities) and north of the Highway, with south of the highway protected from further development and made public access."
Sooke Resident
"We have an opportunity here where many other communities have failed. Secure parkland, bike and hiking trails, viewpoints, and conservation areas before housing development takes over."
Sooke Resident
"Sooke needs to balance caring for nature and development - from the sports box to new housing, we have to develop the community in a way that is in harmony with nature."
Sooke Resident
"Keep the small town rural community feeling by ensuring adequate local services for seniors and families and hold developers to a higher standard than what we are seeing. Cramming as many houses onto a piece of land only meets their needs for profit."
Sooke Resident
"Protect Sooke's identity as a seaside village destination and maintain this unique character. More promotion of local business and fewer chain stores."
Sooke Resident
"We need to continue to prioritize sidewalks, outdoor eating areas, walking paths and outdoor areas like Harbourview that are reserved for specific sports!"
Sooke Resident
"Increase density, give tax breaks to businesses that beautify our town and take on a greener approach."
Sooke Resident
"We must build more affordable housing. People are tucked away/hidden in RVs everywhere b/c rent is too high. Homes are being sold w/in a week."
Sooke Resident
"We need more roads, unfortunately. So many cars from Victoria driving through on route to Jordan River every weekend."
Sooke Resident
"We must have a "homeless shelter". I'm seeing more young adults trying to stay warm in the ATM areas."
Sooke Resident
"Tiny Homes allowed."
Sooke Resident
"We must accept this is NOT a quaint, small town anymore! We must build to prep for incoming."
Sooke Resident
"We need more roads so food can come in. The LACK/scarcity makes people shop in Westshore."
Sooke Resident
"We have so many Seniors. what is there for them?"
Sooke Resident
"Maintain a balance of housing and nature. Stop clearing cutting and cramming houses onto small lots. Let people have yards with character, increase the lot sizes and save the trees. Give children a safe place to play and explore."
Sooke Resident
"Consider a tiny home village on the other side of the old John Phillips Golf Course. This area has been vacant for years. Imagine tiny houses on small lots, a community garden, gathering place, play area for children and walking trail around the perimeter. Work with the surroundings, leave the trees, landscape with native plants and leave the stream area natural."
Sooke Resident
"In addition to inclusion of all ages, races and abilities in Sooke; there should be inclusion of our native floral and fauna. The natural beauty of Sooke is what makes it special."
Sooke Resident
"We love the small town feel, the beautiful natural setting, the quaint shops, and friendly people."
Sooke Resident
"As Sooke's population grows, there needs to be ways to easy the heavy traffic."
Sooke Resident
"We love the small town feel, the beautiful natural setting, the quaint shops, and friendly people. With the shift towards an older mean age in our population predicted, Sooke definitely needs more care home facilities and improved inaccessibility access."
Sooke Resident
How can Sooke become a greener, more equitable place to live? "More affordable housing for renters and first home buyers. A water park for the children. A program to help people manage and conserve water for their gardens; including rainwater storage. A new, larger, more accessible and flexible Community Center is sorely needed."
Sooke Resident
":: Farmland needs to be protected for our food security. Are there residents who would love to have a garden but have no space? Are there farmers struggling and would like to share some of their farm space? Could we create a database to match these people?"
Sooke Resident
"Propose an amendment to the building code to include solar panels on all new construction. For residential structures also include a cistern to collect rainwater to water your garden."
Sooke Resident
"To not have another access to Sooke Sooke will become an unsafe place to live.....traffic build up, lack of access for emergency vehicles are the future if Sooke if a second road access is not available and the population growth makes the situation worse."
Sooke Resident
"A medical center for emergency is needed...VGH is just to far."
Sooke Resident
"The out laying areas are ignored....the focus needs to expand....I.e. Billing Spit Road with million dollar homes ignored for clean up after wind storms the parking area full of puddles and the trees being uprooted laying across the beach because there is no retainer wall (the homes all have retainer walls but not the area operated by the District..mud packed road sides no lines on the road .....quit a disgrace for a District that seems to pride itself on looking nice.....Glenidle, Kaltasin, Billing Spit are treated as if they are not a part of the District....how about some sewage service."
Sooke Resident
"Enjoying biking to Sooke on Galloping Goose, learning new bike trails in our visit here. Improvements could be made especially on Sooke Rd #14 to safely link downtown Sooke to these trails."
Sooke Resident
John DoeCEO
As Sooke's population grows, what must change? "Sooke Rd, especially downtown Sooke traffic is congested. Somehow traffic needs to be redirected to reduce congestion."
Sooke Resident
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Have your say & Picture Sooke with us!

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What impact will my voice have?

Your voice will inform the OCP and guide the land use and development of Sooke over the next 10 years. Land use and development impact many aspects of daily life from the types of housing available, how we get around the community and what amenities are available to enjoy, learn more. 

SOOKE-OCP-WHY
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Terrry C - why does the OCP matter
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PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON DRAFT OCP
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021-OCTOBER 17, 2021!

WHAT’S NEXT?

  • Feedback received during the September 14, 2021-October 17, 2021 consultation on the Draft OCP will be incorporated into a revised plan.
  • After further revisions, the OCP Advisory Committee will make a recommendation to Council to proceed with making the Draft Plan into a Bylaw.
  • The Bylaw will come before Council for the first reading (tabling or introduction) and the second reading (discussion in principle and on the content of the bylaw).
  • After the second reading, a public hearing on the bylaw (where the public can provide further feedback) will take place.
  • After the public hearing, the bylaw will proceed to the third reading (final discussion, including any changes made along the way) before adoption.

Where to get more information

Visit sooke.ca/ocp for more project information.

Not keen on computers? Please call us at 250.642.1634 to receive information over the phone or by mail.

2205 Otter Point Road Sooke, BC V9Z 1J2
Office Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

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What Matters to you?

What community assets and amenities do you cherish in Sooke? How can land use and development be enhanced in our community?