The Local Government Act authorizes the development of Official Community Plans (OCPs) in BC (Sections 875-879). An official community plan is a local government bylaw that provides objectives and policies to guide decisions on planning and land use management within the area covered by the plan. OCPs are significant because, after their adoption, all bylaws and works undertaken by a Council or Board must be consistent with the plan. Every OCP will be slightly different but each will address core aspects of a community such as:
In a small community, an OCP will typically have more information and play a more central role in governance with policies, regulations and guidelines, including extensive detail on many issues.
For a larger community, an OCP will more often be an overarching, vision and policy document that is accompanied by a wide range of policy, plans and regulatory documents that cover each issue in more detail.
An Official Community Plan (OCP) is possibly the most important plan in a community for reducing emissions. It establishes:
OCPs are typically updated every 5 to10 years, but their long-term vision means they set a course for many decades.
The Green Communities legislation (Bill 27, 2008) [4], which amended the Local Government Act and Vancouver Charter, introduced changes that enable local governmentsto address climate action in their communities. Among these changes is a requirement for local governments to have targets, policies and actions to reduce GHG emissions in their Official Community Plans by May 31, 2010, and in [5]Regional Growth Strategies [5], for those regional districts by May 31, 2011. Bill 27 [4] also allows for Development Permit Areas [2] that promote energy and water conservation, and reduce greenhouse gases at the single family dwelling level.
Many local governments have already begun to meet this challenge through:
1. Developing the Strategic Framework
2. Land Use and Transportation
3. Form, Function and Siting of Buildings
4. Waste and Water: 5 R’s ‐ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and Residuals Management
5. Retaining and Enhancing the Natural Environment
Find guides and more information resources about Bill 27 here. [6]
Community Examples
Links
[1] https://www.toolkit.bc.ca/tools/greenways
[2] https://www.toolkit.bc.ca/tool/development-permit-area-guidelines
[3] https://www.toolkit.bc.ca/tool/density-bonusing
[4] http://www.leg.bc.ca/38th4th/1st_read/gov27-1.htm
[5] https://www.toolkit.bc.ca/tool/regional-growth-strategy
[6] https://www.toolkit.bc.ca/resource/local-government-green-communities-legislative-amendments-bill-27-2008-information-resources
[7] http://www.whistler2010.com/
[8] http://smartplanningbc.ca/_Library/docs/Schedule_A-D_-_SlocanOCP.pdf
[9] http://smartplanningbc.ca/_Library/docs/2_3cc_ocp_adopted_jul808_amended_may1710.pdf