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Gibsons council took a step toward finalizing its updated Official Community Plan (OCP) at its Oct. 7 regular meeting, endorsing a series of policy recommendations informed by months of public engagement.
The OCP update, developed with support from planning consultants McElhanney, aims to guide growth and development in Gibsons over the next decade.
The second phase of public engagement, held from July 28 to Aug. 25, drew input from more than 200 survey respondents, dozens of email submissions, and hundreds of in-person interactions at pop-up events across town.
“Feedback highlights the importance of striking a balance between addressing housing needs through an increase in density and protecting the natural environment that defines the community’s context,” reads the Phase 2 What We Heard Report.
Among the most significant proposed changes:
- Charman Lands redesignated: In response to strong public concern (42.5% of comments), the Charman Lands will be redesignated from Civic Institutional to Parks and Recreation and Conservation and Open Space. This move aims to “futureproof the area from development” while preserving forested trails and natural assets.
- Density adjustments in upper gibsons: Some areas previously designated for High-Density Residential will be changed to Medium-Density Residential to reduce potential conflicts with adjacent low-density neighbourhoods. The change addresses concerns about privacy, building massing, and infrastructure capacity.
- Land use clarifications: The Service Commercial designation will be renamed Industrial Commercial to better reflect its intent and reduce confusion. This includes removing the Tourist Commercial designation and replacing it with Mixed-Use Commercial, which the report says will “better enable a mix of commercial and residential uses in Lower Gibsons and Gospel Rock.”
- Development Permit Areas (DPAs): Proposed DPAs received high levels of support, with 74% of comments in favour of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas DPA and 66% in favour of the Aquifer Protection DPA. No changes were recommended to these areas, “given the detailed analysis and data completed by multiple consultants and Gibsons staff to inform the proposed provisions,” the report said.
Council also reviewed feedback from key stakeholders, including BC Transit, the Agricultural Land Commission, Squamish Nation, and Vancouver Coastal Health.
“This is the last opportunity for Council to provide policy direction before bringing the Official Community Plan forward for first reading and scheduling a public hearing in late fall,” said Director of Planning Lesley-Anne Staats in her staff report.
The OCP update is being coordinated with a new Zoning Bylaw, which is currently undergoing its own public engagement process .Council is expected to receive a summary of zoning feedback later this month, with first readings of both bylaws scheduled for November.
The project is funded through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, with a target completion date of Dec. 31. Council also approved an additional $25,000 from the fund to complete the work.
Jordan Copp is Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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