City of New Westminster
The proposed work plan to update the OCP is grouped into five areas of work:
1. Updating land use designations and Development Permit Area boundaries for properties within a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Area or properties impacted by the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing legislation;
2. Integrating the findings and 20 year housing need identified in the Interim Housing Needs Report. This includes ensuring the land use plan allows for the total amount of new housing units the communities needs over 20 years;
3. Drafting a new Regional Context Statement to align with the latest Regional Growth Strategy (Metro 2050);
4. Aligning the OCP with the City’s Community Energy and Emissions Plan 2050 (CEEP) and 2050 greenhouse gas reduction targets; and
5. Integrating the OCP related outcomes from the Townhouse and Affordable Housing Accelerator programs.
Project Scope: Work Plan
The update to the OCP would include five main work phases outlined in the table below. This would include updates to the OCP, Downtown Community Plan and Queensborough Community Plan. The work plan takes an approach whereby baseline requirements are being advanced to meet the tight timelines mandated by the Province. Once deadlines have been met, staff would undertake a second phase of work incorporating additional changes. As an example this would include updating Development Permit Area guidelines to better align with the new heights envisioned by TOD Areas. Staff would bring a work plan to Council outlining the scope of the further OCP amendments.
Financial Implications
The estimated cost for this project is $175,000, which will be partially funded by the capacity funding grant for housing from the Province and the remaining from City’s reserves. This would cover the cost associated with both the proposed work plan, and the anticipated second phase of work which would incorporate the additional changes that cannot be undertaken within the legislated timeline.