2040 Offi cial Community Plan - City of Chilliwack
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2040
Official
Community Plan
1
City of Chilliwack
Bylaw No. 4025
A bylaw to designate an Official Community Plan or the City of Chilliwack
The Council of the City of Chilliwack in open mee•ng assembled enacts as follows:
1. This bylaw may be cited as “Official Community Plan Bylaw 2014, No. 4025”.
2. “Official Community Plan Bylaw 1998, No. 2588” and amendments thereto are hereby repealed.
3. Schedule “A” a•ached hereto and forming part of this Bylaw is hereby designated as the Official
Community plan of the City of Chilliwack.
Received first reading on the 2nd day of July, 2014.
Public hearing held on the 15th day of July, 2014.
Received second reading on the 15th day of July, 2014.
Received third reading on the 15th day of July, 2014.
Consulta•on Process considered by Council on the 4th day of March, 2014.
Finally passed and adopted on the 19th day of August, 2014.
_____________________________________
Mayor
_____________________________________
Deputy City Clerk
2 2040 Official Community Plan
1. INTRODUCTION
table
of contents
Page
9
Purpose of OCP Update 10
Planning Process 12
Plan Organiza•on and Structure 13
2. PLAN CONTEXT 15
Chilliwack Today 16
Regional and Provincial Planning 16
Local Planning Context 17
3. VISION & GOALS - OVERVIEW 19
4. GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES 23
GOAL 1 - MANAGE GROWTH RESPONSIBLY 24
GOAL 2 - STRENGTHEN AGRICULTURE 28
GOAL 3 - GROW THE ECONOMY 30
General Economic Development 31
Center of Excellence 31
Industrial / Business Park Development 32
Commercial Development 32
Tourism 33
Downtown Revitaliza•on 33
GOAL 4 - PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT 34
General Environmental Protec•on 34
Water Resource Management 36
Waste Management and the Environment 37
Air Quality & Energy Management 38
Stewardship 38
Environmental Enforcement 39
Gravel Extrac•on and Forest Management 39
3 2040 Official Community Plan
table of contents
Page
GOAL 5 - BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES 41
Social Well-Being 42
Educa!on and Con!nuing Learning 42
Heritage Values 43
Public Art 44
Parks and Greenspace 45
Mobility 47
U!li!es 51
Safety and Security 54
Housing 55
Neighbourhood Planning 57
5. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE 59
Land Use Designa!on Strategy Overview by Area 60
Temporary Use Permits 77
Natural Environment & Geotechnical DPAs 78
Development Permit Areas 77
Development Permit Area 1 - Municipal Watersheds and Aquifers
for Drinking Water 78
Development Permit Area 2 - Hillside and Upland Areas 83
Development Permit Area 3 - Riparian Area 85
Development Permit Areas - Commercial, Industrial, Mul!-family
Residen!al Form and Character 87
Development Permit Area 4 - Downtown Form and Character 88
Development Permit Area 5 - Urban Corridor Form and Character 89
Development Permit Area 6 - Infill Development Form and Character 91
Development Permit Area 7 - Industrial Area Form and Character 91
Development Permit Area 8 - Hillside Development 94
Comprehensive Plans 99
Development Approval Informa!on 99
Administra!on 100
Severability 100
OCP Review Schedule 100
4 2040 Official Community Plan
glossary of terms Agricultural Land Commission ALC Agricultural Land Reserve ALR Associa•on of Professional Engineers and Geoscien•sts of BC APEGBC Business Improvement Area BIA Chilliwack Economic Partners Corpora•on CEPCO Chilliwack Healthier Community CHC Crime Preven•on Through Environmental Design CPTED Development Cost Charges DCCs Environment ENV’T Environmentally Sensi•ve Areas ESAs Fraser Valley Regional District FVRD Greenhouse Gases GHG Non-Governmental Organiza•on NGO Not In My Back Yard NIMBY Official Community Plan OCP Regional Growth Strategy RGS Royal Canadian Mounted Police RCMP University of the Fraser Valley UFV 5 2040 Official Community Plan
maps ocp
Map 1 City Boundaries and Neighbourhoods
Map 2 First Na•on Reserves
Map 3 Urban Growth Boundary
Map 4 ALR
Map 5 Geological Hazard Areas
Map 6 Wildlife Habitat Areas
Map 7 Floodplain
Map 8A Watercourse Classifica•on
Map 8B Village West Riparian Setbacks
Map 9 Gravel Resource Areas
Map 10 Species at Risk
Map 11 School Sites
Map 12A Proposed New Parks
Map 12B Exis•ng and Proposed Trails
Map 13 Road Network Exis•ng and Proposed
Map 14 Community Water System Exis•ng and Proposed
Map 15 Sewer System Exis•ng and Proposed
Map 16 Storm Drainage System Exis•ng and Proposed
Land Use Designa•on Maps
Map 17A Chilliwack Proper
Map 17B Proposed Land Use (2040) Sardis-Vedder
Map 17C Proposed Land Use (2040) Yarrow
Map 17D Proposed Land Use (2040) Rosedale
Map 17E Proposed Land Use (2040) Greendale
Map 17F Proposed Land Use (2040) Rural Areas
(All OCP Maps are located at the end of the report.)
6 2040 Official Community Plan
development permit area
maps
DPA Map 1A Sardis Vedder Aquifer
DPA Map 1B Vedder River Fan
DPA Map 1C Municipal Watershed: Volkert Creek, Yarrow, Majuba Hill
DPA Map 1D Municipal Watersheds: Elk Creek and Dunville Creek
DPA Map 2A Promontory, Ryder Lake and Eastern Hillsides
DPA Map 2B Li•le Mountain
DPA Map 2C Chilliwack Mountain
DPA Map 2D Majuba Hill and Vedder Mountain
DPA Map 4 Downtown Form and Character (Heritage Core and Contemporary Core)
DPA Map 5 Urban Corridor Form and Character
DPA Map 6 Mul•ple Family Residen•al Infill and Mixed Commercial
Residen•al Development Form and Character
DPA Map 7 Industrial Area Form and Character
***Development Permit Area 3 and 8 Cover the City of Chilliwack in its en•rety
(All DPA Maps are located at the end of the report.)
7 2040 Official Community Plan
schedules
ocp
Schedule A - Regional Context Statement
Schedule B - City of Chilliwack Building Facade Design Guidelines, Development Permit
Areas: Historic Downtown Commercial Core / Contemporary Downtown
Commercial Core
Schedule C - Design Guidelines, Mul•-Family Infill Development
Schedule D - Neighbourhood Plans
1. Downtown Land Use and Development Plan
2. Eastern Hillsides Comprehensive Area Plan
3. Agricultural Area Plan
4. Alder Neighbourhood Plan
Schedule E - Growth Projec•on Tables
(All Schedules are located at the end of the report.)
8 2040 Official Community Plan
1 Introduction 9 Introduction
1
INTRODUCTION
The City of Chilliwack is the eastern gateway of the A!er European contact at the turn of the 18th centu-
Lower Mainland and one of the key urban centres ry, the Stό:lō popula•on declined significantly, reach-
in the Fraser Valley. Its history began with First Na- ing a low point in the early 1900s. Since then, the
•ons, and in the post-contact •me it evolved through Stό:lō popula•on has increased and now has one of
trade, farming and European se•lement. the fastest growing demographic profiles in the re-
gion. The Chilliwack area and surroundings con•n-
The City recognizes its aboriginal heritage, par•cu- ue to be used by the Ts’elxwéyeqw, Pilalt and other
larly in its Official Community Plan that affects lands, Stό:lō people for many tradi•onal cultural purposes
developments, all residents and the rela•onships
and prac•ces.
with First Na•ons. The Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe provides
the following First Na•ons’ perspec•ve on Chilliwack The Stό:lō people contribute to the local economy in
in history, and in its current development and future many ways, through natural resource development,
outlook: cultural tourism, educa•onal and economic devel-
opment partnerships, employment (the Stό:lō Na-
“The City of Chilliwack is within S’όlh Téméxw (Stό:lō
•on service delivery agency is one of Chilliwack’s the
Territory), with the largest popula•on of aboriginal
largest employers), environmentally friendly con-
people in close proximity to Vancouver. The Ts’elx-
wéyeqw and Pilalt are the two Stό:lō tribes whose struc•ons (the Stό:lō Resource Centre in Chilliwack
territories are directly associated with the Chilliwack maintains the only LEED Gold standard in the Cen-
municipal area. Today’s Indian Act Bands were estab- tral Fraser Valley), and sustainable resource manage-
lished in the late 1800s from some of the many his- ment (the Ts’elxwéyeqw manages natural resources
toric villages of these two tribes, including Cheam, in the Chilliwack River Valley and for the Pilalt in the
Kwaw kwaw Apilt, and Skwah (Pilalt); and Aitchelitz, Wahleach Lake area). The Stό:lō people have histori-
Skowkale, Shxwhà:y, Soowahlie, Squiala, Tzeachten, cally been and will con•nue to be an integral part of
and Yakweakwioose (Ts’elxwéyeqw). Pilalt villages the Chilliwack community.”
and reserves are located along the Hope River. Ts’elx-
The recent se•lement dates back to the Gold Rush of
wéyeqw villages and reserves are located along the
1858 when over 20,000 miners passed through the
Chilliwack River system.
area, and some of them decided to farm and sup-
The City derives its name from the Halq’eméylem ply provisions to the travellers. The socio-econom-
word “Ts’elxwéyeqw” which elder Albert Louie, of ic backdrop set Chilliwack on a path of growth and
Yakweakwioose, talked about it meaning ‘as going as community building, which is a tes•mony to its as-
far as you can go upriver’ in reference to travelling pira•ons and values and the regional influences that
by canoe up the Chilliwack River sloughs leading to have shaped the community.
Soowahlie. Halq’emeylem is the tradi•onal language
of the Stό:lō (People of the River). Amidst the zoning bylaws and planning concepts of
the 1970s rose the first Official Community Plan in
Ts’elxwéyeqw and Pilalt history, as Stό:lō tribes, ex- 1983 (under the BC Municipal Act). This plan rec-
tends thousands of years in the past. Archaeological ognized Chilliwack’s new municipal iden•ty as the
sites and evidence located within the City demon- District of Chilliwack, which was formed in 1979 as
strate the long term occupa•on and use by the Pilalt a result of the amalgama•on of the historic Town-
and Ts’elxwéyeqw. ship of Chilliwhack and the City of Chilliwack. The
10 Introduction1983 OCP recognized three exis•ng se•lements. c. Since 1998 the Province has expanded the scope
(Chilliwack proper, Sardis and Vedder) and the urban of Official Community Plans to include a regional
corridor structure that was already evident. The sub- context statement, affordable, rental and special
sequent OCPs in 1989 and 1998 reinforced the urban needs housing policy, social planning, economic
corridor form and structure, and acknowledged the development, and greenhouse gas emission tar-
importance of the downtown and other community gets. Although some of these policies have al-
cores, a density hierarchy, and edge developments. ready been added to the 1998 OCP, a plan update
Those plans also expanded the municipality’s vision enables the City to address these areas in greater
to include economic and social development. Nev- depth and in a more integrated manner under
ertheless, their focus remains on medium terms be- healthy community planning.
tween 10 and 15 years.
d. While the original OCP adopted sound environ-
This Official Community Plan projects a longer term mental and geotechnical policies, it did not incor-
vision (30 years). Under the Local Government Act porate maps of major areas of environmental or
(Sec•on 875) it is “a statement of objec•ves and pol- geotechnical sensi•vi•es. This plan update of-
icies” to guide decisions on planning and land use fers an opportunity for the City to create a data
management, ranging from land development to base, assess the key areas in the context of the
transporta•on, u•li•es, environmental protec•on/ applicable provincial and federal environmental
conserva•on, public safety, health and ameni•es. legisla•on, and through appropriate mapping,
Since the adop•on of the last OCP, the Local Govern- create a greater awareness of our environmental
ment Act has added new domains to OCP planning, assets and natural hazards among the public and
either as mandatory or recommended policies; these the development industry.
are also now parts of the OCP.
e. In the past 15 years Chilliwack’s land base for
growth and development has expanded signifi-
I. Purpose of OCP Update cantly for industries and commerce. Howev-
er, the past trend is unlikely to con•nue in the
The 1998 OCP established a plan review trigger at
future because the available urban reserve has
popula•on 85,000. With the 2013 popula•on es•-
largely been depleted. In the case of residen•al
mated at 84,600, this OCP update is both •mely and
development, it has been under this constraint
prudent from the following perspec•ves:
for over two decades and the market’s response
a. The City has been engaged in a number of hillside is urban densifica•on (with the support of the
community developments. These developments City) and leasehold developments on the First
indicate the City’s commitments to the hillside Na•on Reserves (in partnership with the First
areas; however, they are limited in scale and role Na•ons). In pursuing densifica•on and in an•c-
as part of the municipal growth strategy. This ipa•ng more development on the Reserves, this
OCP provides a more defini•ve direc•on for re- OCP Update enables the City to fine-tune its den-
spec•ve hillside areas in terms of development sifica•on strategy and add clarity, while working
prospects and policies. with the First Na•ons to coordinate community
growth and infrastructure developments.
b. In moving forward, the City needs to understand
the growth dynamics of the next three decades. In promo•ng densifica•on, the City should exam-
This requires an analysis of the changes, trends and ine its urban-ALR interface within its urban corri-
issues of the past (at least since 1998), the pres- dor (between Evans/Ashwell Road and Chilliwack
ent and the future, and the community’s ability River Road), par•cularly in loca•ons where infra-
to cope with those challenges. The OCP plans for structure lines (roads/bicycle routes/sidewalks
future infrastructure works brought on by popula- and u•lity mains) are truncated. As a result,
•on growth, while mapping out a path to support travelling has to be redirected to the overloaded
healthy community development. Vedder Road or to the fringe north-south arteri-
al roads, precipita•ng unnecessary traffic on the
11 Introductioneast-west collectors. This over-dependency on City and understand current and future challenges,
the main north-south routes has also hampered the City’s Planning and Strategic Ini•a•ves Depart-
the development of alterna•ve transporta•on ment undertook nine background studies:
such as cycling and walking, which is vital to short
trips. In fact, it has rendered automobile travel • Growth
indispensable to many households, a situa•on • Land Use
that is untenable in the long term when the City • Economic Development
grows into a much denser metropolitan centre
(132,000 by 2040). • Neighbourhood Planning and Urban Design
• Demographic Trends and Implica•ons
The ALR block east of Evans Road has also pre-
• Parks, Recrea•on and Culture
vented u•lity mains from going north-south in
network development. Currently, Sardis-Vedder • Healthier Communi•es
is served by only one north-south sewer trunk and • Environment
one north-south water main in the built-up areas. • Growth Scenarios, Servicing and Finance
This restric•on to u•lity network development, if
remaining unchanged, will have a nega•ve impact
on future densifica•on and the consolida•on of Parallel to the technical process was a series of pub-
the urban corridor. In the mean•me, the City is in lic engagement events targeted to the general pub-
need of community parkland in order to support lic, youth, community groups and business leaders.
densifica•on within the urban corridor that is to They involved the Internet, through the City website
accommodate 85% of the an•cipated growth. and PlaceSpeak (internet public forum on select top-
As the urban structure needs to transform with ics). They also employed tradi•onal public media
the various demands on the exis•ng community, such as the local newspapers and radio sta•ons. The
the urban form must follow within the context of process reached out to children and youth through
compact, healthy community development. This elementary, middle and secondary schools. Oth-
OCP Update thus represents an opportunity to er par•cipants include agencies such as the School
explore how that adjustment/ra•onaliza•on of District, Chilliwack Economic Partners Corpora•on,
the urban form should take place, especially as it the real estate/development community, and the
involves the Evans Road ALR block. Agricultural Land Commission. Approximately 900
f. It is the intent of the City to make the OCP more people directly par•cipated in the OCP engagement
readable, while staying comprehensive in scope events, whereas community exposure to the OCP
and effec•ve as a policy document and develop- events was es•mated at over 5,000 people.
ment guide. The OCP Update process emphasizes a mul•-disci-
Notwithstanding the above-noted changes, this OCP plinary approach. While the Planning and Strategic
is essen•ally an update of the 1998 OCP as it builds Ini•a•ves Department led the process and prepared
on the framework of growth and development es- the plan, other municipal departments played key
tablished by previous OCPs. It is not changing the roles in conduc•ng in-depth technical analyses and
course, but rather clarifying the City’s long term vi- recommenda•ons, and working with consultants
sion and ar•cula•ng its development direc•on in on the technical studies. This Plan represents an
greater detail in the future context of change. inter-departmental effort, as well as the result of a
broad-scale, mul•-media public consulta•on ini•a-
•ve. It is the first •me that public consulta•on em-
ployed milieus not available in the last OCP process
II. Planning Process (1997/1998) such as Internet forum, Facebook, Twit-
ter, PlaceSpeak, City website, email networking, on-
The OCP Update process started in the summer of line survey, and instant polling results and feedback
2012. In order to properly evaluate the state of the at community mee•ngs. In the end, the extensive
12 Introductionapplica•on of Internet technologies has helped the la"er is a legislated provision to support the City in
OCP Update process to get its messages out and col- reques•ng technical informa•on from development
lect public input. All of these efforts have resulted in applicants.
a more comprehensive community vision and a more
effec•ve OCP.
III. Plan Organiza•on and Structure
This Plan presents the City’s planning policies in four
sec•ons. It first iden•fies the context of the OCP, in-
cluding all regional and provincial plans, regula•ons
and strategies that affect the City’s planning and de-
velopment. It then highlights the City’s vision and
goals, building on past OCP achievements and ar-
•cula•ng the community’s aspira•on for a healthy
community future. In Sec•on 4, the vision and goal
statements define community values and aspira•ons.
They set up five themes on which policies and ac•ons
are developed, namely, growth strategy, agriculture,
economic development, the environment and com-
munity development.
Perhaps the greatest change from the previous plan
is in plan implementa•on (Sec•on 5), which now in-
cludes a land use designa•on strategy to support land
use designa•on mapping. The designa•on map is an
implementa•on tool that helps the City to manage
land use and growth according to the growth policies, In addi•on to Goal, Objec•ves, Policies and Imple-
and ensures that servicing and transporta•on plan- menta•on, the OCP contains five schedules:
ning supports the intended community layout. Such a Schedule A – Regional Context Statement
transparent designa•on strategy allows all stakehold-
ers to understand the reasoning behind the designa- Schedule B – City of Chilliwack Downtown Building
•ons; it also assists with interpreta•on of the plan, Façade Guidelines, Development Permit Areas
determining if a proposed development conforms
with or contravenes the OCP policies, or if a reason- Schedule C – Design Guidelines – Mul•ple Family
able accommoda•on can be made within the intent Infill Development
of the OCP.
Schedule D - Neighbourhood Plans (comprehen-
Development Permit Areas and their respec•ve guide- sive local area plans adopted by the City)
lines are introduced in the Implementa•on Guide as
Schedule E - Growth Projec•on Tables
they address current development concerns. They
specify design criteria and best prac•ces in managing These schedules embody the best prac•ces and de-
natural hazards and environmentally sensi•ve lands, tailed plans that the City has adopted. Although some
and set direc•ons for site and building design. Other are required by provincial legisla•on, they are includ-
planning instruments under the Implementa•on sec- ed in this plan because they truly are essen•al parts
•on are Temporary Use Permits and Development Ap- of the City’s 2040 healthy community vision.
proval Informa•on requirements. The former enables
accommoda•on of uses that warrant special consid-
era•on and are short-term by nature, whereas the
13 Introduction14
2 Plan Context 15 Plan Context
2
Plan Context
Chilliwack Today sions south along Wiltshire and east along Higginson
Road (1990s).
Chilliwack marks the start of the Lower Mainland Re-
gion, the valley plain of the Fraser River that extends Vedder was a boat crossing at the Vedder River in
from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific coast. the 19th Century, and later the loca•on of an Old Yale
This physical se•ng orients Chilliwack to the lowland Road bridge. This gateway began with a small cluster
communi•es to its west, and yet the one-hour driving of homes and commercial buildings. It changed in
distance buffer allows the community to preserve its 1941 when the federal government opened a mili-
character and lifestyle, dis•nguishing itself from the tary training base, which a!er the war expanded into
metropolis of Vancouver. The establishment of the the Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack. The influx of
Agricultural Land Reserve in 1972 has reinforced that two thousand military personnel essen•ally created
buffer and solidified Chilliwack’s iden•ty as a “city in a new town in itself. Again, the closing of the base
a sea of green”. in 1996 transformed Vedder Crossing as nearly 140
ha of prime development land was made available
Chilliwack’s gateway loca•on and fer•le valley floor to the City at a •me when its valley floor urban re-
land have, from its beginning, established trade, ser- serve was near deple•on. Today, Vedder (between
vicing and farming as the local economic base. Its Stevenson Road and the Vedder Bridge) accounts for
modern se•lement originated as a riverboat land- two-thirds of the Sardis-Vedder popula•on.
ing (Chilliwack Landing) in the 1860s, which soon
relocated inland to the Five Corners, a wagon road Over the last 150 years, these discrete communi•es
crossroads. By 1873 the Township of Chilliwhack was grew toward each other to form the urban corridor
incorporated as the third oldest municipality in Brit- we have today. Yet the original cores of these com-
ish Columbia. Soon residen•al plots were laid out muni•es have remained and they will con•nue to
around this crossroads and the pioneer core se•le- serve as the business and civic centres in the future.
ment was known as Centreville, which la•er evolved The focus of this Plan is to facilitate the con•nual
into the City of Chilliwack in 1907. Chilliwack proper, consolida•on of the urban corridor while suppor•ng
the main se•lement today, owes its beginning to a the original centres in their respec•ve social, eco-
crossroads and a landing, and to a “gateway econo- nomic and civic roles.
my” of servicing the river and land travellers.
Sardis, on the other hand, was born of farming which Regional and Provincial Planning
has a dis•nguished history in farms such as Wells The OCP is required to defer to the Fraser Valley Re-
Farm and John Haas hop fields. The urbaniza•on of gional District’s Regional Growth Strategy (RGS)and
Sardis recently took place from the late 1950s and the provincial/federal legisla•on and regula•ons. In
early 1960s when the Trans-Canada Highway was the first case, the Plan has to comply with the RGS,
built past its doorstep. Since then suburban growth especially its eight Growth Management Goals.
increased with the 1970s shopping centre develop- More specifically, the OCP has to include a Regional
ments on Luckakuck Way (parallel road to the TCH), Context Statement, describing how its policies and
large scale subdivision developments between Luck- ac•ons support, the Regional Growth Strategy.
akuck Way and Wells Road (1980s), and later exten-
16 Plan ContextThe senior government powers generally manifest remain as an informed final decision by the City on themselves in three forms. Firstly, developments af- planning and development, one that speaks to all fec•ng streams, fish and wildlife are governed by the Chilliwack residents and interests. provincial Riparian Area Regula•on and provincial and federal wildlife/endangered species legisla•on. This has a direct effect on the OCP’s environmental policies and land use designa•on. Secondly, the pro- vincial Agricultural Land Commission Act and the Ag- ricultural Land Reserve dictate where development can or cannot take place; essen•ally they define our urban growth boundaries and urban form and struc- ture. Thirdly, the provincial Local Government Act (Sec•ons 877 and 878) spells out required contents for all OCPs, including greenhouse gas emission re- duc•on targets. Local Planning Context Since the adop•on of the last OCP (1998) Chilliwack has grown from 65,000 to 84,000. By 2021 the City will reach 100,000, a metropolitan landmark accord- ing to Sta•s•cs Canada. Over the next three decades, it could grow to 132,000, an increase of 58% in pop- ula•on. This translates to an addi•on of 48,000 res- idents, 25,000 dwellings, and 21,000 plus new jobs to keep workers locally employed and the commuter number in check. To address such a growth regime, the City will have to expand its u•li•es, transporta- •on systems and ameni•es, and push towards ca- pacity thresholds and limits that must be resolved. Concurrently, the private sector will have its share of difficulty in expanding the commercial and industrial sectors for the new Chilliwack Census Metropolitan Area – all within a rela•vely fixed urban footprint. Meanwhile, the aging popula•on, community inter- ests and healthy community aspira•ons add another dimension to OCP planning. The complexity of planning in Chilliwack is further in- creased by a number of authori•es that operate or have their own domains within the City’s boundar- ies. They include the First Na•ons and their reserve developments, the School District, the Fraser Health Authority and a host of NGOs that deliver various community programs. Together with the general public, they represent a socio-economic and phys- ical environment to which the OCP must be keenly a"uned. A#er weighing all local planning factors and different jurisdic•onal concerns, the OCP should 17 Plan Context
18
3 Vision and Goals - Overview 19 Vision and Goals
3
VISION & GOALS -
OVERVIEW
The Official Community Plan is primarily a community
vision and a road map to ge•ng there. Earlier plans
emphasized short and medium term growth manage-
ment, at a •me when the en•re Lower Mainland was
confronted with challenges brought about by rapid
suburban expansion. The 1998 OCP moved beyond
growth management and aimed for a livable and sus-
tainable community. This OCP further advances that
vision with more defined a•ributes, be•er and more
comprehensive data, improved technologies and latest
best prac•ces. More importantly, it recognizes that
the ul•mate goal of planning is not confined to build-
ing a sustainable and livable physical environment, but
addressing individual and communal well-being – as
expressed in terms of health, both physical and men-
tal. It also underscores that community health entails
the par•cipa•on of all community stakeholders, and
the OCP represents only one of the key components.
The OCP envisions achieving high livability through
compact, complete community development, and pru-
dent management of its natural environment and val-
ley floor agricultural landscape. It aims to develop a
vibrant economic base that creates local, career-build-
ing jobs and ample opportuni•es for leisure and par•c-
ipa•on in community life and out-of-town commu•ng
is minimal and by choice. It fosters a community path
toward inclusivity, equity, collabora•on and resilien-
cy. It encourages Chilliwack to a•ain a great capacity
for envisioning achievement, and resolving issues and
conflicts, to embrace health through ac•ve living and
con•nuing learning and growth.
The following summarizes this vision, and presents five
suppor•ng high level goals, a framework for the poli-
cies and ac•ons set out in this OCP.
20 Vision and GoalsVISION
The City of Chilliwack is a healthy, engaged,
sustainable community.
GOAL 1 GOAL 2 GOAL 3
Manage Growth Responsibly Strengthen Agriculture Grow the Economy
Maintain urban growth Protect the urban-rural in- Diversify economic and em-
boundary, densify, compre- terface and ensure the eco- ployment opportuni•es, re-
hensively plan sustainable nomic viability of agriculture. vitalize the downtown, and
communi•es, selec•vely create jobs for the an•cipat-
develop hillsides, ensure ed popula•on increase.
development pays for itself,
and provide required infra-
structure capaci•es.
GOAL 4 GOAL 5
Protect the Environment Build Healthy
A!rac"ve Communi"es
Foster community and indi-
vidual responsibility in en- Engage the public, empha-
vironmental protec•on and size social well-being, build
enhancement. healthy environments, de-
velop infrastructure cost-ef-
fec•vely, and promote at-
trac•ve design.
21 Vision and Goals22
4 Goals, Objectives & Policies 23 Goals, Objectives and Policies
GOAL 1
MANAGE
GROWTH
RESPONSIBLY
Maintain an urban growth boundary, den- the Agricultural Land Reserve
sify, comprehensively plan sustainable • Recognize the established Urban Growth
communi•es, selec•vely develop hillsides, Boundary
ensure development pays for itself, and pro- • Concentrate growth within the urban
vide required infrastructure capaci•es. corridor of Chilliwack Proper-Sardis-Ved-
der for an effec•ve urban form and struc-
The City of Chilliwack is the urban centre of the up- ture
per Fraser Valley. In the past 30 years its popula•on • Promote densifica•on, urban design and
has doubled from 41,000 to 84,000 – through sev- planning best prac•ces
eral housing and economic cycles, and expansions • Protect the environment and direct de-
on the valley floor and hillsides. While the current velopment away from natural hazards
slower pace of growth will likely accelerate once the • Ensure a prudent financing/funding
economy and residen•al construc•on sector fully strategy that emphasizes the principle
recover, the next 30-year period will see moderate of development paying for itself in infra-
growth due to economic changes, a diminishing land structure expansions
supply, and demographic trends such as a declining
birth rate and aging. By 2040, the City’s popula•on In addi•on, this plan provides a clear direc•on, pro-
is expected to reach 132,000, an increase of 58% (av- mo•ng and fine-tuning the urban corridor focus
eraging 1.6% p.a.) Over this period, the City will be growth strategy, and defining the roles of other parts
transformed into a census metropolitan area and its of the municipality (rural communi•es and hillsides)
socio-economic and physical structures and cultural/ under such growth strategy. This informs future
community iden•ty will undergo drama•c changes. planning for servicing and parks and recrea•onal
This Plan helps an•cipate what those changes might facili•es; addresses all aspects of community devel-
be, how the City should influence those changes to opment (social, economic, and cultural and healthy
realize its aspira•ons, and which ac•ons the munic- community development); and supports the Fraser
ipality should take to ensure a smooth and effec•ve Valley Regional District’s Regional Growth Strategy,
growth and transi•on process. provincial GHG emission and other legisla•ve re-
quirements.
Chilliwack’s growth management strategy was first
fully formed in its 1983 Official Community Plan.
Through two successive OCPs (1989 and 1998), the OBJECTIVES
strategy has solidified and this Plan con•nues to
build on that growth framework, adding clarity as
new challenges arise and the community vision ex- 1. Protect agricultural land by clearly establishing
tends into the social, economic, cultural and com- how and where future urban growth will occur.
munity health realms. The following long-standing 2. Promote effec•ve and efficient community
principles of growth will con•nue: building by reinforcing the development of the
Chilliwack proper-Sardis-Vedder urban corri-
• Respect the integrity and boundaries of dor.
24 Goal 1 - Manage Growth Responsibly3. Support healthy community development a. Accommodate future growth in the Urban
through the applica•on of complete commu- Corridor through:
nity principles and planning of appropriate
community infrastructure .
• Best prac•ces for infill development, rede-
velopment and densifica•on;
Complete Community Principles are con-
cerned with the building of a func•onal, • Established development targets;
economically and environmentally sustain- • Design guidelines;
able, and liveable community, in a way that
promotes health. A Complete Community is • Strategic OCP land use designa•on;
compact and has a clear structure of neigh- • The implementa•on of the Downtown Land
bourhoods defined by centres, nodes, and Use and Development Plan and other appli-
mul•-modal corridors. It offers a variety of cable neighbourhood plans.
housing op•ons, facili•es, and open space
systems, including natural and built fea-
tures. It is walkable, conducive to cycling, Densifica"on refers to the process of rede-
and serviced by an effec•ve transit system; velopment and infilling from a lower den-
it promotes alterna•ve transporta•on choic- sity to a higher density. It involves all land
uses in urban and suburban centres. Its
es and discourages single occupancy vehicle
focus is o#en•mes residen•al, conver•ng
use. It is safe and accessible to people of all
single detached housing or subdivision to
ages. It has a strong character and dis•nc-
•ve iden•ty and promotes a sense of place townhouse, apartment and mixed commer-
through high-quality planning and design. cial-residen•al developments. The trans-
forma•on extends from individual proper-
•es to neighbourhoods, and ul•mately, the
en•re community and region. It entails not
4. Align urban growth with the City’s environ- only a change of building types, but also
mental and geotechnical objec•ves. streetscape, urban design, community liv-
5. Ensure new developments contribute ade- ability, demographics, socio-economic dy-
quate funds for future infrastructure expan- namics, infrastructure planning, municipal
sion and upgrade. finances and the overall environment, built
and natural. It supports a more compact,
POLICIES sustainable, healthy and complete commu-
nity.
1. Maintain an Urban Growth Boundary
Maintain an Urban Growth Boundary (Map 3)
around Chilliwack Proper and Sardis-Vedder to: b. Emphasize the established community cores
a. Focus and manage urban growth; of Chilliwack-proper (downtown), Sardis and
b. Iden•fy and resolve urban/agricultural edge Vedder through densifica"on and urban de-
issues in accordance with the City’s Agricul- sign.
tural Area Plan; and
c. Assist ongoing discussions with the Agricul- Urban Design involves the design and coordi-
tural Land Commission regarding opportu- na•on of all that makes up ci•es and towns:
ni•es for responding to public needs and/ buildings, public space, streets, transport, and
or strengthening agriculture. landscape. It weaves together these elements
into a coherent, organized design structure.
2. Promote Urban Corridor Densifica•on
25 Goal 1 - Manage Growth Responsibly• Reduce the intensity of densifica•on from 5. Comprehensively plan major community
the core toward the urban fringe to minimize developments
poten•al conflict with agricultural uses along
the Urban Growth Boundary. a. Adopt comprehensive plans for all major
• Enhance livability and urban design through community developments to ensure efficient
Design Guidelines pertaining to “form and use of land and alignment with OCP and/or
character” for residen•al and commercial de- neighbourhood planning goals.
velopments, Complete Community principles
and Healthier Community recommenda•ons. b. Define development boundaries and overall
• Through best prac•ce manuals, neighbour- capacity, and follow complete community
hood plans and community workshops, development principles.
inform the public and development indus- 6. Co-ordinate with First Na•ons
try about the a•ributes and advantages of
well-designed densifica•on projects. Work with First Na•ons to co-ordinate future
• Research and monitor densifica•on, and pro- developments in the City and on First Na•on
mote quality design, while addressing afford- Reserves that share common boundaries,
ability and neighbourhood concerns. or otherwise affect each other in terms of
traffic management, servicing, u•lity system
3. Comprehensively Plan Hillside Development capacity planning, environmental design,
recrea•onal facility planning, or social/eco-
a. Direct defined growth to designated hillsides nomic/cultural ac•vi•es.
that are supported by municipal services and
governed by Comprehensive Development 7. Maintain Ryder Lake as a medium to long
Area Plans, including: Promontory, East- term development reserve
ern Hillsides, Chilliwack Mountain and Li•le
Mountain. (in accordance with Schedule E - a. Maintain the current rural estate density of
Growth Projec•on Tables) Ryder Lake in support of the urban corridor
b. Through the implementa•on of the City’s Hill- focus growth strategy of this Plan, while pre-
sides Standards Policy and the development serving this upland area for development
permit process, ensure that future hillside prospect considera•on beyond 2040.
development respects the unique terrains b. Limit small acreage rural and suburban res-
of the hillsides, remains sensi•ve to special iden•al development to the current zoning
environmental features, and complies with designa•ons and discourage rezoning for a
adopted environmental planning principles, higher density.
methods and best prac•ces. c. Support appropriate agricultural ac•vi•es on
c. Protect sensi•ve environmental features ALR parcels to maintain agricultural produc-
through the design guidelines of Develop- •on and preserve the integrity of the uplands
ment Permit Area 2. as a very long term land reserve.
d. Notwithstanding (b) and subject to the condi-
4. Limit Growth in Rural Se•lements •ons in Sec•on 946 of the Local Government
Act, give considera•on to residen•al subdivi-
a. Retain the exis•ng Rural Se•lement bound- sion for the construc•on of a home for rela-
aries of Greendale, Rosedale and Yarrow, •ves of the concerned property owner.
and limit future growth to exis•ng develop- 8. Finance growth on the principle of new de-
ment areas. velopment being self-financed
b. Give considera•on to mixed use develop-
ment in designated commercial areas where a. Es•mate future servicing costs to enable
servicing requirements can be met. development cost charges planning and
regular changes to rates and assistance
26 Goal 1 - Manage Growth Responsiblystructures.
b. Ensure Development Cost Charges (DCC’s)
reflect the land use designa"ons in this
Plan when determining demands and pri-
ori"es for DCC fund use.
c. Review and update DCC’s regularly by:
• Iden"fying and involving stakeholders;
• Providing opportuni"es for thorough
public review and input; and
• Adop"ng a fair DCC rate that takes
into considera"on new development
market viability and compe""veness.
27 Goal 1 - Manage Growth ResponsiblyGOAL 2
STRENGTHEN
AGRICULTURE
Protect the urban-farmland interface, and beyond being a transit hub and embrace wealth-cre-
ensure the economic viability of agriculture. a•ng ac•vi•es that build on our unique loca•on. Ag-
riculture in Chilliwack is a wealth-crea•ng enterprise
Agriculture has a strong presence in Chilliwack with and this Plan con•nues to support it, aiming to re-
the Agricultural Land Reserve (Map 4). The ALR oc- solve differences that arise from •me to •me with ur-
cupies two-thirds of the municipality’s land base and ban growth and the pursuit of an effec•ve urban form
farmland surrounds our city and provides it with an and structure. Farmland protec•on and agricultural
idyllic se•ng; it shapes Chilliwack’s landscape, iden•- promo•on are a process and all stakeholders must be
ty and livability. engaged.
As an industry, farming in Chilliwack produces 10% of
BC’s agricultural produc•on while the City only has
0.55% of the Provincial farmland (17,000 ha plus in OBJECTIVES
total). These facts underline the significance of agri-
culture not only to Chilliwack, but also to BC and Can- 1. Protect viable, high quality, produc•ve farm-
ada as a whole. The industry’s local benefit is par- lands and the integrity of the Agricultural
•cularly evident in economic down •mes, helping to Land Reserve, especially on the Fraser Valley
sustain Chilliwack’s economy and employment level. floor.
6.7% of Chilliwack’s labour force is directly engaged in
2. Minimize conflicts between urban and agricultur-
agriculture, where the compara•ve figures for BC and
al uses.
Metro Vancouver are 5% and 1%, respec•vely.
3. Create an investment climate that recognizes
Since the establishment of the provincial Agricultur- Chilliwack’s primary role in agriculture at both
al Land Reserve, Chilliwack has been suppor•ve of the provincial and na•onal levels.
farmland protec•on and the ALR through its various
Official Community Plans and economic development 4. Support food processing and other agri-business-
strategies. In 2005 a dedicated agriculture- oriented es that are essen•al to the sustainability of agri-
industrial park was established to revitalize Chilli- culture.
wack’s food processing sector. In 2012 the City took
an important step in agricultural promo•on by col-
POLICIES
labora•ng with Chilliwack Agricultural Commission/
Chilliwack Economic Partners Corpora•on (CEPCO) in
the prepara•on of an Agricultural Area Plan, which 1. Implement the Agricultural Area Plan
was subsequently adopted. To monitor the plan’s
effec•veness, Council has appointed an Agricultural Work with the ALC (Agricultural Land Com-
Advisory Commi•ee, which is also tasked to provide mission), Provincial agencies, the University
feedback on development applica•ons that might im- of the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack Economic Part-
pact agriculture. ners Corpora•on and industry stakeholders to
implement and monitor the Agricultural Area
Public discussions on Vancouver’s gateway economy Plan and to address issues facing the agricul-
highlight the need of the Lower Mainland to move tural community.
28 Goal 2 - Strengthen Agriculturea. Provide resources and technical support the ALC, and private enterprise to pro-
to the Agricultural Advisory Commi!ee in mote agricultural development, including
the development applica"on process and agri-business park opportuni"es, energy
in the implementa"on and monitoring of cogenera"on, and animal waste manage-
the Agricultural Area Plan. ment.
b. Seek stakeholders’ input regarding the ef- b. Through CEPCO and the implementa"on
fects of boundary adjustments on agricul- of an economic development strategy, fa-
tural ac"vity. cilitate the development of agricultural,
c. Discourage residen"al estate develop- value-added products.
ment and non-farm uses in the ALR.
d. Through the development process, facil-
itate the installa"on of green buffers be-
tween poten"ally compe"ng urban and
rural uses in accordance with ALC guide-
lines.
e. Encourage best prac"ces in farming, in-
cluding the protec"on of environmental-
ly sensi"ve areas, pollu"on control, and
measures that minimize urban-agricultur-
al conflicts.
f. Direct, where appropriate, new agri-busi-
nesses and industries to designated indus-
trial districts, especially to agri-business
parks.
g. Ra"onalize the urban/agricultural inter-
face along the Urban Growth Boundary
for easy iden"fica"on of the urban limits
in the field and their permanency. Discuss
with the Agricultural Land Commission
possible minor adjustments to the ALR to
ensure a defensible and logical boundary
for the long term.
2. Promote Chilliwack’s Primary Role in
Agriculture
a. Promote Chilliwack as Bri"sh Columbia’s
primary agricultural research, develop-
ment, produc"on and processing centre.
b. Provide assistance, where needed, to the
UFV in its development of the BC School
of Agriculture as a na"onal agriculture re-
search and innova"on centre.
3. Promote Agricultural Development
a. Encourage partnerships with the agri-
cultural community, senior government,
29 Goal 2 - Strengthen AgricultureGOAL 3
GROW THE
ECONOMY
Diversify economic and employment oppor- design, but extended to the types of industries that
tuni•es, revitalize downtown, and create can thrive in a compact and intensive use environ-
jobs for the an•cipated popula•on increase. ment. One of the main inten•ons of the OCP is to
facilitate those an•cipated changes for a successful
transi•on – to ensure con•nual and robust industrial
The focus of the Official Community Plan in infra- growth in Chilliwack.
structure capacity is to facilitate economic ac•vi•es
and create employment for the projected popula•on The service sector accounts for 73% of the City’s la-
increase, and the replacement jobs that will be lost to bour force/employment: it has to be an important
future economic changes. part of Chilliwack’s economic development planning.
In today’s service economy, service growth and de-
The supply of vacant and available employment lands velopment redefines economic diversifica•on, which
within urban areas is limited: 76 ha for industries and tradi•onally refers to a calculated distribu•on of em-
12 ha for commercial growth. The constraint is accen- ployment and businesses among the primary, manu-
tuated by the surrounding ALR and the preference of facturing and service sectors. Today, economic diver-
businesses to locate on major traffic routes or with- sifica•on frequently refers to building a knowledge
in commercial centres. This nodal and corridor pat- economy, capitalizing on the informa•on age, nurtur-
tern of commercial use corresponds with the City’s ing a Learning Economy and embracing the service in-
growth strategy for compact, sustainable and healthy dustry (tourism and health care). This will influence
community development. In order to meet the 2040 Chilliwack’s future land use and economic develop-
popula•on’s commercial space needs and projected ment direc•ons, given that its assets encompass
service jobs, commercial growth will have to take Canada Educa•on Park, the University of the Fraser
place largely within exis•ng commercial centres and Valley, tourism des•na•ons, the downtown and its
corridors through densifica•on. This will trigger re- a•rac•on to the film industry. Through the OCP and
development and changes to site coverage/floor area Chilliwack Economic Partners Corpora•on (CEPCO),
ra•o (FAR), built forms (mul•-level), parking provision the City will work with various responsible agencies
(ra•o and parkade), retail format (more compact and to promote their growth and development. Efforts
higher sale per m2) and other design and opera•onal focusing on the downtown include a Downtown Land
aspects. Use and Development Plan, which has been in effect
since 2009, and a community based Downtown Plan
Although the industrial reserve is notable, the long Implementa•on Commi•ee that oversees its imple-
term challenge for space remains. Quan•ta•vely, the menta•on and ongoing planning.
current vacant industrial reserve may meet the next
12 years of demand; however, it falls far short of 2040 (Agriculture forms a separate part of the City’s eco-
needs. Changes and adapta•on will be indispensable nomic development strategy and is addressed under
and, like commercial development, industrial growth Goal 2 of this plan.)
will in large parts come through densifica•on of exist-
ing industrial development sites, and a higher FAR for In the face of current and future economic changes
the currently vacant industrial lands. Changes to the and employment challenges, the OCP can, and will,
industrial sector will not be confined to site/building play a pivotal role to ensure all of the growth capac-
30 Goal 3 - Grow the Economyi•es will be available, and in a form that respects fu- • Developing a skilled labour force
ture economic reali•es and facilitates the transi•on • Exploring research and innova•on opportu-
process. ni•es
• Expanding employment land capacity
• Nurturing community development, a bal-
GENERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT anced lifestyle and a suppor•ve business
culture
• A!rac•ng industries and commercial enter-
OBJECTIVES prises that generate high employment levels
and maximize the use of the employment
1. Build a diverse and resilient economic base land reserve or densify exis•ng business/in-
capable of providing adequate jobs for Chilli- dustrial sites.
wack’s growing labour force.
2. Create a wide array of employment prospects 4. Develop a framework for the City’s future eco-
that can meet the employment needs of youth nomic development plan and ini•a•ves with oth-
and the career aspira•ons of a skilled labour er community stakeholders.
force.
3. Expand the local economy on the City’s a. Through CEPCO, lead all stakeholders
strengths in human and natural resources, and the public in economic development
community assets, loca•on and business cul- planning, including business recruitment,
ture. marke•ng and general promo•on of the
4. Develop an economy that complements com- community.
munity values in environmental protec•on, b. Explore and promote opportuni•es for
social equity, recogni•on and celebra•on of joint ini•a•ves among Chilliwack busi-
excellence in technology, entrepreneurship nesses, enterprises, local schools, the UFV,
and innova•on, as well as stewardship and re- other educa•onal facili•es, First Na•ons,
sponsibility. the agricultural/agri-business sector and
the tourist industry.
5. Foster community and government partner-
ships in economic development.
6. Reinforce the Downtown as the economic 5. Ensure adequate growth capacity to support the
centre of the city. con•nued expansion of the local economy under
7. Create a community with knowledge and un- the condi•ons of a limited industrial and com-
derstanding of agriculture, and maximize com- mercial land reserve.
munity support for agricultural sustainability. 6. Promote both business park developments and
small industries that thrive in a mixed use, urban
POLICIES environment
7. Ini•ate and support downtown revitaliza•on proj-
ects.
1. Maintain a strong local employment base for the
long term growth of the labour force, and to con-
tain out-of-town commu•ng.
2. Iden•fy short and long term economic trends and
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
future industrial growth opportuni•es.
3. Focus long term economic development on: OBJECTIVES
• Promo•ng agriculture 1. Promote excellence in industries that reflect Chil-
• Building on natural and environmental assets liwack’s strengths, innova•on and entrepreneur-
• Capitalizing on Chilliwack’s strategic regional ship.
loca•on
31 Goal 3 - Grow the EconomyPOLICIES common industrial vision, focus industrial promo-
!on on high priority targets, and coordinate infra-
structure improvements .
1. Support the BC School of Agriculture at the Uni-
versity of the Fraser Valley in research and devel- 4. Maintain industrial lands for industrial use.
opment, skill and leadership training in agricul- 5. Develop a strategy for re-development and infilling
ture. exis!ng industrial areas, targe!ng small-to-medi-
2. Create centres of excellence and research in um industrial needs.
agri-business and cogenera!on of energy, wood 6. Apply design guidelines to encourage best prac-
product manufacturing, green technology, tour- !ces in business park site planning, landscaping
ism, entrepreneurship and the high-tech industry. and building form and character.
3. Provide appropriate incen!ves to a"ract and 7. Consolidate exis!ng industrial areas and reserves,
maintain targeted businesses. through infill and redevelopment, into readily de-
4. Encourage CEPCO, the Board of Educa!on and finable business park districts that embody the
UFV to develop programs that s!mulate business Chilliwack brand and its regional importance.
investment in educa!on, skill-training and re- 8. Improve highway access for business parks and
search and development. industrial districts, and give priority to expanding
5. Facilitate the UFV Plaza development, a business the capacity of the Lickman Interchange.
educa!on centre in the downtown. 9. Support business park development with ade-
6. Monitor and promote community-based econom- quate servicing.
ic development trends.
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
INDUSTRIAL / BUSINESS PARK DEVELOP-
MENT
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVES
1. Establish a network of commercial centres and
ar!culate their respec!ve roles through OCP land
1. Increase industrial development capacity to meet use designa!ons and neighbourhood plans.
long term employment needs.
2. Increase overall commercial growth capacity
2. Promote the development of business parks through densifica!on.
which are a"rac!vely designed, economically
sustainable, environmentally sound, and capable 3. Meet the diverse loca!on requirements of gen-
of suppor!ng the knowledge economy and indus- eral commercial, tourist-commercial, and mixed
tries that create high skilled, professional jobs, as commercial-industrial uses.
well as employment opportuni!es for youth and
less skilled workers. POLICIES
1. Designate local neighbourhood commercial cen-
POLICIES tres as part of the neighbourhood planning pro-
cess.
1. Work with CEPCO on strategies to a"ract and 2. Support the development of Vedder Crossing
grow businesses that create a high level of em- core as a vibrant pedestrian friendly commercial
ployment. area.
2. Explore land use intensifica!on strategies to im- 3. Intensify development around the cores of
prove land use efficiency and raise job/ha ra!os. Sardis-Vedder and support the long term transi-
3. Work with business park developers to develop a !on of vehicle-oriented commercial uses in the
32 Goal 3 - Grow the EconomyYou can also read
