Official Community Plan

An Official Community Plan (OCP) is one of the key policy documents adopted by City Council. It is developed through a collaborative process that includes the participation of people that live and work in the community. As a result, it is a document that expresses the community’s vision for the future. The OCP is used by Council when considering issues relating to: residential, commercial, and industrial development; the provision and maintenance of parks and recreation amenities; the natural environment; transportation infrastructure and the orderly provision of utilities.

Land use decisions made by Council must be consistent with the objectives and policies outlined in the Plan. However, an OCP is strictly a policy document. In order for an OCP to be effective, several tools are required to implement the policies and objectives. This includes the use of regulations or guidelines such as those contained in the zoning bylaw, development permit areas, capital expenditures planning, and subdivision control. These bylaws and regulations must be consistent with the Plan. An OCP is intended to be a “living” document that reflects new trends within society and responds to changing circumstances within the City. As such, following careful consideration by Council, policies and land use designations in an OCP may be revised through adoption of an amending bylaw in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act. Community plans typically involve a 20 year planning horizon and are reviewed at least once every five years to assess whether the goals and objectives and subsequent policy direction remains valid for the community.

The City of Port Alberni Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 4602 was given Final Adoption at a regular meeting of Council on April 10, 2007. Copies of the Official Community Plan Bylaw can be obtained from the Planning Department at City Hall or online by clicking on the links below:

Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 4602 (.pdf)

Schedule A - Land Use Map (.pdf) (This will take awhile to render. Please be patient.)

Note that this map is an office consolidation only and is provided for your convenience. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy up to July 12, 2010, however it does not consitute a legal map. For accurate information refer to specific bylaws and amendments available at City Hall.

Official Community Plan Bylaw Amendment Process in the City of Port Alberni.

Table of Amending Bylaws

Disclaimer

Information about the Official Community Plan is provided for convenience only. For complete, currently accurate wording of the Bylaw please consult the City Planning Department or purchase a hard copy of the Official Community Plan Bylaw and its amending Bylaws at City Hall.

The documents in this section are all in .pdf format. If you do not currently have the Abobe Acrobat Viewer on your system it can be downloaded, free of charge, from Adobe.