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Salt Spring OCP and LUB Update

Latest news:

The Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee’s OCP-LUB Project Advisory Planning Commission will be meeting on December 16, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The meeting will focus on review of a draft OCP Gap Analysis, which highlights opportunities to strengthen and modernize the OCP to better reflect current community needs and provincial requirements. While the existing OCP covers many important topics, improvements can be made to enhance clarity, usability, and alignment while updating housing, environmental and climate goals. The review encourages a more streamlined and accessible document that supports clear and effective decision making.

What is an Official Community Plan (OCP)?

 An OCP implements the community’s vision.

It provides a long-term strategy for land use management, outlining broad objectives and policies to guide future growth and development of the community.

An OCP:                                                                                           

  • Outlines the community’s desired vision
  • Includes objectives and policies to achieve vision
  • Includes a framework that officials use to justify land-use decisions
  • Enables developers and residents to plan with clarity and confidence
  • Aligns with other municipal bylaws and zoning amendments
  • Protects the community by guiding land use away from hazards such as flood zones and steep slopes

An OCP does not:

  • Get approved without being vetted by the community
  • Contain objectives and policies contrary to community vision
  • Override provincial requirements for housing needs
  • Rezone land or stop future rezoning applications from being submitted
  • Remove or alter the island’s population goals
  • Remove existing protections that have been established through regulatory document

 What is a Land Use Bylaw (LUB)?

 A LUB creates regulation based on OCP policy

A LUB is developed in alignment with an OCP policy, turning high level vision into local regulation. A Land Use Bylaw implements the community vision included in the OCP on the ground by regulating the use and development of land, and the construction of buildings on the land.

The Salt Spring Island Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw update project aims to refresh 1999/2008 policy and regulation through a community driven process to identify and implement current and flexible options to address current housing gaps. Through this exercise, LTC will remain committed to implementing solutions in line with:

  • The interests of First Nations with treaty and territorial interests in the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area
  • Ecosystem integrity and connectivity
  • Climate change resiliency

Project Advisory Planning Commission

The Project Advisory Planning Commission (PAPC) is an essential part of the community engagement and land use planning process for this project. The PAPC will promote community engagement and the project process by providing advice to the LTC for consideration. These volunteer roles provide an opportunity to help shape land use policies and regulations that will guide the future of Salt Spring Island.

In May 2025, the PAPC members were appointed:

  • Eric G. March (Chair)
  • Tim Hiltz
  • Anne Gunn
  • Robert Steinback
  • Riley Donovana
  • Maxine Leichter
  • John Cade

Public Engagement Opportunities

Public engagement activities will be continuing in the New Year, but no formal engagement is active at this time.  Public input is welcome throughout the project. Please be sure to let us know that you are reaching out about the OCP-LUB Project, specifically when submitting any correspondence:

Stay up-to-date:

  • Sign up for future engagement information here.
  • Follow this space, and Islands Trust’s Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn social media channels to learn more.

Updates

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Questions?

ssiinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca|1-250-537-9144

What is a Complete Communities Assessment?

Part of Phase 1 of the OCP/LUB update was the Complete Communities Assessment, and it took place in the Fall and Winter of 2024. The assessment included a grant-funded Complete Communities Assessment, in accordance with the UBCM Guide. This assessment aims to identify gaps in the communities completeness, through various lenses including Transportation, Housing, Amenities, and the Environment. Learn more about the Complete Communities Assessment here.

OCP-LUB
  • 1 - About the Project
  • 2 - Staff Reports
  • 3 - Proposed Bylaws-none
  • 4 - Public Correspondence
  • 5 - Community Consultation-none
  • 6 - Other Information
  • 7 - Project APC Business

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this my only chance to provide input?
A: No! This is the first of three major engagement phases. You’ll have multiple opportunities throughout 2026 to review and shape draft policies.

Q: How will my Phase 1 input be used?
A: All Phase 1 input will be analyzed and summarized in a report that directly guides policy development for Phase 2.

Q: When will I see the results of this engagement?
A: We’ll share a Summary of Engagement Findings Report following Phase 1, and draft policies based on your input will be presented in Phase 2 (early-mid 2026).