Following a robust engagement process that included more than 2,350 community interactions, Qualicum Beach council provided a set of policy directions to guide the next phase of the town's Official Community Plan review.
The guide was set at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on June 25.
While housing was widely recognized as an urgent and growing need, council’s policy directions emphasized the importance of balancing growth with sustainability, environmental protection, and preserving Qualicum Beach’s small-town charm.
This extensive public input gathered through surveys, open houses, pop-up events and interest-holder meetings also showed support for increased walkability and energy efficiency.
The Committee of the Whole endorsed the following policy recommendations to be integrated into the updated OCP, based on the input from residents on four core questions: who should new housing serve, where it should go, what it should look like, and how the town should support housing.
— Who housing should prioritize: The OCP will emphasize providing housing for young people, families, workers, older seniors, and persons with disabilities.
— Where new housing should go: Council approved a targeted growth approach primarily focused on infill and redevelopment within existing urban areas. This includes:
— Designating four properties north of the airport as a new “Airport Mixed-Use Area”, supporting live-work housing and light industry, with requirements for noise buffering and housing affordability.
— Including the non-ALR parcels on the south side of Rupert Road (between Memorial Avenue and Qualicum Road) within the Urban Containment Boundary.
— Amending the Urban Containment Boundary to exclude West Qualicum Beach lands to preserve ecological integrity until a viable development proposal emerges.
— Including a policy to only consider extensions of the town’s boundary when significant environmental or community benefits are secured.
— Including a policy to encourage the Regional District of Nanaimo to retain rural and resource land use designations and discourage new residential development on lands bordering the Town to protect rural lands.
— Maintaining existing policies that discourage Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) exclusion proposals for residential development.
— What housing should look like: Council approved the continuation of strong design controls using the existing design guidelines.
— How the town should be involved: Council made the decision to defer the inclusion of a policy to prioritize certain types of town involvement in housing until they have had the opportunity for more fulsome discussion.
The following directions were also provided to improve the usability of the OCP:
— That a policy be established outlining the criteria for assessing whether a project complies with the Official Community Plan (OCP) for the purpose of determining its eligibility for a public hearing.
— That the OCP structure be streamlined to provide a tighter focus on land use and development policies, in a way that is more user-friendly
Staff will draft the OCP amendment, to be presented to council in September, with a public hearing to follow in October. The bylaw will then be adopted prior to the end of 2025 to meet the province’s deadline.
Further detailed planning will continue into early 2026, when the town completes the Ways to Achieve Affordable Housing strategy. This next phase will develop actionable implementation plans to advance housing solutions and meet the needs of residents across all income levels.
