An Official Community Plan is a document that provides direction on the key parts that make up a community, including land use, transportation, housing, environment, infrastructure, parks, agriculture, economic development, arts and culture, and more. Communities in British Columbia are granted the authority to adopt OCPs under the Local Government Act which specifies elements that an OCP must include, such as a land use map and 20-year housing needs projections. The OCP sets the framework for other policies in a community by discussing priorities and supporting policy directions. The Comox OCP will guide the implementation of the Town's vision for the next 20 years to 2045.

The OCP vision, goals, land use policies are implemented by the zoning bylaw. Zoning bylaws regulate the use of land, buildings and structures and establish boundaries of various zones. These zones outline permitted uses and define a set of rules that land, buildings and structures must follow, such as parcel size, building dimensions, location and height. A zoning map integrates land use categories defined in an OCP land use map such as residential, commercial, and industrial, amongst others.

In early 2024, the Town received funding from the Province through the Complete Communities program to conduct an assessment to inform future land use planning decisions. The OCP update will incorporate the findings from the Complete Communities Assessment to support evidence-based decision-making.

The concept of "complete communities" is broad and can be defined in various ways. In general, complete communities include:

• A range of housing types to meet the needs of residents at all life stages
• Easily accessible services and amenities
• Multi-modal transportation options to connect people with employment and daily necessities
• Efficient infrastructure that supports future growth in the right areas

The Complete Communities Assessment involved a geospatial analysis across four key areas: housing, transportation, infrastructure, and daily needs. The findings from this analysis were used to create land use scenarios aimed at enhancing Comox's status as a more complete community.

Complete communities offer numerous interconnected benefits, including more diverse housing and transportation options, improved walkability, age-friendly environments, and greater efficiency in infrastructure and service delivery. These benefits help advance various community goals.

Complete Communities Land Use Scenarios

The OCP update will take an evidence-based approach, grounded in the findings of the Complete Communities Assessment. The goal of the OCP update is to build on the assessment's findings and make Comox a more "complete community."

The Complete Communities Assessment included the creation of two land use scenarios. The land use scenarios are preliminary concepts intended to start conversations and spark ideas - they will evolve throughout the OCP update. The land use scenarios below are subject to change.