Major changes are on the way for the City of Delta’s Official Community Plan (OCP) in the next few months.
Planning staff made a presentation to council on Monday on a communication and public engagement strategy to inform residents of the proposed changes and gather feedback. The consultations include a mail-out to all residents starting this week and upcoming information meetings.
A report to council notes that the current OCP was originally adopted in 1985, but the objectives and policies guiding growth have become outdated and unable to support current housing priorities.
The current OCP has resulted in frequent applications for OCP amendments. There are currently 30 amendment applications under development review.
An updated OCP will also increase opportunities for townhouses and apartments in areas with proximity to transit, services and infrastructure, while also allowing small-scale, multi-unit housing on residential lots.
The planning department notes there are currently few opportunities to add such housing and they usually require lengthy amendment processes.
The report also notes that a new OCP, which will require a public hearing before approval, is needed to align with new provincial housing legislation and a target given to the city by government for new units.
The city is also required to have a new OCP approved by June 30, 2024 to allow for small-scale housing.
The report notes that in order for Delta to meet its housing target of 3,607 units in five years, the city needs to average 180 net new units receiving occupancy permits each quarter. In the city’s first quarter since the housing target was issued, between Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2023, Delta added 106 new units.
Some of the other changes that will require significant work include simplifying land use designations and allowing bonus density for affordable housing and purpose-built rentals, the report adds.
