Port Clements council is moving ahead with a full rewrite of its Official Community Plan after voting to give the updated document a second reading at its Nov. 17 meeting. The OCP is the municipality’s top planning document and must be reviewed and updated under provincial legislation.
The draft plan represents several years of work that included an advisory committee, public workshops, surveys, interviews and a legal review. It draws from the 2024 Housing Needs Report and incorporates mapping and policy recommendations from McElhanney. The update also reflects new demographic information, servicing capacity, environmental studies and provincial housing legislation.
The plan outlines the village’s long term vision for land use, development and community services. It sets policies for housing, transportation, infrastructure, economic development, environmental management, food security and climate response. Once adopted, all bylaws and capital works must align with the OCP.
Housing accounts for a large portion of the document. The plan identifies capacity for at least 100 additional homes on existing serviced land through infill and multi unit development. It supports secondary suites, duplexes, fourplexes, townhouses and small apartment buildings. It also encourages converting non residential buildings into housing where appropriate. The plan notes that Port Clements’ water and wastewater systems have enough capacity to support population growth well beyond current levels.
Population data in the draft shows the village grew to 340 residents in 2021, up 20.6 per cent from 2016. The plan also summarizes employment patterns, income levels and age distribution, using Statistics Canada and BC Stats data for Haida Gwaii.
New climate and hazard sections reference the 2023 Haida Gwaii coastal flooding and erosion study, the 2021 Community Wildfire Protection Plan and the village’s commitments under the provincial Climate Action Charter. The draft outlines targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and recommends minimum elevations for new habitable buildings. Proposed measures include expanded trail connections, support for active transportation and exploration of clean energy options.
The land use section reorganizes the village into updated designations, including Village Centre, Village Residential, Low Density Estate Residential, Medium Density Residential, Future Residential, Highway Commercial, Industrial and Resource Management. Each designation sets out permitted uses, servicing expectations and development form.
Transportation policies are also updated. The plan supports inter-community transit, new pedestrian links and upgrades to Bayview Drive. It identifies long term goals such as a bypass route using Alder Avenue, improvements to Rainbow Wharf and better marine access points.
Council must hold a public hearing before considering third reading and adoption. If approved, the new OCP will replace the previous plan and guide municipal planning decisions for the coming years.
