New Official Community Plan to Guide Cumberland’s Future
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Cumberland, BC – Cumberland has a new Official Community Plan that updates the community’s long-term vision and guides growth and change for the community. Council’s adoption of the plan follows a community planning process that started in spring 2023.
“Cumberland’s new OCP, its goals, policies and vision for the Village truly encapsulate what Cumberland is all about,” says Mayor Vickey Brown. “Retaining the feeling of living in a Village as we grow was central to this work and Council members are grateful to the residents and businesses who took part in the review process. Residents attended open houses and online meetings, filled in surveys, posted comments online, and made written submissions along with attending the public hearing. Their participation provided valuable input that led to the creation of a plan that reflects the voices of the community now and into the future.”
An official community plan is an overarching document that guides municipal activities, including financial planning and setting strategic goals and project priorities. The OCP establishes policies on housing, growth management, environmental protection, climate action, heritage conservation, municipal infrastructure and transportation, economic development, recreation and parks, and overall community well-being, including diversity, equity and inclusion.
The OCP establishes land use designations in the Village that identifies areas for new residential growth as Cumberland’s population grows. It also identifies what areas are reserved for commercial and industrial development. Provincial proactive planning requirements are met by showing that sufficient land is designated for housing to meet the community’s 20-year housing need of 1,350 units. Development Permit Area guidelines seek to protect sensitive environments and guide the form and character of new development.
While the former Official Community Plan served the Village well over a period of 10 years, the underlying data and much of the context was out of date. In addition, new issues had emerged that required new or updated policy.
Highlights of the new OCP include:
- New vision statement and goals
- Stronger emphasis and policies on reconciliation with First Nations
- A single industry land use designation that includes industrial and commercial uses, providing greater flexibility for diverse enterprises to locate on industry lands in Cumberland, and which is located outside of the Comox Lake watershed, the region’s drinking water supply
- An urban containment boundary to contain new residential growth close to the Village core and limit urban sprawl
- A larger residential infill area, where the provincial Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing regulations apply that permit up to four dwelling units per lot, and additional areas designated for multi-unit housing to meet Cumberland’s five and 20-year housing need
- Illustrated Heritage Conservation Area guidelines that protect the form and character of existing heritage buildings and ensure new buildings enhance the character of the downtown commercial core
- Development Permit is no longer required for infill housing where there are four or fewer dwelling units
The Official Community Plan is available at cumberland.ca. For more information about the planning process that led up to the adoption of the OCP, visit engagecomoxvalley.ca/official-community-plan-review
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