It's a deep dive into how Chilliwack will continue to grow in the next 25 years.
With provincial housing mandates looming large, Chilliwack residents are being asked now to weigh in on the Chilliwack 2050 official community plan survey.
City of Chilliwack announced it would be updating its Official Community Plan (OCP), the planning document that guides the city's growth and development over the next 25 years, and the public consultation is part of it.
The survey will help build on the policy and land-use priorities from the 2014 OCP to articulate a future vision for Chilliwack, "while taking into account recent changes in housing demands and provincial legislation," according to the Oct. 25 city release.
The survey is on until Nov. 24.
“With changes to provincial legislation mandating that municipalities must not hold public hearings for certain types of residential rezoning applications, it is integral that residents participate in the OCP process and help shape the new plan,” said Mayor Popove. “We’ve experienced an incredible amount of growth in Chilliwack since our last OCP and taking the Chilliwack 2050 survey will help shape the next phase of Chilliwack’s growth.”
The OCP update is expected to be done by late 2025.
Council approved a bylaw in February 2024 attesting that the City of Chilliwack will no longer hold public hearings for any residential development rezonings that are consistent with height and density rules under the Official Community Plan.
Chilliwack received more than half a million in provincial funding last year to complete a OCP review and update, along with a housing needs plan, and it hired Modus Planning and Design and Engagement Consultants in an RFP to complete the deliverables with a project team.
Modus officials in a report to council last month explained what the OCP 2050 update will achieve:
"It aims to help address ongoing pressures, like housing demand and climate impacts, and to align the city’s policies with new provincial housing legislation. Chilliwack 2050 is anticipated to be complete in Fall 2025.
"Over the next year or so, residents, business owners, community organizations, government agencies, and other levels of government will be invited to help shape the new OCP."
Residents can access the OCP survey online or in person, online at engagechilliwack.com/chwk2050, in person at city hall.
The public can pick up a hard copy of the survey from city hall and return it in person or by mail to 8550 Young Road, Chilliwack, BC V2P 8A4, c/o Long Range Planning Department. Anyone with access needs or questions about the survey, can contact the Long Range Planning Department directly at chilliwack2050@chilliwack.com or 604-793-2906.
Under the new housing legislation, public hearings will only be held for temporary use permits, development variance permits, and rezoning applications which do not align with the Official Community Plan. Every OCP in B.C. has to be updated by Dec. 31, 2025.
