Planning Projects

Sidney’s Economic Development Plan was approved by Council at the January 23, 2023 Council meeting.

The plan looks at a cross-section of the community’s economic sectors, including:

• Marine
• Industrial
• Tourism
• Commercial & Retail
• Transportation

Planning was undertaken by Lions Gate Consulting with input from Sidney’s business community. The plan includes recommendations for initiatives that may be undertaken over the next five-to-seven years to support the success of the local economy. The plan identifies 14 priorities, including employment land preservation, and expansion of non-market/workforce housing, among others.

The plan was funded through Canada-BC Safe Restart funds.

The most recent update to the Town of Sidney’s OCP began in March 2020. Following a two-year process of community engagement and plan development, Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2240 was adopted by Council following a Public Hearing on June 27, 2022 and reflects the values and shared vision of the community.

Take a look at Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2240 and at the Official Community Plan page for more information on this project.

On July 18, 2022, Council approved the updated Climate Action Plan.

The Climate Action Plan has 51 actions across eight different focus areas that address the different ways Sidney can take action on climate change:

• Transportation
• Buildings
• Land use
• Food & waste
• Natural environment
• Town leadership
• Infrastructure
• Emergency Preparedness

While the two engagement periods for the Climate Action Plan update have concluded and feedback has been incorporated into the plan, you are still welcome to share comments and questions at any time via email at climateaction@sidney.ca or by phone at 250-656-1725.

You can also stop by Town Hall in person during business hours to chat with the Climate Action Planner about the plan.

Take a look at the Climate Action Plan page for more information on this project.

Sidney’s Housing Needs Assessment was completed in 2019. In 2018 the Provincial Government amended the Local Government Act to make the preparation and consideration of a Housing Needs Assessment mandatory for municipalities in BC. Together, legislation and regulations specify requirements for local government related to housing needs reports.

These requirements include:

• Collecting information to identify current and projected housing needs
• Using that information to prepare and publish an online housing needs report which shows current and projected housing needs for at least the next five years
• Considering the most recently collected information and housing needs report when amending official community plans and regional growth strategies

More information on this project can be found on the Housing Needs Assessment page.

Beginning in June 2018, the Town of Sidney and consultant Barefoot Planning worked to develop Park Concept Plans for Resthaven Park, Rathdown Park, and Brethour Park. These plans provide future goals for each park, which the Town can then work towards over the next few years.

Public input was collected through surveys, pop-up events, and an interactive open house. The final concept plan for each park was developed based on the feedback received.

Council has directed staff to analyze recommended park improvements outlined in the concept plans and bring forward potential projects for consideration as part of annual fall strategic planning and subsequent budget processes.

The Town of Sidney retained D’Ambrosio Architecture of Victoria to undertake the development of new streetscape and urban design standards for Sidney’s downtown core area. The Downtown Streetscape & Urban Design Standards, approved by Council on January 22, 2018, sets out design standards staff can use to improve the quality of development in Town.

It provides design concepts for streets that can be implemented as redevelopment, grant opportunities, or capital projects occur.

The intent of this project was:

• To establish design standards for downtown streets (including Beacon Avenue) that can be implemented as redevelopment, capital planning and other opportunities arise. The standards focus on encouraging active transportation as well as the creation of “places for people” in the downtown, through urban design that establishes a high standard of aesthetics and inviting public infrastructure to help enhance the central economic role of the downtown.
• To develop urban design standards that will improve the relationship of buildings to the streetscape and the space between buildings, recognizing that the downtown will be home to a variety of land uses in close proximity.

The Town of Sidney worked with Barefoot Planning to develop the Local Area Plan for Sidney’s West Side. The West Side Local Area Plan was approved by Council on September 11, 2017.

The purpose of this Local Area Plan (LAP) is to evaluate existing land use and transportation conditions and provide a “road map” to direct future change and investment in the area. The LAP provides a framework that will assist the Town in making capital infrastructure investment decisions and assessing major development proposals to ensure that both private and public investment works to achieve the vision established by the community.

The goals of the project were to:

• identify options for improving transportation (including walking, cycling, and public transit) to/from and within the area
• identify options for adding vibrancy and more ‘people spaces’ to the area
• identify the preferred long-term land use(s) for the area.

The community engagement process included a Public Ideas Fair, Stakeholder Charrette (workshop), Public Ideas Gallery, and Advisory Working Group meetings.

The completed LAP is based on public and stakeholder input, contemporary best practices for industrial areas, and neighbourhood planning principles. The resulting recommendations will ensure that the key aspects and distinctive areas of the West Side complement each other and create a strong, cohesive identity.

The Downtown Waterfront Vision plan was adopted by Council on May 8, 2017. The Town of Sidney retained Barefoot Planning to develop a vision for Sidney’s Downtown Waterfront area.

The goal of the project was to identify options for adding vibrancy and vitality to this area, enhancing it as a place where residents and visitors enjoy spending time throughout the year. The study area included the iconic Beacon Wharf – a central public space that is enjoyed by residents and visitors throughout the year.

However, the wharf needs major repairs to ensure its safety and integrity. Similarly, the Bevan Fishing Pier, Diver’s Point, and the waterfront walkway also require expensive maintenance. As a result, the Town needs a long-term plan to inform the future of these key waterfront assets.

Public consultation was central to the visioning process. The community engagement process included a Public Ideas Fair, Stakeholder Charrette (workshop), and Public Ideas Gallery.

The completed vision document is based on public and stakeholder input, contemporary best practices, and waterfront planning principles. The resulting recommendations will ensure that the key elements of the downtown waterfront complement each other and create a strong, cohesive identity.