The Township of Esquimalt will hold a community forum to discuss the height and density of future developments on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, from 6:00 to 9:30 pm at the Esquimalt Municipal Hall, 1229 Esquimalt Road. The forum will include a panel of experts who will present information on the economics of land use, the effect an Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning regulations can have on the built form of the community, and how regulations can encourage or discourage new development. Following the presentations, residents will have a chance to ask questions and share their comments with the panel.
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins views the forum as an educational opportunity for both Council and the community. “We want to see positive growth in Esquimalt and we need to know how future development will help create a vibrant community. This forum is an opportunity for residents to learn what the impact of height and density on our community is and to discuss what is acceptable,” says Mayor Barb Desjardins.
Esquimalt’s Director of Development Services, Barbara Snyder adds, “We have an excellent line-up of speakers scheduled, which includes architects, planners and representatives from the development community. The purpose of the forum is to discuss whether the terms in our OCP encourages future growth.”
The Official Community Plan (OCP) is a statement of the municipality’s goals and policies and is intended to provide direction for future growth and development in the community. Currently, Esquimalt’s OCP generally limits the height of proposed multi-unit, high rise residential developments to 10 storeys. A copy of Esquimalt’s Official Community Plan is available for viewing on Esquimalt’s municipal website at, www.esquimalt.ca, by clicking here.