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The District will be engaging with the public on a number of important initiatives in the coming months. Please consider this your official invitation to be part of these processes.
Sechelt is currently seeking input on adding criteria for residential care facilities to our Official Community Plan (OCP). An information and input page is available on Sechelt.ca, where you can review the staff reports, send in comments and see details on the consultation events. I encourage you to complete the questionnaire on the site or at the District office. The survey looks for your opinions on how supported living facilities (similar to portions of the Greenecourt development), assisted living and memory care facilities (similar to Christenson Village), long-term care facilities (similar to Shorncliffe Centre) and facilities that offer acute, hospice or palliative care should be developed in Sechelt. The focus of this consultation is not on whether facilities should be public or private, but on creating appropriate OCP designations for facilities to help ensure new developments have the best fit with our existing and future community development. This will allow the District to move forward with consideration of the Trellis Silverstone care facility application. An Open House and E-Town Hall on the proposed OCP amendment will be held on September 7. Watch for a Community Update newsletter in the first issue of The Local in September for more background and to learn about the range of ways you can provide your input.
Public outreach on the development of our Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) will be in full force throughout September. The ICSP is an update of the District’s 2007 Visioning process, which guided development of our Official Community Plan. It will reinforce the foundation for decision making that can addresses our current situation and the impacts on our community’s future. Sechelt’s ICSP will set objectives for the environmental, social, cultural and economic dimensions that our community wants, using long-term thinking, integration and collaboration. Working with our community to define these core community values will allow you to be part of the decision making processes. Our ISCP steering committee and development consultant will be setting up a number of opportunities for community residents and groups to get involved with the creation of this cornerstone document. Again, visit Sechelt.ca for more details on how you can be involved.
In May 2017 Council adopted a 2017 to 2021 Financial Plan for the District with specific emphasis on increasing the funds available for maintenance of our capital assets. Work has already begun on the preparation of the 2018 to 2022 version of this plan. In the upcoming months the District will be actively seeking input from individuals and community groups. We encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunities provided to let us know what issues important to you, your group or your neighbourhood need to be addressed in the financial plan. Discussion about Plan development is scheduled for the agenda of the September 13 Finance, Culture and Economic Development Committee meeting and the public is welcome to attend and to learn more about the opportunities for input.
Public consultation on the updating of Sechelt’s Zoning Bylaw is being planned for October, with details to be announced shortly.
Council looks forward to receiving input from our residents on these issues.
