City of Courtenay Official Community Plan - 2026 update

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PROVIDING FURTHER GUIDANCE: LOCAL AREA PLANNING

• Neighbourhood Plans – Plans for smaller geographies that focus on character, design quality, and day-to day livability. They may be standalone or nested within Greenfield or Infill Plans and provide guidance on built form and streetscape design, site and frontage treatments, heritage protection, specific locations and types of parks and amenities, pathways and local connectors, and other fine grain elements that shape neighbourhood identity. The boundaries of existing and proposed LAP's are shown in Map B-2 on the following page, along with Future Growth Areas and potential Settlement Expansion Areas, which would also be subject to the LAP process. Please note that the boundaries of proposed LAP's are to be determined through Council approval prior to commencing the LAP process. Further details about the requirements for LAPs are established under Section D. Policies associated with Settlement Expansion Areas are detailed in Land Use Objective 7.

A Local Area Plan (LAP) is a detailed, place based land use plan that is consistent with, and nested within, the broader Official Community Plan. LAPs provide more detailed direction for future growth and change and guide the evaluation of development and land use applications within defined areas of the city that goes beyond the general land use designation policies. These plans complement the broader vision established in the OCP by offering residents, landowners, applicants, and City staff greater certainty about the type, location, and scale of development that is appropriate and supportable. Three types of LAPs are recognized to reflect different growth contexts in Courtenay: • Greenfield Plans – Mid-level plans for largely undeveloped areas that set the sequence of development, the general land use pattern, and the general location of major transportation routes and public utilities. Adopted by Council, they may be initiated by the City or landowners and are required before development in Future Growth Areas and part of any municipal boundary extensions. • Infill Plans – City initiated plans for OCP identified growth centres and corridors that manage change through strategic intensification and redevelopment, address density ranges and transitions, updated infrastructure and servicing needs, public realm and amenity improvements, heritage and environmental considerations, and implementation tools.

City of Courtenay Official Community Plan