Victoria Official Community Plan

Apologies if this has been discussed before but there is now a website for public consultation about the Victoria Community Plan at
http://www.shapeyourfuturevictoria.ca/. I haven't looked at it too carefully, but seems like an important resource for folks to make their voices heard.

Electronic surveys were set up in front of the Save-on-Foods at Westside Village the other day. It appeared as though people were quite receptive to them.

They were also in the Bay Centre yesterday, but very, very understated and not busy at all.

Reminder that this is the last day to do the survey. There will be some crazies filling this out saying the best future for Victoria is to pull up the drawbridge and halt all development so lets make sure that doesn't become the dominant theme the City hears.

http://www.shapeyourfuturevictoria.ca/

Anyone else think the survey was rubbish? Two questions that are the almost the same. Half the answers are "green", want to write in something else ... you can .. if it's "about sustainable". Nothing directly about tourism, or crime.

Anyone else think the survey was rubbish? Two questions that are the almost the same. Half the answers are "green", want to write in something else ... you can .. if it's "about sustainable". Nothing directly about tourism, or crime.

HAHA, total rubbish!! Although, I see they learned their lesson from the JSB design poll and upgraded from SurveyMonkey to SurveyGizmo...ooooooo!

I agree, the terms they gave were meaningless. What they ought to have done was flesh out some definitions or examples of what they were asking us to rank. What the hell does "Developing compact, complete neighbourhoods" mean? How does "Upgrading infrastructure" differ from "Improving community facilities?"

I also found it irritating at the beginning where it asked for my personal information so that I could automatically be entered into a prize draw. There was no mention anywhere on the shapeyourfuturevictoria site about a prize draw. As far as I know, it was added there by the survey company so that I could sign up for unreasonably jacked up natural gas rates.

1. Improving Access to Affordable Housing
2. Taking Action on Climate Change
3. Providing Green Transportation Options
4. Enhancing Economic Vitality
5. Upgrading Infrastructure
6. Strengthening Arts, Culture and Entertainment
7. Developing Compact, Complete Neighbourhoods
8. Preserving the Natural Environment
9. Improving Emergency Preparedness
10. Conserving Heritage Resources
11. Improving Community Facilities
12. Securing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Taking action on climate change, preserving the natural environment, securing renewable energy...is this really about the city of Victoria's community plan?

Enhancing economic vitality sounds like a really good idea. I think the city should really be looking into that.

Did you pick “Other” for your Sustain-a-bucks?

Sustain-a-bucks?...Sustain-a-bucks?

I thought this might be a good place to air this thought.

I just watched on Island Report where Stephen Ashton (a councilor in Tofino) has proposed a bylaw to ban some franchises like McDonald's and Starbucks from leasing or operating within city limits.

I cant imagine that this is a part of their OCP. Maybe it is.

Nevertheless that is quite a bold move for a governing body. This will no doubt draw a legal interest from Toronto.

I was always under the impression that bylaws should be consistent with Community Plans.

I just watched on Island Report where Stephen Ashton (a councilor in Tofino) has proposed a bylaw to ban some franchises like McDonald's and Starbucks from leasing or operating within city limits.

Can they legally even do this?

Can they legally even do this?

My thoughts exactly.

Is it possible to legislate that a person or a corporation is deemed unable to conduct business?

I thought that this topic was the pillar of our freedom

My thoughts exactly.

Is it possible to legislate that a person or a corporation is deemed unable to conduct business?

I thought that this topic was the pillar of our freedom

But it's not about the rights of the corporation, person or business. I see no problem with a group of individuals - a political entity - decide in a democratic fashion that they don't want fast food restaurants in their polity. They were the first and should be able to set the parameters oc their existence, provided that their rules don't harm anyone or offend social morays.

But how can you say "no starbucks", but other coffee shops are allowed. As for fast food, I'm sure they can ban drive throughs, sign color schemes, or even deep fat fryers. But as long as I can get a burger and fries at a number of restaurants, I don't see how they can ban McDonalds.

Even if they can under Canadian law, I'm sure a lawyer could find a NAFTA violation..

But how can you say "no starbucks", but other coffee shops are allowed. As for fast food, I'm sure they can ban drive throughs, sign color schemes, or even deep fat fryers. But as long as I can get a burger and fries at a number of restaurants, I don't see how they can ban McDonalds.

Even if they can under Canadian law, I'm sure a lawyer could find a NAFTA violation..

Intersting point. I suppose the rub is entrenching it in an OCP. If they just had a gentlemen's agreement around the council table to ban these restaurants, they could just vote against their business licence, development permit, etc.

But how can you say "no starbucks", but other coffee shops are allowed. As for fast food, I'm sure they can ban drive throughs, sign color schemes, or even deep fat fryers. But as long as I can get a burger and fries at a number of restaurants, I don't see how they can ban McDonalds.

Even if they can under Canadian law, I'm sure a lawyer could find a NAFTA violation..

I think you are right. If they are worried, then make bylaws that will make it harder or more pleasing for their signage etc.

It's the old Wal-mart story. Everyone hates Wal-mart, because (presumably the same) everyone shops there.

"Tofino doesn't want a Starbucks!" Well, if nobody wanted it, and none of your tourists like it, they would not last very long.

HAHA, total rubbish!! Although, I see they learned their lesson from the JSB design poll and upgraded from SurveyMonkey to SurveyGizmo...ooooooo!

I agree, the terms they gave were meaningless. What they ought to have done was flesh out some definitions or examples of what they were asking us to rank. What the hell does "Developing compact, complete neighbourhoods" mean? How does "Upgrading infrastructure" differ from "Improving community facilities?"

I also found it irritating at the beginning where it asked for my personal information so that I could automatically be entered into a prize draw. There was no mention anywhere on the shapeyourfuturevictoria site about a prize draw. As far as I know, it was added there by the survey company so that I could sign up for unreasonably jacked up natural gas rates.

These exact comments were raised at a forum on the OCP in James Bay last night.

As far as all the emphasis on sustainability, I think that the province has made it a requirement that OCPs address this issue. So Victoria decided that this would be the overarching context and that everything in the OCP will be subservient to it.......

I thought the options were pretty lame.

I tried not to vote for anything that was sustainable, because I'd like to see, just once, something that everyone says is unsustainable actually not be able to sustain itself, to see if it can really happen.

12. Securing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

I really don't understand that one, at least the first part. Hydro is renewable energy, how are we as a city supposed to secure it? Is it unsecure now, or is it likely to be in the future? Can we just sign a contract now to buy lots of it in the future?

Enhancing economic vitality sounds like a really good idea. I think the city should really be looking into that.

They've already started. A couple nights ago they asked Saanich for money, now they are going to Esquimalt and Oak Bay next. A few weeks ago they asked Vanoc for money, before that they asked the province and the CRD for money for the bridge. If they become the owner of some hotels they are set to ask others for money too. Vital stuff.

I watch all the effort that goes into creating an OCP and then see it basically ignored the moment it is adopted. It makes it easy for me to be cynical. How many people have read any part of the current OCP? How many people here plan to read the new OCP a month/a week/ a day after it is adopted? How many people honestly believe that decisions will be made based on policies that were slaved over and wordsmithed by the community, staff and politicians?

Here's my suggestion. Make the OCP a fold out double sided brochure. Want specifics. Go see the neighbourhood plan.