Oak Bay municipal council has taken a major step forward in its Official Community Plan process after council selected the project’s consultant.
Catherine Berris Associates Inc. was chosen by council following a recommendation from the OCP project advisory committee.
“We had a lot of interest from consultants in the contract,” said Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen. “The advisory committee took some time to make their recommendation which was accepted by council.”
Although Jensen said selection of the consultant is an important one in the OCP process they are “a little behind” where they should be.
“The consultant will now begin her work in setting up a series of consultations and work plans which will culminate in the OCP, which will hopefully be finalized in the spring of 2014,” Jensen said.
The municipality’s OCP was first created in the mid-’80s, and while it has been updated numerous times, there has not been a major review since it was conceived, Jensen said.
“It’s an opportunity for us to take into account all of the changes that have occurred since the mid-’80s,” he said. “When you look at the difference between now and then, in the ‘80s no one talked in terms of smartphones, smart developments, climate change and all the other demographic changes. The new OCP will really reflect not only where we are but where we want to be in the future as we go forward.”
Jensen emphasized the importance of community involvement throughout the process and encouraged residents to keep visiting their website, oakbay.ca.