It’s time for the community to come together to help shape the future growth of Abbotsford.
The City’s Official Community Plan (OCP) is being updated for the first time in eight years and this is your chance to tell us how you think our city should grow over the next 25 years.
The OCP is the City’s key municipal land use planning tool and outlines the long-term vision for the growth of our community. The plan contains a statement of objectives and policies that guide decisions on municipal planning and land use management, which impacts how the community will grow and develop, as well as our sustainability and resilience as we grow toward 2050.
In response to BC Government legislative changes related to Public Hearings made through Bill 44, Public Hearings will be waived for all rezoning applications that are in alignment with the OCP going forward. This change makes your involvement in the OCP process more important than ever. The BC Government’s new housing legislation also prompts OCP changes, and the updated OCP will need to be in line with those changes as well.
As a Council, we want to hear from you on what is important when it comes to increasing housing supply, supporting the economy and job growth, coordinating transportation and land use, growing in a manner that considers climate and the environment, maximizing livability across our city, and supporting population growth. What are the most important aspects of Abbotsford that we should keep, and what should we rethink?
There are both in-person and virtual options for you to participate, including online surveys and open house events. The in-person engagement sessions are taking place Thursday, May 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mountain Elementary School (2299 Mountain Dr.), Saturday, May 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Open Space Gallery (33765 Essendene Ave.), and Friday, May 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Highstreet Mall (main plaza near Cineplex Cinemas). At these events, residents can share feedback, ask questions of City staff and learn more about the OCP and the update process. You can also submit ideas to the City online through letstalkabbotsford.ca/ocp.
We believe the OCP is a vitally important document for our community’s future. It’s a road map that will guide us toward a population of 250,000. It will significantly impact how housing develops, how transit opportunities progress, how we are going to get around in the future, and where we’re going to work and play.
Updating the OCP is a priority under Council’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan and will help us to ensure development decisions are based on our long-term strategies and not swayed from our community vision by short-term ideas.
We know Abbotsford residents have a lot of passion and opinions when it comes to the future of the community they want to live in. All of us on City Council look forward to hearing what you have to say.
Abbotsford City Council