Gabriola Draft OCP Companion Document

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Gabriola Draft OCP Companion 
Document 
May 2026 
Background 
What is the Purpose of this Document? 
The purpose of this document is to help guide the Gabriola LTC and others interested in 
reviewing the first draft of the Gabriola Plan Area OCP. It provides guidance on how draft OCP is 
different from the existing OCP and provide rationale for the changes.   
While staff have attempted to guidance on differences between the existing and the draft OCP,  
every specific change may not have been identified. This would be very challenging given the 
significant change in format. This document may evolve as question from the public and the LTC 
emerge.  The most updated version of the document will be posted on the project webpage.   
 
What is the Purpose of an OCP? 
An Official Community Plan (OCP) in the Islands Trust Area is a long-term plan that guides how 
land is used and how future development can proceed on the islands.  
Unlike most local governments in British Columbia, the Islands Trust has a special mandate to 
preserve and protect the unique island environment, which means protecting ecosystems, 
shorelines, water resources, and the rural character of the islands is a central focus of the plan.  
Another important difference is that the Islands Trust does not provide infrastructure or services 
such as water systems, sewer systems, roads, or garbage collection- these are delivered by 
other levels of government or by service providers. As a result, this OCP focuses mainly on land 
use decisions and environmental protection rather than managing services. The OCP must align 
with higher level policies, including the Local Government Act, the Islands Trust Act, and the 
Islands Trust Policy Statement.  
The OCP provides direction not only for where and how growth may occur, but also helps shape 
the type and scale of development that is appropriate in different areas of the islands. In this 
way, the OCP reflects community values while supporting the shared responsibility to care for 
the islands for the long term. 
 
 
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When is an OCP Used? 
An OCP is used to guide decision-making about land use and development over the long term. 
It provides a framework for evaluating proposals such as rezoning applications, subdivision 
plans, and development permits to ensure they align with the community’s vision and policies. 
Local Trust Committees refer to the OCP when considering changes to land use regulations, 
helping ensure consistency, transparency, and fairness in decision-making. 
The OCP is also used by residents, landowners, developers, First Nations and other agencies 
to understand what types of development are supported in specific areas, as well as the 
environmental and community priorities that should be considered. While it does not regulate 
land directly (this is done through zoning bylaws), the OCP sets the direction for those 
regulations and helps guide future updates. 
In addition, the OCP is used as a refere

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