Gabriola Discussion Guide - Connectivity

Extracted text (beginning)

GABRIOLA 
OFFICIAL COMMUNITY 
PLAN REVIEW
CONNECTIVITY
ISLANDSTRUST.BC.CA/ISLAND-PLANNING/GABRIOLA/PROJECTS/GABRIOLA-OCPREVIEW
November 2024
Discussion Guides

What is a Discussion Guide? 
The Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee is updating the Official Community Plan (OCP) — which guides 
development to align with the community’s vision and values on a variety of topics. This guide is designedto 
provide community members with background needed to provide feedback on policy options related to 
connectivity.
Share your thoughts through focus groups, direct communication with the Local Trust Committee and the 
Gabriola OCP Review Topic-Focused Engagement online survey (December, 2024 - April, 2025).
What is an Official Community Plan 
(OCP) for Gabriola Island?
The OCP implements the community’s vision.
It provides a long-term strategy for land use management, 
outlining broad objectives and policies to guide future 
growth and development of the community.
The OCP must align with higher level policies.
These include the Local Government Act, the Islands Trust 
Act, and the Islands Trust Policy Statement. This ensures 
that local plans are consistent with regional and provincial 
directives.
What is NOT part of an 
Official Community Plan 
for Gabriola Island?
The OCP is not a zoning bylaw or detailed regulatory 
document. Specific regulations and enforcement 
mechanisms are found in the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) and 
must be consistent with the OCP.
The OCP does not include the provision of infrastructure 
or services. Infrastructure such as sewer, or roads, and  
community services  within the Islands Trust Area are the 
responsibility of other levels of government. 
What does the current OCP say about Connectivity?
The current Gabriola OCP places limitations on transportation and infrastructure to maintain the island’s rural 
character and environmental integrity. It prohibits land-based airports, supports water taxi services with 
proper facilities, and opposes a major ferry terminal. Road developments should respect the natural landscape 
and prioritize scenic routes, while minimizing impacts on agricultural and sensitive land. 
Parks policies note the importance of community parks, trail networks, and public access to waterfront areas. 
The importance of parkland dedication through subdivision applications is noted and collaboration between 
the Local Trust Committee and the Regional District of Nanaimo is also expressed as a key aspect of the 
development and planning for parks and outdoor recreational space on Gabriola.
Exploring Connectivity
The approach to transportation in the OCP is one of caution. It supports the existing state of transportation 
and opposes major ferry terminals and land-based airports. One exception to this is the support for new bike 
lanes in new developments and along the roads within the bicycle route plan. Improved connection to Mudge 
Island is also supported, but only if it doesn’t disturb sensitive areas and pa

First 3,000 characters. Open the original for the whole document.