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Imagine White Rock 2045 - Official Community Plan
A new White Rock Official Community Plan, 2017, No. 2220 (PDF) (the "OCP") for the City of White Rock was completed and adopted in October 2017.
In 2018, Council directed that aspects of this new OCP be reviewed to receive further public input, including policies related to:
- Strengthening Transit
- Greening the City (on new green space and tree planting)
- Improving Housing Affordability
- Expanding Peace Arch Hospital
- Monitoring OCP Goals to Measure Success and Track Implementation
- Enhancing the Waterfront
- Reviewing Town Centre (Height, Density, and Public Space / Green Spaces)
- Reviewing Building Heights outside of the Town Centre
Further information about this OCP Review and how to get involved in the process can be found on the "2019 OCP Review" page under City Projects.
About the Plan
Bringing together nearly two years of background research, analysis, planning and design, and broad community engagement with residents and stakeholder groups, the updated OCP provides a renewed vision for White Rock, along with the policy framework required to guide growth toward that vision.
What's in It
The OCP contains policies on housing, parks and open space, arts and culture, growth management, infrastructure, transportation, economic development, and the environment. A land use map indicates the future land uses and development potential of properties within the city. Policies and mapping, together with tools and actions for implementation, will help to shape the future growth of White Rock.
More Information
If you have any questions about the Imagine White Rock 2045 - Official Community Plan Update process, or the current OCP Review, please do not hesitate to contact us through either method below, or by visiting us at the planning counter at City Hall:
- Email the Planning team
- Phone: 604-541-2136
Did you know that you can keep in touch with us on social media? Here's how:
Community Engagement
A wide variety of community engagement activities were held throughout the review process to ensure that as many people as possible had the opportunity to provide input to help shape the new Official Community Plan. Feedback was gathered through open houses, workshops, focus group sessions, ‘pop-up’ engagement events, and paper and electronic surveys.The following is a summary of the Community Engagement undertaken throughout the Official Community Plan review.
Phase 1: Process Launch and Background Data Collection (April to July 2015)
- Online Outreach: Major OCP related events and announcements were regularly posted on the City’s official Facebook page and Twitter feed.
- Pop-Up Engagement: The City established an “Imagine White Rock 2045” booth on the Farmers’ Market opening day on May 24, 2015. This booth provided an informal venue for the community to ask questions and interact with staff and to receive and submit copies of the Visioning Survey. City staff also interacted with citizens at the White Rock Fire and Police Safety Fair on May 30, 2015.
- Visioning Fair (May 24, 2015): The Visioning Fair was the first major public event in the OCP Review process. Held at the Community Centre, the Fair included more than 20 display boards and consultation activities designed to generate discussion and feedback regarding the future of White Rock. It’s estimated that more than 200 people attended the event.
- Visioning Survey (May 13 to June 17, 2015): The purpose of the Visioning Survey was to begin developing an understanding of how citizens and stakeholders would like to see White Rock evolve and grow over the next 30 years. Results of the survey was presented to Council at the end of Phase 1. The Survey (paper and electronic) closed on June 17.
Phase 2: Defining The Big Picture (August to December 2015)
- Neighbourhood Workshop (by RSVP) (September 17, 5 to 7 p.m., Community Centre): This workshop was an opportunity for the community to participate in a structured consultation event regarding different areas of White Rock - East, West, Waterfront and City Core - and discuss strengths, issues and themes in each neighbourhood. The workshop allowed community members to roll up their sleeves and put their knowledge and aspirations into action.
- Online Outreach: Major OCP related events and announcements were regularly posted on the City’s official Facebook page and Twitter feed.
- Vision and Goals Online Survey (October 8 to 26, 2015): An online survey was administered to ensure all community members had the opportunity to provide input on the draft vision and goal statements. Input collected from the Open House and the Online Survey was used to help improve and refine the draft statements.
- Vision and Goals Open House (October 8, 5 to 7 p.m., Centennial Leisure Centre Hall): This was a drop-in session where all community members were able to provide input on the draft vision and goals statements. The draft vision and goals presented at the Open House were developed in consideration of the input collected during the Vision Fair (May 2015), Visioning Survey (May-June, 2015) and Neighbourhood Workshop (September 17, 2015).
Phase 3: Building the Plan (March to October, 2016)
- Stakeholder Consultations (July to September, 2016): Building on Phase 2, the OCP Planning Team consulted with various stakeholder groups in an effort to develop a deeper understanding of the issues associated with the Guiding Principles and Vision and Goal Statements. Consultation took place with City committees, community groups, and other stakeholders, including:
- City of Surrey and School District Number 36
- Cultural Advisory Committee
- Economic Investment Committee
- Fraser Health
- Healthy Community Steering Committee
- OCP Working Group
- Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation
- Rental Housing Task Force
- Semiahmoo House Society
- Semiahmoo First Nation
- Pop-Up Engagement (October, 2016 to Various Dates): City staff set up shop at various public events and at City facilities throughout the month of October to gather feedback from the public. A combination of interactive displays and a digital survey provided residents with multiple ways to participate. Pop-up events were held on the following dates:
- October 1, Noon to 4 p.m. - Festival of Lights: Diwali Integration (Waterfront)
- October 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - White Rock Farmers’ Market (Community Centre)
- October 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - White Rock Farmers’ Market (Community Centre)
- October 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Kent Street Activity Centre
- October 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Kent Street Activity Centre
- October 30 - Great Pumpkin Run / Walk
- November 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Pop-Up-Town
- MetroQuest Survey (October, 2016): This was an online survey that allowed residents to prioritize issues and opportunities through a visually-rich platform. The survey was open from October 11 to November 13, 2016.
- Policy Directions Workshop (October 18, 2016, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Centennial Arena Hall) This workshop was an opportunity for the community to participate in a structured consultation event, focusing on policy directions, to provide input for use in the development of policies to help achieve the Vision and Goals developed in Phase 2 of the OCP Review.
- Growth Management Workshops (October 25, 2016, 2 to 4 p.m., First United Church and November 1, 2016, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Centennial Arena Hall) Structured growth workshops provided opportunities to explore ideas for the “look and feel” of future growth in the City, including typologies, uses/programming, architectural character, public realm character, and other urban design elements. In an attempt to reach as many residents as possible, two growth management workshops were held at different times on different days.
PROCESS
The Imagine White Rock 2045 Official Community Plan update was undertaken over two years, starting in April 2015 and receiving bylaw adoption in October 2017. The review process included the following four phases:
- Phase 1 - Process Launch and Background Data Collection: This phase was dedicated to creating awareness in the community around the Official Community Plan (OCP) Review process and associated Community Engagement Program. Phase 1 included the gathering and synthesis of relevant background material and studies to assist with key analyses and decision-making throughout the process. Primary deliverables: Visioning Fair and Visioning Survey summary reports prepared by CitySpaces consultants; progress reports to Council prepared by City staff.
- Phase 2 Defining the Big Picture: This phase was built on the results of the Visioning Survey and Visioning Fair and focused on the development of Guiding Principles and Vision and Goal Statements for the new OCP. These foundational components of the Plan influenced the structure of the OCP and resulted in several new and updated OCP policies. Primary deliverables: OCP Guiding Principles and Vision and Goal Statements; Vision and Goals survey summary report; progress report to Council prepared by City staff.
- Phase 3 - Building The Plan: The third phase was the "nuts and bolts" phase of building the Plan, including an updated land use plan that will guide the next phases of the City's development. In this phase, the OCP structure, key content areas, and associated draft policies were shaped. Primary deliverables: Mid-process report prepared by consultant; progress report to Council prepared by City staff.
- Phase 4 - Preparation of the Plan and Adoption: This phase included the drafting of the Official Community Plan text and maps, public and stakeholder consultation to solicit feedback on the draft document, and subsequent revisions. Once the draft document was refined, the final statutory approval process was initiated. Primary deliverables: Preliminary and final drafts of the Official Community Plan and associated schedules; Draft OCP Engagement Summary Report; progress report to Council prepared by City staff.
Event Materials & Corporate Reports
Official Community Plan
Background Materials
- A Plan for the City of White Rock 1958 (Original OCP) (PDF)
- Community Profile 2015 (PDF)
- OCP Draft Poster Boards - Phase 4 (PDF)
- OCP Visioning Fair Outline Material (PDF)
- White Rock Official Community Plan 2008 (Current OCP) (PDF)
Council Reports
- OCP Report - Draft - June 12, 2017 (PDF)
- OCP Report - Draft - May 29, 2017 (PDF)
- OCP Report - First Draft - March 6, 2017 (PDF)
- Official Community Plan Review Work Plan (PDF)
- Progress Report Number 1 - Public Engagement Program (PDF)
- Progress Report Number 2 - Visioning Survey Results OCP Working Group Photo Contest (PDF)
- Progress Report Number 3 - OCP Vision and Goals Statements Population Projections (PDF)
- Progress Report Number 4 - Imagine 2045 Official Community Plan Review (PDF)
- Progress Report Number 5 - Official Community Plan - First Darft (PDF)
- Progress Report Number 6 - Official Community Plan - Engagement Summary of Phase 4 (PDF)