Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan

As the year comes to a close, and there is the anticipated final phase to come with the Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan (QHNP) project in 2024, we wanted to ensure we provide a year-end update on this project.

Following the QHNP Design Charrette in Spring 2023, the summer was spent researching, analyzing, and distilling the wealth of community input to develop Draft Land Use and Key Policy Directions, (which will eventually form the Final QHNP in 2024).

The Project Team (consultants and City Staff) developed these draft concepts over the fall, and City Staff presented "Land Use & Key Policy Directions" to the City of Campbell River Council Committee of the Whole on November 7, 2023.

We anticipate the Draft QHNP to be presented to Council at the end of February 2024, with more engagement with the Project Advisory Team (PAT) and broader community following Council's review and directions.

We thank each and every one that has been engaged with this project to date, wish you all some rest and quality time with those near and dear to you during this holiday season, and we look forward to connecting more about the QHNP early next year.

The Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan (QHNP) Design Charrette occurred April 18 - 20, 2023 at the Maritime Heritage Centre in Campbell River. It was a great opportunity to gather and share some important conversations amongst the community, and as a result, many great ideas that supported the objectives of the Design Charrette were formed. A summary of the Design Charrette has been created and can be found in the Documents Library on the right-hand side of the main page.

The project team is now actively working on taking all the knowledge, data, and input provided so far to develop Key Policy Directions and Land Use Scenarios to present to Council and community late summer-early autumn this year. The intent is that these Key Policy Directions and Land Use Scenarios will eventually evolve into a Draft Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan to be presented to Council and community at the end of 2023.

What is the difference between an Official Community Plan (OCP) and Neighbourhood Plan?

An Official Community Plan (OCP) is an over-arching policy document that provides direction for growth and development in ways that are aligned with a community's needs and values.

A neighbourhood plan, such as the Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan, guides future development in an area, including the locations of parks and public spaces, development standards, and transportation solutions. Neighbourhood plans also provide a link between the high-level planning found in the City of Campbell River's Official Community Plan and the regulatory detail of a zoning bylaw.

A Complete Neighbourhood Plan includes:

• a statement of development objectives and policies for the area, and their relationship to Council policy as stated in the Official Community Plan, and within other bylaws and policies that may be adopted by Council from time to time;
• an inventory of existing land uses, natural features, zoning, transportation networks, utility infrastructure and heritage sites;
• where applicable, information on the natural environment or hazardous conditions of the area including the manner in which natural site characteristics will influence development;
• the identification of major land uses by type and density;
• the general location of transportation networks and required upgrades to accommodate vehicles, public transit, pedestrians and cyclists within the plan area, and the relationship of the proposed network to existing City facilities;
• Advance transportation plans should identify all vehicle, transit, pedestrian, bicycle, and trail linkages and provide a mix of trail, local, collector and arterial roads necessary to create a balanced transportation system; and,
• the location and type of any development permit areas to be designated within the area, together with guidelines for proposed development within those development permit areas.

What determines the boundary of a neighbourhood (including the Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood)?

• Neighbourhood classifications follow a technical process and are rich with details and context.
• Neighborhood boundaries can be defined by many different types of conditions, including history and development of an area.
• Most often boundaries are defined by physical characteristics and changes, major streets, natural or man-made features, and changes in land use or character. Major streets are the most common way to define a neighborhood boundary, while they are also not the other feature.
• Natural features such as parks, rivers, streams, or man-made features such as railroad lines are also used to define boundaries.
• A change in land use from residential to commercial or industrial use might mark the boundary of a neighborhood and the start of another area.

Why is the Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan being updated?

The Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan was last updated in 2008. Since then, Quinsam Heights has seen pockets of new growth and development in response to Campbell River's growing population. As the city continues to grow, Quinsam Heights will be an important growth area to address the community's future housing needs.

How will the community be involved in the Quinsam Heights Neighourhood Plan?

Consultation and engagement with the community is fundamental to the success to this project, and more importantly, how growth is/is not determined and developed in this neighbourhood.

Specific ways the community has been involved in this QHNP include:

• The launch of the project page hosted on Engagement HQ
• The distribution of a survey
• A public open-house Ideas Fair at the Community Centre on January 25, 2023
• A public open-house Design Charrette; April 18 from 4-7 p.m. and April 20 from 4-7 p.m.
• Ongoing Council meetings
• A public open-house to collect comments on the draft plan; June 26 from 5-7 p.m.

The City of Campbell River invites the community to participate in the Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan (QHNP) Design Charrette on April 18 & 20, 2023. A design charrette is an interactive event where participants learn, share, and engage in meaningful dialogue about land use planning issues such as housing, transportation, parks, and the environment.

The objective of the design charrette is to develop a shared understanding among participants of the land use challenges and opportunities facing the Quinsam Heights neighbourhood and explore design ideas and options to address them.

See more details in the Design Charrette Brief under the Documents Library along with the QHNP Neighbourhood Profile and Baseline Conditions Report (BCLR). The BCLR report provides data on the Quinsam Heights neighbourhood demographics, employment, housing and population projections. It also provides information about existing land use conditions, constraints and opportunities for future housing growth.

The City is hosting two interactive events at the Maritime Heritage Centre (621 Island Hwy, Campbell River)

• Session 1: Brainstorming and Emerging Ideas – April 18, 2023 from 4 to 7 p.m.
• Session 2: “Concept” Reveal – April 20, 2023 from 4 to 7 p.m.

The community is encouraged to attend both events as the ideas shared in Session 1 will be further refined in Session 2.

PLEASE RSVP AT: Eventbrite

These interactive sessions will build on the community feedback that the City has received thus far in the process.

Session 1 of the design charrette will reconfirm what we’ve heard from the community and explore deeper by engaging participants review the charrette objectives, confirm “what we’ve heard” to date through engagement, explore early insights from dialogue with the Project Advisory Team, and consider the draft community vision of the Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan.

Session 2 will reveal the preliminary land use concepts based on the feedback received in session 1 and seek input from participants.

The anticipated outcomes of the design charrette are to identify potential land use scenarios to address future growth and housing needs that reflect community values and aspirations for Quinsam Heights. This work will help develop the draft Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan, which will be presented to the community later this year.

The Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan (QHNP) Ideas Fair took place on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Community Centre. More than 70 people came out to share what they love about the area, where they have concerns, and what aspirations they would like considered. It demonstrated how much the community cares about and is engaged in the QHNP and Campbell River.

For those unable to attend, the storyboards from the event are now available here. The survey remains open until February 8, 2023. The online version is available here and paper copies are available for pick up at the front reception of City Hall, 301 St. Ann's Road.

Thank you for your engagement, time, and care so far. Please look out for additional project updates at getinvolved.campbellriver.ca/quinsamheights.

ATTEND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN IDEAS FAIR. HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF QUINSAM HEIGHTS.

When: Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Where: Campbell River Community Centre, Room 1, 401 11th Avenue

Please Register HERE

Registration is highly encouraged to help our team plan ahead. The intent of the event is a drop-in Ideas Fair open house to share your vision and goals for the future of Quinsam Heights.

You may also speak with City staff and complete a survey for the Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan (QHNP). Your input will help the City understand the community's vision, key issues and priorities for the area.

Can’t attend? Complete the survey online before February 8, 2023.

For more information on the QHNP project, the open house and how to register, or the online survey, visit getinvolved.campbellriver.ca/QuinsamHeights, email sustainability@campbellriver.ca or call (250) 286-5797.