FAQs

Public consultation throughout the development of the Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Planning process has shown that residents are concerned about rapid growth in the neighbourhood and the increased pressure this growth places on the local road network, specifically Petersen Road. Based on this concern, and alongside the QHNP, the City is also launching a Quinsam Heights Transportation and Growth Infrastructure Study (TGIS), a new study which is intended to take a "deeper dive" to better understand transportation related challenges within Quinsam Heights, and review options to improve network connectivity, reduce congestion and enhance safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

This study will occur in two phases:

Phase 1 (underway): Review of existing conditions, growth forecasting, transportation analysis, and phased infrastructure improvements, with a primary focus on Petersen Road.

Phase 2 (conditional on results of Phase 1 and subsequent Council direction): Assessment of options to improve network connectivity, with an objective to reduce congestion on Petersen Road. Pending future Council direction, one of the anticipated options is an assessment of the ERT as a potential vehicle route to reduce traffic impacts on Petersen Road. An objective of this review would also include the retention of the ERT's current function as a key active transportation corridor.  An ERT assessment and review of other options is not currently underway, and would require future Council direction, contingent on Phase 1 report findings.

Additional public engagement opportunities, including an open house, is included within the scope of the Quinsam Heights TGIS. Project updates will also be regularly provided on the City's Get Involved page.

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.

• 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.