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east-west collectors. This over-dependency on
the main north-south routes has also hampered
the development of alternative transportation
such as cycling and walking, which is vital to short
trips. In fact, it has rendered automobile travel
indispensable to many households, a situation
that is untenable in the long term when the City
grows into a much denser metropolitan centre
(132,000 by 2040).
The ALR block east of Evans Road has also pre-
vented utility mains from going north-south in
network development. Currently, Sardis-Vedder
is served by only one north-south sewer trunk and
one north-south water main in the built-up areas.
This restriction to utility network development, if
remaining unchanged, will have a negative impact
on future densification and the consolidation of
the urban corridor. In the meantime, the City is in
need of community parkland in order to support
densification within the urban corridor that is to
accommodate 85% of the anticipated growth.
As the urban structure needs to transform with
the various demands on the existing community,
the urban form must follow within the context of
compact, healthy community development. This
OCP Update thus represents an opportunity to
explore how that adjustment/rationalization of
the urban form should take place, especially as it
involves the Evans Road ALR block.
f. It is the intent of the City to make the OCP more
readable, while staying comprehensive in scope
and effective as a policy document and develop-
ment guide.
Notwithstanding the above-noted changes, this OCP
is essentially an update of the 1998 OCP as it builds
on the framework of growth and development es-
tablished by previous OCPs. It is not changing the
course, but rather clarifying the City’s long term vi-
sion and articulating its development direction in
greater detail in the future context of change.
II. Planning Process
The OCP Update process started in the summer of
2012. In order to properly evaluate the state of the
City and understand current and future challenges,
the City’s Planning and Strategic Initiatives Depart-
ment undertook nine background studies:
• Growth
• Land Use
• Economic Development
• Neighbourhood Planning and Urban Design
• Demographic Trends and Implications
• Parks, Recreation and Culture
• Healthier Communities
• Environment
• Growth Scenarios, Servicing and Finance
Parallel to the technical process was a series of pub-
lic engagement events targeted to the general pub-
lic, youth, community groups and business leaders.
They involved the Internet, through the City website
and PlaceSpeak (internet public forum on select top-
ics). They also employed traditional public media
such as the local newspapers and radio stations. The
process reached out to children and youth through
elementary, middle and secondary schools. Oth-
er participants include agencies such as the School
District, Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation,
the real estate/development community, and the
Agricultural Land Commission. Approximately 900
people directly participated in the OCP engagement
events, whereas community exposure to the OCP
events was estimated at over 5,000 people.
The OCP Update process emphasizes a multi-disci-
plinary approach. While the Planning and Strategic
Initiatives Department led the process and prepared
the plan, other municipal departments played key
roles in conducting in-depth technical analyses and
recommendations, and working with consultants
on the technical studies. This Plan represents an
inter-departmental effort, as well as the result of a
broad-scale, multi-media public consultation initia-
tive. It is the first time that public consultation em-
ployed milieus not available in the last OCP process
(1997/1998) such as Internet forum, Facebook, Twit-
ter, PlaceSpeak, City website, email networking, on-
line survey, and instant polling results and feedback
at community meetings. In the end, the extensive
Introduction