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The senior government powers generally manifest
themselves in three forms. Firstly, developments af-
fecting streams, fish and wildlife are governed by the
provincial Riparian Area Regulation and provincial
and federal wildlife/endangered species legislation.
This has a direct effect on the OCP’s environmental
policies and land use designation. Secondly, the pro-
vincial Agricultural Land Commission Act and the Ag-
ricultural Land Reserve dictate where development
can or cannot take place; essentially they define our
urban growth boundaries and urban form and struc-
ture. Thirdly, the provincial Local Government Act
(Sections 877 and 878) spells out required contents
for all OCPs, including greenhouse gas emission re-
duction targets.
Local Planning Context
Since the adoption of the last OCP (1998) Chilliwack
has grown from 65,000 to 84,000. By 2021 the City
will reach 100,000, a metropolitan landmark accord-
ing to Statistics Canada. Over the next three decades,
it could grow to 132,000, an increase of 58% in pop-
ulation. This translates to an addition of 48,000 res-
idents, 25,000 dwellings, and 21,000 plus new jobs
to keep workers locally employed and the commuter
number in check. To address such a growth regime,
the City will have to expand its utilities, transporta-
tion systems and amenities, and push towards ca-
pacity thresholds and limits that must be resolved.
Concurrently, the private sector will have its share of
difficulty in expanding the commercial and industrial
sectors for the new Chilliwack Census Metropolitan
Area – all within a relatively fixed urban footprint.
Meanwhile, the aging population, community inter-
ests and healthy community aspirations add another
dimension to OCP planning.
The complexity of planning in Chilliwack is further in-
creased by a number of authorities that operate or
have their own domains within the City’s boundar-
ies. They include the First Nations and their reserve
developments, the School District, the Fraser Health
Authority and a host of NGOs that deliver various
community programs. Together with the general
public, they represent a socio-economic and phys-
ical environment to which the OCP must be keenly
attuned. After weighing all local planning factors
and different jurisdictional concerns, the OCP should
remain as an informed final decision by the City on
planning and development, one that speaks to all
Chilliwack residents and interests.
Plan Context