To Mayor and Council – Request for Greater Community Inclusion in Proposed OCP
The Issue
Mayor & Council,
Community Request
We call on the Town of Comox to pause the current OCP draft process and engage more directly with neighbourhoods where new building heights are proposed.
Why This Matters
These proposed height changes represent a fundamental shift in neighbourhood character.
The dramatic height shift of the Town's baseline from 4 to 6 storeys in many corridors was not directly communicated to the general public until the draft OCP map appeared at the June 26 Open House. Even then, the visual similarity of display boards made the implications unclear to many attendees. Only when the map became available online did residents fully grasp the impact of these changes.
Neighborhoods along Buena Vista and Beaufort Avenues—and other affected areas—were never directly consulted about these significant alterations to their community character.
What We Are Asking For
Pause the OCP draft process before it proceeds to bylaw.
Conduct meaningful engagement in all neighbourhoods where height increases are proposed that will significantly alter the character.
Incorporate community input into a revised, community-informed draft that reflects the majority of residents and taxpayers' values around small town charm.
Our Commitment
We represent residents committed to ensuring all voices are heard while respecting the Town's planning process. While we understand the Province has a mandated deadline, we are asking Mayor and Council to request an extension of this date from the Province.
If Mayor and Council feels that is not their role in reflecting the general community's voice, we will ask the Province to intervene on this community's behalf.
The 400+ residents who emphasized preserving Comox's charm in the "What We Learned" survey were never asked about changing the entire way this town will be formed. Nor were we informed of changing the baseline from 4 up to 12 storeys until the OCP Open House. These significant changes deserve direct community consultation.
Bill 44 & Bill 26 are clear on the necessity of procedural fairness and inclusion in the OCP process. It recognizes that this is the only moment communities now have the opportunity to make their values clear for a guiding vision.
We ask Mayor and Council to honour the community's voices and make inclusion of many more people a priority before finalizing the OCP into bylaw.
Petition Closed
The Issue
Mayor & Council,
Community Request
We call on the Town of Comox to pause the current OCP draft process and engage more directly with neighbourhoods where new building heights are proposed.
Why This Matters
These proposed height changes represent a fundamental shift in neighbourhood character.
The dramatic height shift of the Town's baseline from 4 to 6 storeys in many corridors was not directly communicated to the general public until the draft OCP map appeared at the June 26 Open House. Even then, the visual similarity of display boards made the implications unclear to many attendees. Only when the map became available online did residents fully grasp the impact of these changes.
Neighborhoods along Buena Vista and Beaufort Avenues—and other affected areas—were never directly consulted about these significant alterations to their community character.
What We Are Asking For
Pause the OCP draft process before it proceeds to bylaw.
Conduct meaningful engagement in all neighbourhoods where height increases are proposed that will significantly alter the character.
Incorporate community input into a revised, community-informed draft that reflects the majority of residents and taxpayers' values around small town charm.
Our Commitment
We represent residents committed to ensuring all voices are heard while respecting the Town's planning process. While we understand the Province has a mandated deadline, we are asking Mayor and Council to request an extension of this date from the Province.
If Mayor and Council feels that is not their role in reflecting the general community's voice, we will ask the Province to intervene on this community's behalf.
The 400+ residents who emphasized preserving Comox's charm in the "What We Learned" survey were never asked about changing the entire way this town will be formed. Nor were we informed of changing the baseline from 4 up to 12 storeys until the OCP Open House. These significant changes deserve direct community consultation.
Bill 44 & Bill 26 are clear on the necessity of procedural fairness and inclusion in the OCP process. It recognizes that this is the only moment communities now have the opportunity to make their values clear for a guiding vision.
We ask Mayor and Council to honour the community's voices and make inclusion of many more people a priority before finalizing the OCP into bylaw.
Supporter Voices
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on July 8, 2025