With a focus on maintaining community character and features and balancing “the need for housing with our responsibility to protect the environment” the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) wants your input. In a June 6 press release, its “Love Where You Live Questionnaire” officially launched.
This two-step, online survey process, where community members can provide feedback into the renewal process for the region’s Official Community Plans (OCP) can be accessed on letstalk.scrd.ca/ocp-renewal. SCRD communications has stated the questionnaire will close later this summer "so the community has plenty of time to fill it out. We will communicate broadly via the Lets Talk Page and news release prior to it closing."
It starts with the opportunity to provide general input on OCP elements like housing, climate and environment, as well as community character, along with some basic demographic data. The second portion allows respondents to place icons on an area map, to indicate locations where they believe housing development and community services or infrastructure should be built. When an icon is placed on the map, there is a comment space included, to submit the reasons for making that suggestion.
There is also the chance to identify locations with natural features of importance and for respondents to point out “Climate Affected Natural Areas." In that category, the SCRD is seeking details from residents on locations damaged by things like atmospheric rivers, drought conditions, habitat changes and sea level rise.
The survey is part of the OCP renewal project’s Round 1 of community engagement, which will also include outreach events in the community through mid-2025.
Based on Round 1 engagement and research, an updated OCP framework and policy direction will be drafted. Following review of that draft by the SCRD board, it is to be released for follow-up community engagement, tentatively scheduled for January to March 2026.
