There is no so-called drop dead date for the Town of Qualicum Beach to complete its deliberations on the official community plan.
That was the message from town staff in response to a recent query from developer Zweitse de Wit.
“These dates are not cast in stone,” said planner Paul Butler.
“It’s just a schedule we developed and hopefully can stick to.”
De Wit, among others, has been pushing council to be more flexible in its OCP timeline, citing a lack of sufficient time in which to conduct consultations with the community.
Chief administrative officer Mark Brown noted that council selected the May date for adoption of the revised OCP because it marks the sixth anniversary since the last document was finalized.
“The OCP states it will be reviewed every six years,” he said.
“As well, council didn’t want to have public meetings in the summer.”
Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek stressed that council can extend the date if it is deemed necessary.
“It’s up to council,” he said. “If we see the need, it could be June. It could happen.”
The OCP schedule currently includes meetings this month.
At the Feb. 23 regular council meeting the first reading of the OCP bylaw will be read, with a public meeting to review the draft document slated for March 16.
Second reading of the document will take place on April 4, while a public hearing is scheduled on the OCP amendment bylaw on April 27.
Final adoption of the OCP bylaw is slated for May 2.
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