Policies

The Gordon Head neighbourhood is changing at a rapid pace. The context for development is based on the following policies and initiatives:

• Provincial Housing Initiatives
• Capital Regional District (CRD) Regional Growth Strategy
• Saanich Official Community Plan (OCP)

The updated Saanich OCP replaced more specific Local Area Plans with more general Centre, Corridor, and Village (CCV) Plans that generally enable new higher density development. Details of the CCV Plans affecting Gordon Head are described further on the Major Plans and Projects page.

If you have questions concerning an active nearby development, you can access development information via the Saanich Permit and Development Tracker. Please note that applications made prior to July 1, 2022 are not listed on the Permit and Development Tracker and may be found instead on the Active Development Applications web page. If you still can’t find the development information for a specific property, you can then email Saanich Planning directly at planning@saanich.ca.

The Province of BC also mandated the District of Saanich to update their zoning bylaws to permit Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH). This housing initiative enables a greater range of housing density and housing types on most residential lots inside the urban containment boundary. Under SSMUH, a property owner can make a direct development permit application to redevelop a residential lot without the need for project signage, community input, and a public hearing in a typical application. This housing densification is intended for redevelopment of single-family residential lots of which there are many in that classification within the Gordon Head neighbourhood.