Downtown Core Area Plan Design Guidelines


Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on the draft updated Downtown Core Area Design Guidelines.

Feedback on Proposed Official Community Plan Amendments

The City is now seeking feedback on a proposed amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) to implement the updated Downtown Core Area Plan (DCAP) design guidelines.

The OCP amendment bylaw will revise references from the Downtown Core Area Plan (2011) to Downtown Core Area Plan (2021) and the applicable design guidelines for each affected Development Permit Area (DPA) and Heritage Conservation Area (HCA).

Since the proposed Downtown Core Area Plan (2021) has been updated to consolidate all design guidelines into four individual appendices, the proposed Official Community Plan amendment seeks to replace the current references of specific (individual) design guidelines with references to the applicable design guideline appendices.

This approach will improve user-friendliness and better supports the ability to maintain the Downtown Core Area Plan guidelines and the Official Community Plan.

The table below identifies the affected Development Permit Areas and Heritage Conservation Areas and the proposed design guidelines (appendices) that would apply. Each appendix is contained in the proposed Downtown Core Area Plan 2021.

Development Permit AreaProposed Design Guidelines from Downtown Core Area Plan (2021)
DPA 1 (HC): Core Historic
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 2: Public External View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 2 (HC): Core Business
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 2: Public External View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 3 (HC): Core Mixed-Use Residential
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 2: Public External View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 7A: Corridors
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 7B (HC): Corridors Heritage
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 9 (HC): Inner Harbour
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 2: Public External View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 10A: Rock Bay
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 10B (HC): Rock Bay Heritage
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 14: Cathedral Hill Precinct
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines


The following map also identifies the geographic location of the affected development permit areas and heritage conservation areas in relation to the boundary of the Downtown Core Area:

Provide Input

Please direct any comments or questions regarding the proposed OCP Amendment Bylaw by Thursday December 23, 2021 to:

Robert Batallas, Senior Planner

email: rbatallas@victoria.ca

All comments received on the related Official Community Plan amendment bylaw will be shared with Council along with the proposed bylaw. Implementation of the proposed Downtown Core Area Plan design guidelines requires the Official Community Plan amendment bylaw to be approved by Council following a statutory public hearing.


Project Background

Draft Updated DCAP Design Guidelines

The draft Design Guidelines aim to provide clear direction for designers, architects and property owners who are actively planning or considering a new building, retrofit or addition to an existing building within the Downtown Core Area of the City of Victoria.

The guidelines are an important evaluation tool for City staff and Council when reviewing new development applications to ensure that a proposed development is a ‘good fit’ within the downtown, demonstrates an appropriate design response and enhances the surrounding context and public realm.

The guidelines focus on how buildings interact with streets and open spaces to create comfortable, human-scaled, pedestrian-oriented and memorable public spaces.

Key proposed draft updates to the guidelines include:

  • An emphasis on building design that supports comfortable, active and attractive streetscapes, open spaces and pedestrian environments.
  • Design guidance for the incorporation of private, shared and publicly-accessible outdoor spaces within new developments.
  • Strengthened guidelines to support context-sensitive design for buildings adjacent to heritage buildings and within the Inner Harbour area.
  • Improved design guidance for tall buildings to better support sunlight access to public spaces, comfortable building separation, attractive building forms and overall liveability
  • Revised language to provide clear statements of design intent to support innovative and creative design responses to unique sites and conditions to achieve the urban design vision and goals for the downtown.


How We Got Here
The Downtown Core Area Plan (DCAP) was originally approved in October 2011 and has provided guidance on matters related to growth and development within the Downtown Core Area, including policies and guidelines to support the review and evaluation of development permits, rezoning applications and improvements to the public realm.

One of the key goals outlined in the DCAP is to ensure its success by undertaking periodic monitoring, review and updating of the plan, as well as to maintain alignment with other related City policies, plans and regulations. The proposed DCAP update will help to ensure that the plan remains current and effective and continues to respond to ongoing feedback from the users of the plan such as community, the development industry, and Council.

When Will We Be Seeking Public Input?
Early engagement included a working group of stakeholders who provided input between January 2020 and March 2021. Their input informed the Draft Updated DCAP Design Guidelines.

This spring we asked for broader community input on the Draft Updated DCAP Design Guidelines. The survey was open until May 7, 2021 and is now closed.

This input will help inform the proposed DCAP Design Guidelines that will be presented to Council later this year, along with related amendments to the Official Community Plan. At this point, staff will seek direction to consider the Design Guidelines and OCP at a public hearing.

If approved by Council following a public hearing, the updated guidelines will be incorporated into the Downtown Core Area and will take affect within specific development permit areas and heritage conservation areas that are identified in the OCP.

What is the Level of Public Participation?
The work to update the Design Guideline started at the Involve level with the Working group and Consult for the community input phase. For information about the IAP2 Spectrum of Engagement, please see the City of Victoria Engagement Framework.


Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on the draft updated Downtown Core Area Design Guidelines.

Feedback on Proposed Official Community Plan Amendments

The City is now seeking feedback on a proposed amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) to implement the updated Downtown Core Area Plan (DCAP) design guidelines.

The OCP amendment bylaw will revise references from the Downtown Core Area Plan (2011) to Downtown Core Area Plan (2021) and the applicable design guidelines for each affected Development Permit Area (DPA) and Heritage Conservation Area (HCA).

Since the proposed Downtown Core Area Plan (2021) has been updated to consolidate all design guidelines into four individual appendices, the proposed Official Community Plan amendment seeks to replace the current references of specific (individual) design guidelines with references to the applicable design guideline appendices.

This approach will improve user-friendliness and better supports the ability to maintain the Downtown Core Area Plan guidelines and the Official Community Plan.

The table below identifies the affected Development Permit Areas and Heritage Conservation Areas and the proposed design guidelines (appendices) that would apply. Each appendix is contained in the proposed Downtown Core Area Plan 2021.

Development Permit AreaProposed Design Guidelines from Downtown Core Area Plan (2021)
DPA 1 (HC): Core Historic
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 2: Public External View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 2 (HC): Core Business
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 2: Public External View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 3 (HC): Core Mixed-Use Residential
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 2: Public External View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 7A: Corridors
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 7B (HC): Corridors Heritage
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 9 (HC): Inner Harbour
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 2: Public External View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 10A: Rock Bay
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 10B (HC): Rock Bay Heritage
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines

DPA 14: Cathedral Hill Precinct
  • Appendix 1: Public Outward View Guidelines
  • Appendix 3: Sidewalk Width Guidelines
  • Appendix 4: Building Design Guidelines


The following map also identifies the geographic location of the affected development permit areas and heritage conservation areas in relation to the boundary of the Downtown Core Area:

Provide Input

Please direct any comments or questions regarding the proposed OCP Amendment Bylaw by Thursday December 23, 2021 to:

Robert Batallas, Senior Planner

email: rbatallas@victoria.ca

All comments received on the related Official Community Plan amendment bylaw will be shared with Council along with the proposed bylaw. Implementation of the proposed Downtown Core Area Plan design guidelines requires the Official Community Plan amendment bylaw to be approved by Council following a statutory public hearing.


Project Background

Draft Updated DCAP Design Guidelines

The draft Design Guidelines aim to provide clear direction for designers, architects and property owners who are actively planning or considering a new building, retrofit or addition to an existing building within the Downtown Core Area of the City of Victoria.

The guidelines are an important evaluation tool for City staff and Council when reviewing new development applications to ensure that a proposed development is a ‘good fit’ within the downtown, demonstrates an appropriate design response and enhances the surrounding context and public realm.

The guidelines focus on how buildings interact with streets and open spaces to create comfortable, human-scaled, pedestrian-oriented and memorable public spaces.

Key proposed draft updates to the guidelines include:

  • An emphasis on building design that supports comfortable, active and attractive streetscapes, open spaces and pedestrian environments.
  • Design guidance for the incorporation of private, shared and publicly-accessible outdoor spaces within new developments.
  • Strengthened guidelines to support context-sensitive design for buildings adjacent to heritage buildings and within the Inner Harbour area.
  • Improved design guidance for tall buildings to better support sunlight access to public spaces, comfortable building separation, attractive building forms and overall liveability
  • Revised language to provide clear statements of design intent to support innovative and creative design responses to unique sites and conditions to achieve the urban design vision and goals for the downtown.


How We Got Here
The Downtown Core Area Plan (DCAP) was originally approved in October 2011 and has provided guidance on matters related to growth and development within the Downtown Core Area, including policies and guidelines to support the review and evaluation of development permits, rezoning applications and improvements to the public realm.

One of the key goals outlined in the DCAP is to ensure its success by undertaking periodic monitoring, review and updating of the plan, as well as to maintain alignment with other related City policies, plans and regulations. The proposed DCAP update will help to ensure that the plan remains current and effective and continues to respond to ongoing feedback from the users of the plan such as community, the development industry, and Council.

When Will We Be Seeking Public Input?
Early engagement included a working group of stakeholders who provided input between January 2020 and March 2021. Their input informed the Draft Updated DCAP Design Guidelines.

This spring we asked for broader community input on the Draft Updated DCAP Design Guidelines. The survey was open until May 7, 2021 and is now closed.

This input will help inform the proposed DCAP Design Guidelines that will be presented to Council later this year, along with related amendments to the Official Community Plan. At this point, staff will seek direction to consider the Design Guidelines and OCP at a public hearing.

If approved by Council following a public hearing, the updated guidelines will be incorporated into the Downtown Core Area and will take affect within specific development permit areas and heritage conservation areas that are identified in the OCP.

What is the Level of Public Participation?
The work to update the Design Guideline started at the Involve level with the Working group and Consult for the community input phase. For information about the IAP2 Spectrum of Engagement, please see the City of Victoria Engagement Framework.

Page last updated: 13 Dec 2023, 10:06 AM