Let's talk about property rights
There’s misinformation circulating about Sooke's Official Community Plan, particularly about the aspirational waterfront trail and Development Permit Areas (DPAs). The waterfront trail isn't a new idea. A walking route from Whiffin Spit to Sooke River has been part of Sooke's long-term planning for decades. No private property has ever been expropriated for it, nor has expropriation ever been proposed. Instead, pieces are added through rezoning or redevelopment – think Heron's View, Sooke Harbour Marina and the Prestige, or when the District acquires property, as it did at Ed McGregor Park. Some waterfront homes may never redevelop. That's OK. The trail can go around them using the nearest roadway, reconnecting farther along. An aspirational line on a map doesn't put a trail through someone's backyard.
DPAs aren't new or unique to Sooke. They're a standard planning tool used by municipalities across BC. Sooke has had them for years. Claims are being made that adding a secondary suite now requires a development permit. That's not true. Putting a suite in your existing basement doesn't trigger a DPA. New construction near a creek or on a steep slope may, but that's not new either. Our old OCP had three broad DPAs. The new OCP has nine more specific ones so requirements better fit the situation. Near a stream? Protect the stream. Building on a steep slope? Make sure it's safe.
It’s fair to ask questions and debate the OCP. But claims that it removes property rights, opens private waterfront land to the public, or requires development permits for every secondary suite are simply not true.
Yes, development has changed. The days when we built without much consideration for neighbours or the environment are behind us. Property rights matter, but they don't exist in isolation. What we do on our land can affect neighbours, waterways, the wider community. Good planning respects private property while recognizing that shared responsibility. We can do both.
