New Growth Strategy - Shaping Our Future 2040

The RDN Board has approved the adoption of Shaping Our Future 2040 (Regional District of Nanaimo Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw No. 1874, 2023) at its May 14, 2024, meeting.

“The adoption of this strategy is a significant achievement in regional collaboration. I’m excited to see the culmination of all the work to help the region remain a vibrant and sustainable place to live, work, and play for our residents,” said Vanessa Craig, RDN Chair.

The strategy is an update of the 2011 bylaw to improve policies to strengthen collaboration on regional issues such as climate change, land use and mobility, housing, agriculture and to update growth projections and performance measures.

Among the new targets set by the strategy are reducing GHGs by 40% below 2007 levels by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

Board consideration for third reading and the adoption of "Shaping Our Future 2040" is expected in Spring 2024. Following the 60-day referral period for affected local governments (member municipalities and neighbouring regional districts), staff will present the responses and any recommendations for proceeding with the adoption of the bylaw on May 14, 2024.

This request follows five years of collaborative effort, including background studies, policy development, engagement and informal referral of the draft document, Shaping Our Future 2040 (Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw No. 1874) received two readings on December 12, 2023. At the same meeting, the Board passed a resolution to refer the proposed Bylaw to all affected local governments for acceptance as required by the Local Government Act.

Along side the Board’s Strategic Plan, Shaping Our Future 2040 provides a regional framework for effectively managing land use, local infrastructure, and community services in a more sustainable way over the next 20 years. Adoption of this bylaw will repeal and replace the current RGS Bylaw No.1615, 2011.

The RDN is entering the next stage of updating the current Regional Growth Strategy bylaw and invites feedback to help inform the final draft.

Now called Shaping Our Future 2040, over the last 19 months feedback from elected officials, staff and the public has been received on the policy options, which was incorporated into this draft bylaw document. The next stage involves an informal review process where the RDN invites the public and the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) to comment. The IAC is made up of government representatives from Snuneymuxw, Snaw-Naw-As, Qualicum First Nations, member municipalities, provincial agencies and other organizations to help coordinate policies and actions related to the draft document before the Board considers adopting the bylaw.

Please take a moment to explore this webpage to read more about the bylaw update and to access a copy of the draft bylaw Shaping Our Future 2040. Comments can be submitted in writing via this webpage under the Bylaw Comment tab until August 4, 2023.

Important themes and proposed new content in Shaping Our Future 2040 include:

• new policies supporting climate adaptation, mitigation and resiliency;
• expanded policies for housing choices and affordability;
• expanded policies in support of food system resiliency;
• more sustainable growth management practices;
• advancing our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation;
• additional measures to monitor and evaluate Future 2040 goals and strategies;
• new population, housing and employment projections, and
• importantly, there has been no change to the Growth Management Framework (includes land use designations, Growth Containment Boundaries and related policies).

Between November and December 2022, the municipal councils of Qualicum Beach, Parksville and Lantzville received a delegation from the RDN to learn about the update of the RGS - Shaping Our Future 2040. The presentation highlighted the purpose and benefits; identified the policy areas under review; what we’ve heard so far and gave time for questions. In January 2023, the RDN’s Electoral Area Service Committee received a similar presentation and the RDN’s Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) is scheduled for February 2023. At the AAC meeting members will be invited to discuss and comment on the proposed policies and adaptation strategies to promote and support resilient food systems.

Next, the RDN Board will be asked to informally refer the draft Shaping Our Future 2040 to the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee members, including municipalities, identified provincial agencies and First Nations.

For more information see the FAQs and the Document Library.

Public feedback has been encouraged throughout the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) Review process. Between April and July 2022 residents, elected officials, local government staff and First Nation representatives were invited to participate in a variety of engagement activities, including a region-wide community survey, workshops and meetings. The results of the survey helped to inform the development of the policy recommendations presented to participants through a series of workshops. Each of these activities generated good conversations and sharing of prospective on the interconnected topic areas: land use and mobility, housing diversity and affordability and climate change and mitigation. A summary of the survey results, workshop presentations and draft recommendations are available in the Documents Library under Engagement & Draft Options.

Next, the draft RGS policies and performance measures will be updated and referred to the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC). In accordance with the Local Government Act, the IAC provides a forum of government representatives from member municipalities, provincial agencies and other organizations identified by the Province to help coordinate actions, policies and programs as they relate to the strategy.

Stay tuned for more information on the draft RGS amendment bylaw coming this Fall!

To allow a wee bit more time for residents to complete the Regional Growth Strategy community survey, we're extending the deadline until Monday, April 4, 2022.

Please take a moment to share your priorities and ideas before the survey closes and enter to win a $50 local gift card. Link to RGS Survey

Community input is being sought on the topics of growth, land use, active transportation, housing and climate adaptation and mitigation planning. Join the conversation by completing the survey and enter the draw for a chance to win a $50 local gift card. Survey open from February 23 to March 25.

Click on 'RGS Survey' to complete the survey.

The RDN Board initiated the process for a RGS review in 2018 and approved the consultation plan. Some early consultation occurred in 2018 to help define the scope of the review and integrate new information, such as the Regional Housing needs Assessment. In response, the scope of the review was also adjusted to include policies related to housing affordability, and later expanded to include climate action and mobility.

To support the expanded scope of the review, the RDN Board adopted an updated Engagement Plan on July 27, 2021. This update provides an opportunity to build on the previous approved Consultation Plan (2018) by formalizing the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) approach to engagement set out in recently updated Board Policy No. A1.23. This update has also created an opportunity to include additional engagement activities, such as a community survey to capture input on new drivers of change, such as resiliency planning. It is anticipated that a range of engagement tools and techniques for communication and promotions will be used, such as:

• Region-wide community survey
• Stakeholder meetings and/or workshops
• RDN Directors workshops
• Print media, RDN Get Involved webpage and social media promotion

It is anticipated that Phase 2 Engagement (Input/ What we Heard) will be implemented Winter to Spring 2022. A copy of the Engagement Plan is located in the document library.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Strategic Plan 2019-2022 directs the preparation of a “Social Needs Assessment Study to identify the broad range of social service providers at the local level and include a strategy that identifies the RDN role”. The overall purpose of a social needs assessment and strategy is to improve the wellbeing of citizens.

Along side the findings of the Housing Needs Assessment, the results of the Social Needs Assessment will help inform policy recommendations as part of the RGS Review process.

To learn more about the Social Needs Assessment, please visit the project's Get Involved webpage, here.

As part of the update of the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS): Sharing Our Future, the RDN launched a study to better understand the current and future housing needs of the region. The Regional Housing Needs Report (HNR) is a reporting process to collect and analyze community data on current and anticipated housing needs in our communities that is developed in collaboration with our regional partners and key stakeholders.

The HNR findings indicate that despite some progress over the last 8 years, housing affordability remains a persistent concern across the region. Current and future housing needs will consistently require a range of housing options with strengthened linkages between housing and transportation to effectively manage growth and facilitate overall affordability.

Visit the document library to read the Regional Housing Needs Report.