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Project Updates
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About the Project
An Official Community Plan (OCP) is a high-level community planning document that outlines the long-term vision for land use management and community development. A considerable part of the OCP is policies, which can address topics such as housing, agriculture, and parks and trails.
The purpose of this OCP update is to establish a plan which better reflects the community’s needs and interests, while also aligning with updated provincial legislation, and ACRD plans and initiatives. The current Beaufort OCP was adopted in October 2012 and has influenced local land use for over 15 years.
The OCP Area
Figure 1 - This map outlines the Beaufort OCP area.
The Official Community Plan (OCP) Area for Beaufort includes all of Electoral Area "B", with a total land base of 9,320 hectares. The Beaufort OCP area borders the Sproat Lake and Beaver Creek Electoral Areas on the west and southwest, the Cherry Creek Electoral Area on the southeast, and the Regional District of Nanaimo on the east. The area is home to two provincial parks, as well as two main trails, including the Log Train Trail. The Beaufort area has some of the best fishing spots on Vancouver Island.
Some parts of the OCP area are Crown land or privately-owned forest land and, therefore, are primarily subject to provincial legislation. To view the current OCP land-use designations, please use this interactive ACRD web map (External link).
Beaufort Electoral Area “B” is situated over the traditional territories of c̓išaaʔatḥ (Tseshaht First Nation) and Hupačasath First Nation. It is also within close proximity to the First Nation reserves of Klehkoot and Ahahswinis, both of which belong to Hupačasath First Nation.
Project Phases
The OCP update will be done in four project phases. The following are the project phases and what each phase includes.
PROJECT INITATION: Development of an Engagement Plan and work plan. Initiating start up meetings with Beaufort APC and committees. Introduction of the Beaufort OCP update to agencies, organizations and First Nations.
CREATE THE PLAN - COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Engagement with community members, community groups, businesses, and other interested parties for policy development.
CREATE THE PLAN – POLICY DEVELOPMENT: Development of draft land uses and policies from what was heard from engagement. Presenting and receiving community input on the Draft OCP. Once input is implemented into the Draft OCP, the Board of Directors will consider the Draft OCP for first reading.
PLAN COMPLETION: Refining and finalizing of the OCP, and presenting it to the community, community groups and businesses, committees, agencies and organizations, and First Nations. A public hearing will be scheduled in this phase to hear directly from the public regarding any proposed updates to this OCP Bylaw. Once revisions are complete the OCP Bylaw will be considered by the Board of Directors for adoption.
How Can I Be Involved?
Community input is vital to this project, and the ACRD will create many opportunities for people to be involved. This project page will be regularly updated to include information such as upcoming engagement events and project milestones.
If you have any questions for the project team, ask away under “Ask Questions” below.
Help shape the future of Beaufort by sharing any idea! Feel free to highlight your thoughts on specific locations within the community.
Project Updates
Subscribe for project updates to receive all the latest upcoming events!
About the Project
An Official Community Plan (OCP) is a high-level community planning document that outlines the long-term vision for land use management and community development. A considerable part of the OCP is policies, which can address topics such as housing, agriculture, and parks and trails.
The purpose of this OCP update is to establish a plan which better reflects the community’s needs and interests, while also aligning with updated provincial legislation, and ACRD plans and initiatives. The current Beaufort OCP was adopted in October 2012 and has influenced local land use for over 15 years.
The OCP Area
Figure 1 - This map outlines the Beaufort OCP area.
The Official Community Plan (OCP) Area for Beaufort includes all of Electoral Area "B", with a total land base of 9,320 hectares. The Beaufort OCP area borders the Sproat Lake and Beaver Creek Electoral Areas on the west and southwest, the Cherry Creek Electoral Area on the southeast, and the Regional District of Nanaimo on the east. The area is home to two provincial parks, as well as two main trails, including the Log Train Trail. The Beaufort area has some of the best fishing spots on Vancouver Island.
Some parts of the OCP area are Crown land or privately-owned forest land and, therefore, are primarily subject to provincial legislation. To view the current OCP land-use designations, please use this interactive ACRD web map (External link).
Beaufort Electoral Area “B” is situated over the traditional territories of c̓išaaʔatḥ (Tseshaht First Nation) and Hupačasath First Nation. It is also within close proximity to the First Nation reserves of Klehkoot and Ahahswinis, both of which belong to Hupačasath First Nation.
Project Phases
The OCP update will be done in four project phases. The following are the project phases and what each phase includes.
PROJECT INITATION: Development of an Engagement Plan and work plan. Initiating start up meetings with Beaufort APC and committees. Introduction of the Beaufort OCP update to agencies, organizations and First Nations.
CREATE THE PLAN - COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Engagement with community members, community groups, businesses, and other interested parties for policy development.
CREATE THE PLAN – POLICY DEVELOPMENT: Development of draft land uses and policies from what was heard from engagement. Presenting and receiving community input on the Draft OCP. Once input is implemented into the Draft OCP, the Board of Directors will consider the Draft OCP for first reading.
PLAN COMPLETION: Refining and finalizing of the OCP, and presenting it to the community, community groups and businesses, committees, agencies and organizations, and First Nations. A public hearing will be scheduled in this phase to hear directly from the public regarding any proposed updates to this OCP Bylaw. Once revisions are complete the OCP Bylaw will be considered by the Board of Directors for adoption.
How Can I Be Involved?
Community input is vital to this project, and the ACRD will create many opportunities for people to be involved. This project page will be regularly updated to include information such as upcoming engagement events and project milestones.
If you have any questions for the project team, ask away under “Ask Questions” below.
Help shape the future of Beaufort by sharing any idea! Feel free to highlight your thoughts on specific locations within the community.
The creation of a new Official Community Plan (OCP) for Beaufort has begun and your input helps ensure it’s focused on what matters most. The current Beaufort OCP was adopted in 2012 and has been influencing local land use for nearly 15 years. This OCP update was identified as a priority action in the Board of Director’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.
An Official Community Plan (OCP) helps guide decisions about how land is used in a community. It may cover topics such as housing, agriculture, and the local economy. An OCP is different from a Zoning Bylaw in that it guides overall community direction. It does not set specific zoning rules. The purpose of this survey is to help us understand:
what the people of Beaufort want to talk more about
what you think is most important for Beaufort, and
how you want to move forward with your neighbours.
The following survey questions have been created with the guidance of the Beaufort Advisory Planning Commission (APC) and were discussed at the Beaufort Town Hall meeting on June 14, 2026 where community members shared their thoughts on which survey questions should be included.
Please note that you DO NOT need to answer all of the questions. The survey results will be shared with the community. All identifying names and any disrespectful comments directed at individuals will be removed in accordance with the ACRD Respectful Spaces Bylaw.
The survey will be open until the end of the day on July 26th. Paper copies are available at the ACRD office, 3008 Fifth Avenue, Port Alberni.
The personal information collected in this survey is collected in accordance with Section 26 (c, d, e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) for the purposes of consideration regarding the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Beaufort Official Community Plan Update Project only. Direct any questions about the collection, use and disclosure of this information to foi@acrd.bc.ca.
Figure 1 - This map outlines the Beaufort OCP area. 