The new Official Community Plan for Colwood sought to strengthen Colwood’s relationship with the waterfront, address ecological concerns relating to urban expansion including on slopes, provide greater transportation choices to a car-dependent community, and more. Background analysis included geospatial analysis of urban form – ranging from connectivity to employment density – as well as more qualitative urban design analysis of views, streetscape character, and street composition.

Public engagement included a Special Speakers night, an online survey that included community mapping and visual preferences, developer and other stakeholder workshops, in-school mapping with youth, Council sessions, and a mobile engagement booth that traveled to community centres, coffee shops, and the beach. There was a also a Public Ideas Fair with priority-setting games, graphic facilitation, big idea brainstorming, a teen band, a bouncy castle for children, and an interactive floor map that people of diverse ages and backgrounds identifying assets, concerns, and priorities in their neighbourhoods. 

Client | City of Colwood

Agency | DIALOG with Watt (Transportation), Aqua-Tex (Ecology), and TownSquare

Consulting Project Lead | Jennifer Fix while at DIALOG

Renderings | Matthew Thomson while at DIALOG