Community Housing Project: 740 Campbell Street

The District of Tofino and the Tofino Housing Corporation are exploring a new community housing project at 740 Campbell Street.

The proposal includes approximately 21 multi-family units and a new public waterfront park with access to Browning Passage. The park is being designed to support the launch of human-powered watercraft such as kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards.

Before the project can move forward, Council must consider amendments to both the Official Community Plan and the Zoning Bylaw.

Background

The District owns the approximately 0.4-hectare property at 740 Campbell Street. The site currently contains one single-family home and is zoned for large-lot residential use.

The proposed project would replace the existing use with a multi-family residential building containing approximately 21 units.

The proposed housing may include:

• Below-market rental units
• Purpose-built rental units
• Resident-restricted or price-restricted ownership units
• Housing intended for local workers, families and other community members

The exact mix of housing tenures and unit types has not yet been finalized.

The current concept (see documents section) shows a building that would appear as two storeys from Campbell Street and use the slope of the property to accommodate a third storey toward the waterfront. The design is preliminary and may change as technical studies, public input and the approval process continue.

A publicly accessible waterfront park is also proposed for the eastern portion of the property. The park would retain public beach access and could become the first site in a future water-trail network along Browning Passage.

Why Was This Site Selected?

The District and Tofino Housing Corporation reviewed five District-owned properties to identify locations that may be suitable for community housing.

The review considered:

• The potential to complete approvals efficiently
• Opportunities to reduce construction costs
• Access to existing services and transportation
• The ability to support a complete and climate-resilient community
• The suitability of District-owned land for below-market housing

The District’s ownership of the land helps reduce one of the largest costs associated with building new housing.

Why Are Two Bylaw Amendments Required?

The Official Community Plan and the Zoning Bylaw serve different purposes. Both must support the proposed use before the development can proceed.

Official Community Plan Amendment

The Official Community Plan provides the District’s long-term direction for growth, land use, housing, infrastructure and environmental protection.

The property is currently designated Peninsula in the Official Community Plan. This designation generally supports a stable, lower-density residential area with primarily single-detached homes and duplexes. It does not currently identify the property as an area intended for multi-family growth.

The proposed amendment would change the property’s land-use designation from Peninsula to Future Homes.

This change is required because the proposed 21-unit development is more intensive than the type and density of housing currently envisioned for the property. The amendment would allow Council to consider whether this specific site should become part of Tofino’s planned area for future housing.

The Official Community Plan amendment changes the broader policy direction for the property. It does not, by itself, authorize the proposed development.

Zoning Bylaw Amendment

The Zoning Bylaw establishes the detailed rules for what may be built on an individual property. These rules include permitted uses, residential density, building height, setbacks, parking and other site-specific requirements.

The property is currently zoned Acreage Residential District (RA1). The existing zoning does not permit the proposed 21-unit multi-family development.

The zoning amendment would establish the land-use regulations needed to permit the proposed multi-family use and density at 740 Campbell Street.

Public Consultation

Council is seeking community input on the proposed Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments for 740 Campbell Street.

Community feedback will help Council consider the proposed housing development, including:

• The need for affordable and attainable housing
• The proposed density, scale and design
• Traffic, access, parking and active transportation
• Environmental conditions and natural hazards
• The proposed waterfront park and public access to Browning Passage
• Potential impacts on the surrounding neighbourhood and broader community

Community members can learn more, ask questions and provide input through Talk Tofino, written submissions to Council, and the Public Hearing.

Public Hearing

A Public Hearing is a formal part of the bylaw amendment process.

The Public Hearing gives people who believe they may be affected by the proposed amendments an opportunity to:

• Speak directly to Council
• Submit written comments
• Express support, opposition or concerns
• Provide information that Council should consider before making a decision

Council must receive and consider the public input presented through the hearing process. The Public Hearing does not represent final approval of the project. Following the hearing, Council may consider whether to give the bylaws third reading or take another course of action.

Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Time: 5 PM
Location: Clayoquot Sound Theatre, 380 Campbell Street
Online: Zoom access will be available at tofino.ca/meetings

Written comments may also be submitted to Josh Welsh, Manager of Planning Services, via email at jwelsh@tofino.ca by Monday, August 10, 2026, at 4 PM.