The scenic beauty of Gibsons' Harbour Area has both attracted development interest and captured the imagination of the community, which has come together frequently to envision ways to enliven and enhance the Harbour.  

Concepts and ideas for the Harbour have ranged from a pedestrian ferry service going from the Government Wharf to the Sea Bus terminal in downtown Vancouver, to a hotel convention centre, to new facilities for a working waterfront, to new parks and natural areas. Ideas have been visionary (a train system linking the water to Upper Gibsons) and they have been pragmatic (discussing revenue potential for the Town). Every study of the Harbour to date has recognized the tremendous significance of the area to the Town's image and livelihood,  and has endeavored to find ways to develop and enhance the area while retaining the existing scale and character that make the Harbour desirable to residents and visitors. 

Over the past two years the Town has been working with a group of consultants, key stakeholders and residents on a Harbour Area Plan with the following goals:

• retain the grain (scale and character) of the Harbour Area

• preserve views (public and private)

• allow for an acceptable impact from any increased parking and traffic

• account for short and long term effects of climate change

• support ecologically sensitive development

• support shared growth between the upper and lower parts of the town

• support increased, year-round commercial activity in the Harbour Area

• support tourist activity

• upgrade and add to cultural facilities (library, museum, …)

• complete and enhance the Town’s pedestrian network

Through a community visioning process and through detailed technical and environmental analysis, the Town's consultants have proposed a land use framework for the Harbour Area that would result in economically viable new development while advancing the goals above and increasing the quality of life in the area.

Please take a look at the Phase One study (containing the community's vision for the area) and the Phase Two study (which aimed to ensure the vision is viable and likely to be implemented) and then let us know what you think. The discussion forum (click on 'Discussion') above is open to everyone-- we are looking for creative comments on the Phase I and Phase II studies and ideas for the Harbour area that will help the Town as we move towards a Harbour Area Plan to be adopted into the Official Community Plan. 

Connect to join the discussion on the Harbour Plan by clicking the Connect Button under the map on the left. Your location will appear as an anonymous green dot on the Harbour Plan Map.

Harbour Plan Process

The Town hired a team of consultants to work with the Town and its residents to come up with a future vision for the Harbour Area.  Phase I of the Planning process is complete and included two open houses with the public and a Design charrette that took place in the fall of 2009.  A Harbour Vision was completed in January 2010 and was presented to the Planning Committee in February 2010.

Phase II of the planning process examined the economic viability of development in the Harbour Area and made adjustments to the plan to ensure that there is a reasonable expectation that development and enhancement will proceed.