A 30 to 50 year town centre vision for Colwood
Exciting things are happening in and around Colwood's town centre, with property owners in the area exploring development opportunities and work underway on the new Galloping Goose Crossing over Sooke Road.
Colwood is working with partners to create a cohesive vision for the future so that decisions made today will lead to a thoughtfully designed town centre in 30 to 50 years.
Colwood hosted several workshops with land owners in our town centre to hear their vision for their property, and how the area between Island Highway, Wale Road and Goldstream Avenue could become an thriving, pedestrian friendly, centre where people want to spend time. The City is also working to develop a Colwood Retail Strategy to attract the right mix of new businesses to our community with the goal of improving our economy, sense of place, and quality of life.
Community members were encouraged to share their vision for Colwood's town centre during the fall of 2022. Here is the Colwood News story from June 2022 How would you reimagine Colwood's town centre 30 years from now.
The plan was most recently presented to Colwood Council at their meeting on May 23, 2023.
Planning for three distinct areas
1. A Galloping Goose Precinct
With the Galloping Goose trail as a prominent feature, enabling development of shops, eateries and public spaces in a new Galloping Goose Precinct would create an active and vibrant people place. A new Galloping Goose pedestrian and cycling bridge over Sooke Road is expected to be complete by 2025 and will advance possibilities in this area.
2. A pedestrian friendly "high street"
Land owners in this area have expressed interest in developing. The Gateway Vision would guide development that draws people from the Island Highway into a pedestrian and cycling friendly high street including a central village with shops, services, amenities and placemaking features.
3. New employment and education
The area would be reimagined to provide a vibrant mixed use employment centre. Buildings up to 20 stories high would offer local jobs, educational, institutional and light industrial amenities as well as living space, dining, shopping, services and public spaces.
Read the full Gateway Vision Plan.
