Bell McKinnon is an area in North Cowichan roughly along Bell McKinnon Road east of the Trans Canada Highway and north of Drinkwater Road. The community is being anchored by the development of the new Cowichan District Hospital that is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in 2027.
Bell McKinnon Local Area Plan
The award-winning Bell McKinnon Local Area Plan (BMLAP) was adopted in 2018. The BMLAP envisions an urban, walkable, mixed-use community and sets the expectation that the infrastructure and community amenities will be paid for by development. At full build-out, the new community is ultimately expected to accommodate more than 6,000 residential units plus significant commercial development (in the area of the plan south of Herd Road).
- Read the Bell McKinnon Local Area Plan
- Link: Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project (Island Health)
Implementation and next steps
Visit the story map from October 2024 to learn more about implementation of the BMLAP.
Council has approved two policies specific to Bell McKinnon:
- Phasing Plan for the Bell McKinnon Local Area Plan Policy
- Bell McKinnon Local Area Plan Land Acquisition Community Amenity
Contribution Policy
Stay up-to-date
Learn more about the planning and development of the Bell McKinnon area at connectnorthcowichan.ca/Bell-McKinnon.
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