We have received over 3,000 inputs so far from residents to our official community plan review. Thank you.
An OCP is a community plan that outlines a community’s long-term vision, and the policies and objectives that guide land-use management and planning. Your input informs the OCP and helps to guide community growth.
This process takes time. We have been engaging the community for a full calendar year. With three public surveys, public events, stakeholder workshops and self-directed workbook opportunities, we have gathered a lot of valuable ideas.
To date, Council has not been formally engaged in the plan, but has been following progress and staying informed. It is important that the community is able to brainstorm their ideas, independent of Council.
A community steering committee has met regularly over the past year, to review input from the community. The steering committee’s job is not to provide input to the OCP, but rather to review the community input, and ensure the draft plan reflects that input.
A new draft plan will be released in January once the recent input has been reviewed and Council and the steering committee are comfortable with the new plan. During February the city has planned an online input session and two in-person workshops to get further feedback.
Once the remaining input from the community has been gathered, Council’s work begins. From then through to April 2025, Council will formally review the input.
As a part of Council’s process, a bylaw will be introduced in April and then a formal public hearing will be held. Depending on community engagement, we may extend the hearing. We want to ensure that all community members who choose to, are able to come and talk to Council. Written submissions will also be encouraged. Council’s job is to listen, reflect and decide on the community’s vision, and then to direct changes to the plan as it feels are appropriate.
Please continue to stay engaged, and look out for the most recent rework of our OCP in early 2025. You can find up to date information on the city’s website at www.salmonarm.ca/464/OCP2024
