Salmon Arm is in the final phase of developing its new official community plan (OCP) – a process that started in late 2023.
To date, it’s involved wide and varied opportunities for engagement by residents, regular updating of the draft OCP based on what was heard, a steering committee to ensure the revised OCP drafts are reflective of public input and a ton of coordinating work by city staff and our consultant to get us where we are today.
An OCP envisions desired future growth and development and provides goals and objectives to guide future land use planning and decisions. That includes anticipated housing, agriculture, commercial and industrial needs and much more. An OCP is about “what” a community envisions for future land use as well as “where” that land use should best occur.
That’s what Salmon Arm’s latest comprehensive OCP draft reflects. This draft, associated mapping and summary of engagement is here at salmonarm.ca/464/OCP2024. The need for housing densification is reflected and there is strong support for protection of agricultural lands, active transportation improvements, improvements to public transit, improvements and expansion of recreation facilities, protection of existing green spaces and creation of new public spaces and enhanced climate change initiatives.
Here’s what’s next in the OCP process. Salmon Arm council will give first reading to the OCP on April 14. That will be followed by formal referrals for input to outside organizations (CSRD, ALC, MoTT and SD83 in April/May).
After that, there’ll be a public hearing on the proposed OCP (TBD after the formal organizational feedback is received back May/June?). This public hearing will be a further opportunity for resident input to the OCP.
The city will publicize the dates for the public hearing and subsequent readings widely. Stay tuned!
Tim Lavery is a City of Salmon Arm councillor.
