There are a number of upcoming opportunities for Salmon Arm residents to have a look into the city's future.
The city is in the fourth and final phase of its official community plan (OCP) review, with a third draft in the process of being finalized.
An OCP is essentially a long-term vision for the community. It guides planning and land-use management, outlining long-term development plans.
"It is a long range, strategic and forward looking document that provides direction to a council in its decision making in the future, often looking out over a period of 20 years or more," reads the latest draft of Salmon Arm's OCP.
In creating/revising an OCP, local governments are required to "outline a community vision through a public engagement process."
The city has conducted numerous public engagement opportunities throughout the OCP review process, and has more planned for the fourth phase.
In February the city is launching its OCP Showcase, giving the public an opportunity to review the latest OCP draft, learn about how it came to be and chat with Mayor Alan Harrison and city planning staff.
A pair of virtual events are planned for Thursday, Feb. 20, the first from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Links to register can be found at salmonarm.ca/464/OCP2024. There will also be two open-house events at Song Sparrow Hall. The first will take place between 6 and 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. The second will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1. No registration is required for the public drop-in events.
The city's current OCP was approved by council in November 2011. The new OCP is intended to reflect changes that have occurred since then and "establish how the community wants to grow and change in the future.
"Community change is inevitable, and an OCP can help a community manage and direct how it wants that change to occur," reads the city's website.
For more information, visit salmonarm.ca/464/OCP2024.
