City releases draft of new Official Community Plan, guiding long-term development of Kelowna

Photo: Colin Dacre file photo

The City of Kelowna has released its first draft of its new Official Community Plan.

The document is designed to guide the growth of the city through the next decade, and now is your chance to provide feedback as the development of the plan enters its final phase.

By 2040, Kelowna is expected to be home to another 50,000 people — one of Canada’s fastest growing cities.

"This transition can be exciting, bringing new energy, amenities, and employment and educational opportunities," reads the first pages of the plan. "Yet, rapid change can also bring anxiety as some residents grapple with increased traffic, home price escalation and the transformation of the small town they knew."

An example of that anxiety was on display last year when a neighbourhood group held a news conference to complain about the pace of development in the Pandosy area. Castanet’s letters page is often filled with opinions on the growth of the city.

So if you feel strongly one way or the other about the direction of the city, now is the time to speak up.

“We look forward to hearing from residents about the proposed directions – feedback will help us deliver a final plan that represents how the community wants to grow,” said Robert Miles, planner and OCP 2040 Project Manager.

The OCP provides city council with policy direction on issues like housing, transportation, infrastructure, parks, and the natural and social environment. It is also designed to clearly signal to the development community where certain types of projects will be supported.

Due to the pandemic, engagement will take place primarily online. The public will have a chance to review the draft and share comments by completing a survey, taking part in virtual focus groups, joining online discussion forums, or by visiting the in-person display at City Hall. This final phase of 2040 OCP engagement runs until the end of March.

“Despite the challenges that COVID-19 continues to present, we hope to encourage as much input as possible from our residents by offering a variety of participation opportunities.”

Public feedback will help refine and finalize the proposed plan. The final plan is expected to be completed and presented to Council for endorsement later this year.

The full plan can be found here. You can get involved and provide feedback here.