2013 Official Community Plan Review

The City of Vernon is undertaking a review of the Official Community Plan (OCP) in 2013. This review is intended to ensure that the plan is effective in achieving the vision created by the community during the development of the OCP in 2008.

What is an Official Community Plan?

An OCP is the guiding document for land use and development in a municipality. When City Council and staff are considering policy, land use and development proposals, the OCP guides the decision making process.
 

Vernon's OCP has nine Guiding Principles:

  • Protect and preserve green spaces and sensitive areas
  • Ensure housing meets the needs of the whole community
  • Create a culture of sustainability
  • Protect agricultural land
  • Create strong, compact and complete neighbourhoods
  • Provide alternative transportation
  • Revitalize the Downtown
  • Ensure development pays for itself
  • Create a youth friendly city
 

Vernon's OCP focuses on promoting compact urban development that supports infrastructure management, encourages more housing choices and provides transportation options. This is achieved by focusing on the City Centre as the top priority for redevelopment, followed by a network of "neighbourhood centres" throughout the city, such as the Waterfront and the area around Polson Mall. New opportunities for development on hillsides and agricultural lands is limited.

This compact urban development pattern provides more opportunities for cycling, walking and transit and is supported by strategic investments in sidewalks, cycling routes, buses and facilities like the new transit terminus. Development on hillsides must conform to detailed design guidelines and ecologically sensitive areas are protected through the Environmental Areas Strategy.

Download the Official Community Plan here

Why do a Review?

This review is an opportunity to check in on the OCP to see which policies are working well and which ones need to be updated. The goal is to ensure that the policies in the OCP are as effective as possible in meeting the community's vision for Vernon. Since 2008, there have been many changes in the local, provincial and national context. Updating the plan to be consistent with these changes helps to ensure that the policies will be as effective as possible.

The City of Vernon is also developing an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) in conjunction with the OCP review. An ICSP will align City of Vernon plans and initiatives with other community initiatives, interests and priorities. It will also set greenhouse gas emission targets, now required by provincial legislation.

Vernon's Transportation Plan Review will also be taking place at the same time as the OCP, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.

When will this Review Take Place?

The review will take place between January and September 2013.

  

Report to Council: Proposed Official Community Plan Process - November 29, 2012

How do I get Involved?

A series of open houses were held from February to May of 2013. Information presented at those sessions can be found below. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Rob Miles, Long Range Planner at rmiles@vernon.ca or by telephone at 250-550-7830.

What is an OCP?
Land Use Trends
Existing Growth Strategy
Draft Land Use Plan
Master Transportation Plan
Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan
School Travel Planning
Sustainability
Environment
Energy
Economic Development
Social Planning
Agriculture
Community Amenities
Youth Friendly City
Age Friendly City
Heritage
Asset Management
Infrastructure
Liquid Waste Management Plan
Regional Context