Yesterday, Vernon Council adopted the City’s new Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw 6200. The OCP is Vernon’s long-term strategic land use plan, guiding where and how growth will occur over the next 20 years. For residents, it gives a clearer picture of where housing, businesses, parks, and services will be located, and how neighbourhoods will evolve. It provides the community’s broad vision and is supported by other bylaws, such as the Zoning Bylaw and Subdivision and Servicing Bylaw, which set regulations based on the OCP’s direction.
This updated OCP builds on the strong foundation of the 2013 plan and promotes:
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Balanced urban growth and housing diversity
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Collaboration with homebuilders and developers
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Using a climate-lens for decision making
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Intergovernmental cooperation to address regional issues
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Safety and environmental protection
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Support for truth and reconciliation
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Increased public access to trails, creeks, and lakes
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Active transportation and transit
What’s in the plan?
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Chapter 1: Foundation — Purpose and legislative framework
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Chapter 2: Community Context — Population, housing profiles and projections
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Chapter 3: Growth Management — Seven community values, vision for 2045, and growth strategy
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Chapter 4: City-Wide Policies — Direction for decision-makers on housing, climate and environment, economy, parks and recreation, safety, culture and equity, and transportation
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Chapter 5: Land Use Policies — Guidance for builders, developers, businesses, and homeowners on future land use designations
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Chapter 6: Development Permit Areas — Regulatory framework for permits
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Chapter 7: Actions and Implementation — Actions for the next one to five years, monitoring, and reporting
The remainder of the plan includes a glossary, maps, the Regional Context Statement, Development Permit Guidelines, and Form and Character Guidelines.
Thank you, Vernon!
Thank you to everyone who engaged and contributed to shaping Vernon’s Official Community Plan. Your input was instrumental in creating a plan that reflects our community’s values and vision for how Vernon will live, work, move, and play over the next 20 years. In the new year, we’ll share more about how you can stay involved and the actions the City is taking to implement the plan.
Learn more and read the full plan at vernon.ca/neighbourhood-planning.