2040 Official Community Plan: Our Kelowna as we grow | Get Involved Kelowna

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How our city looks and feels is shaped by our Official Community Plan (OCP), a high-level policy document that guides how and where we grow. In 2022, Kelowna is home to 138,500 residents, and by 2040, that population is expected to grow by more than 45,000 citizens. This growth will bring both opportunities and challenges and strategic planning is essential to ensure Kelowna can continue to be prosperous, vibrant and resilient in the years to come.

The 2040 OCP updated land uses, mapping and policies to reflect the community’s vision (as captured through Imagine Kelowna) and to clearly signal where development will be prioritized and supported with infrastructure and amenities. The OCP provides a policy framework for Council by addressing issues such as housing, transportation, infrastructure, parks, economic development and the natural and social environment.

On Monday, Sept. 20, City Council granted first reading to the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP), and on Tuesday, October 26 it passed second and third readings. The Plan then went to the Province for approval, and it was adopted by Council on Jan. 10, 2022.

The 2040 Official Community Plan was adopted on Jan. 10, 2022.

Imagine Kelowna Vision to 2040

Public Engagement

The plan was shaped by a series of engagement opportunities, beginning with the development of our community vision, Imagine Kelowna. The final phase of OCP engagement built on earlier dialogue with the public and explored a range of topics specific to how our community will grow. We asked residents to share their feedback and help bring our community's vision of a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive Kelowna to life.

The engagement and information process around the 2040 Official Community Plan update began in February 2018 and concluded in March 2021.  Engagement activities were coordinated with the Transportation Master Plan update to ensure public outreach was strategically aligned.

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Discussion

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Protecting agricultural land & stopping sprawl

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Completing surburban neighbourhoods

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Urban Centres as hubs of activity

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Housing diversity in the Core Area

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Transit supportive corridors

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Growing sustainably

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Protecting our environment

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Taking action on climate change

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OCP Survey

Complete the 2040 OCP Survey

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Focus Groups

Focus Group Attendee Survey

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2040 OCP climate action & environment virtual focus group - Draft

Committing to policy and actions that create the desired future residents are asking for in Imagine Kelowna is intricately linked to climate change. The greatest action on climate begins with us and how we choose to live.

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Register for the 2040 OCP climate action & environment virtual focus group!

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Register for a 2040 OCP Urban centres & residential infill virtual focus group!

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Sign up for the 2040 OCP agricultural lands & suburban neighbourhoods virtual focus group - Draft

Protecting and preserving rural and agricultural lands has never been more important. As impacts of climate change continue to be felt locally and food security grows in importance, agricultural lands will play a growing role.

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Level of engagement

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Learn more about the City of Kelowna's Engagement Process.

OCP 2040 engagement milestones

Draft 2040 OCP Review

The final phase of engagement on the OCP offered a variety of opportunities to demonstrate what was heard from the public in earlier phases, show how feedback was reflected in the draft plan, and understand perspectives on the new policy directions in order to refine and finalize the plan.

This phase of engagement was narrower in scope than others and did seek not feedback on policy items that had already been established though earlier rounds of public input, such as the Growth Scenario, for example. Feedback was sought on policy areas that could benefit from further discussion with the public. These major policy areas included:

Urban Centre development and residential infill
Stopping sprawl and protecting agriculture
Climate action and environmental protection

Given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, engagement in Phase 4 aimed to be inclusive as possible while prioritizing the health and safety of our community amid this ever-evolving public health crisis. Engagement took place primarily online.

Staff presented the Phase 4 engagement summary report to Council on May 31.

Public and stakeholder input informed revisions to the draft OCP. On Monday, Sept. 20, City Council granted first reading to the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP), and on Tuesday, October 26 it passed second and third readings. The Plan then went to the Province for approval, and was adopted by Council on Jan. 10, 2022.

Kelowna 2040 Neighbourhood Expos

Neighbourhood expos featured displays and activities to help participants explore a range of topics, such as transportation, parks, infill housing and future land use. Participants received a ‘passport to 2040’ to give feedback through an online survey that was available Sept to Oct. 4, 2019 or at four in-person events. Next steps included developing a draft Future Land Use Plan, which was brought to Council and the public for consideration in fall 2019. A collaboration between staff, Council, residents and community stakeholders, the land use plan will provide a big picture overview of the types of activities and use that can take place in different areas of the city.

Visit the Get Involved page and read the full engagement summary.

Land Use Idea Generator

Landowners considering redevelopment of their properties within the next ten years were invited to share their ideas for consideration. A draft Future Land Use Plan was develeoped in 2019. Redevelopment of agricultural lands or lands outside of the Permanent Growth Boundary were not considered through the idea generator.

Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

Background & project launch

Winter 2018
Timeline item 2 - complete

Growth strategy development

Spring - fall 2018
Timeline item 3 - complete

Plan development

Fall 2018 - winter 2020
Timeline item 4 - complete

Plan refinement

Spring 2020-2021
Timeline item 5 - complete

Final Plan endorsement, readings, and public hearing

Fall 2021
Timeline item 6 - active

Plan adoption

The approved 2040 OCP was formally adopted on January 10, 2022.

Related plans & projects

Resources & recommended reading

Facts in Focus 2018

Learn more about the OCP

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