Council gets look at OCP

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - June 20, 2008

Vernon politicians will get their first look Monday at a proposed planning document that has dominated city activities for two years. Council will be asked by staff to endorse the 2008 official community plan, and launch the regulatory process. “It’s a 25-year vision,” said Kim Flick, manager of planning and building services. “It’s not an update of the old OCP. It’s a completely new document.” Council first instructed staff in May 2006 to review the current OCP — which acts as a blueprint for land use. At the time, the goal was to address some public concerns about the scope of development in the community. The review included an extensive consultation process, with more than 100 opportunities for residents to provide feedback on the proposed plan and what they want to see in Vernon. “We are only required to provide just one or more (opportunity),” said Flick. The primary focus of the new OCP would be neighbourhood centres where people could work and shop where they live. “It would allow people to walk or bike or take the bus to what they need to do,” said Flick.

Coun. Buffy Baumbrough believes the document will lessen the impact of sprawl. “It doesn’t preclude growth. It just shifts the way we accommodate growth,” of the neighbourhood centres. Baumbrough says the entire consultation process revealed that many residents were not pleased with how development had occurred in the past. “People want hillsides and agricultural land protected and this OCP is focused on that.” That is also the view of Patrick Nicol, a longtime councillor. “There is a great value to growth and the ability to pay for things (infrastructure), but there is an improved way to do it,” he said. If the proposed 2008 OCP is endorsed Monday, the required bylaws will go before council for first reading July 14. “There will be additional consultations with the community through a public hearing and we will refine the document if necessary,” said Flick. It’s anticipated that council could give final approval to the OCP this fall. Nicol is confident that his colleagues will give their blessing to the proposed OCP Monday. “It’s probably the most research and work that’s ever gone into one of these plans,” he said.