Council adopts OCP

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 16, 2008

With Vernon’s new official community plan now the law, the document will soon be put into action. The 2008 OCP bylaw was adopted by a majority of council Tuesday, and that paves the way for new policies that deal with land use matters as well as transportation, agriculture and social issues. “The real work will fall out in the implementation,” said Coun. Buffy Baumbrough, who is confident the new OCP addresses the concerns of many residents about development. “It represents a shift in direction and it’s a more comprehensive approach to decision-making in Vernon.” Baumbrough also points out that the document was created through an extensive consultation process with residents during almost two years. “It’s the community’s document,” she said.

Mayor Wayne Lippert also stands behind the entire process. “It’s a very good document and no other OCP has had the public input that this one has had,” he said. “It sets the course for future city councils to follow.” The primary focus of the new OCP is neighbourhood centres where people could work and shop where they live. The goal is to try and get away from sprawl, but Lippert insists that the document is not anti-development. “It better reflects the direction the community wants us to go in,” he said.

The lone opposition to the OCP came from Coun. Barry Beardsell. “A number of things have not been dealt with adequately in terms of Hospital Hill,” he said, adding that there was also a need to protect a corridor for a western bypass. Beardsell believes more time should have been spent working on the OCP. “I think skipping over some important issues was wrong,” he said.