The first draft of Enderby's updated Official Community Plan (OCP) is expected to be finished this fall, and the city wants residents to get involved.
An OCP is a comprehensive, long-term planning document that guides the growth and development of a community. It helps staff and council make decisions on matters such as housing, transportation, economic development, parks and recreation, land use, arts, culture and more.
Together with the zoning bylaw, the OCP shapes the city and provides a framework for how the community will evolve over time.
Enderby's current OCP was adopted in 2014 and requires a refresh to align with population growth, new provincial housing legislation and changes to the community's current and future needs. The OCP update will aim to clarify and consolidate housing policies while addressing different types of housing noted in the 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report.
The purpose of the OCP update is to:
• Modernize housing and land use policies with updated population growth projections and provincial housing legislative requirements;
• Refresh land use, growth policies, and development permit area guidelines to align with the community’s vision for the future of Enderby;
• Bring the OCP in line with the community’s evolving needs and the most recent Interim Housing Needs Report, ensuring it reflects changes from the past decade;
• Improve the clarity and usability of the document for staff, council and the development community.
The update is currently being led by city staff with support from consultants.
The city is now in the early stages engaging with the public and stakeholders. Over the next few weeks, there will be opportunities for residents to take part and share their input.
That engagement starts with a short survey for residents to share their thoughts on the OCP update. The online survey can be found at surveymonkey.ca/r/enderbyocp, and the deadline to complete it is Friday, July 4, at 11:59 p.m.
"Your participation in this survey will help ensure that the OCP reflects our community’s priorities, values and vision for years to come," the city said.
A pair of open houses are also coming up for people to learn more about the update. Residents can drop in at the Enderby and District Senior Citizens Society building (1101 George St.) between 4:30 and 7 p.m. June 24 and 25 to take part.
A series of pop-up events will be taking place between June 20 and 26, where residents can speak to members of the city's engagement team who can provide more information on the project and answer questions.
Here are the details for the pop-up events:
• Enderby Farmers Market – Friday, June 20, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.;
• Enderby & District Visitor Centre – Wednesday, June 25, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.;
• Askew’s Foods – Thursday, June 26, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Enderby's current OCP, in consolidated form, can be found on the city's website.
