OCP Review is an opportunity for the Town to ensure that the goals and objectives which were set out in the OCP are still important to the community. Since an OCP is a long-term guiding document for the future of a community it is important that everything stated in the plan is still relevant to the community and no adjustments need to be made to the plan.
The OCP reflects the community’s values and priorities as presented through its vision. By setting out a clear community vision today, we can shape our future growth in a way that is sustainable and provides a high quality of life for current and future residents.
All municipal policies, plans and regulations must be in alignment with the OCP Bylaw, so it is a powerful guide for Town decision-making. An effective OCP provides clear direction but does not preclude change to the plan based on evolving circumstances or interpretation of policies by Council and staff. In this way, an OCP is often considered a “living document”.
Council, municipal staff, developers and professionals (architects, engineers, planners, landscape architects, etc.) use the OCP to understand what the community wants as it relates to the delivery of housing and other land uses (types, character), transportation services, infrastructure and amenities.
They also use the OCP to understand which areas are suitable for the development and which are not (environmentally sensitive areas, steep slopes, hazardous areas, etc.). The public can use the OCP to gain a better understanding of local issues and how they are planned to be addressed or what changes may happen in their neighbourhood.
Land use planning facilitates the orderly development of land, resources, infrastructure and services, with a view to securing the economic, environmental, social and cultural well-being of urban and rural communities. The driving force in planning is often the need for change, the need for improved management or the need for a different pattern of land use, dictated by changing investment circumstances.
An OCP Review involves significant public involvement from the beginning to the end so that goals and policies reflect community concerns and hopes for the future. During an OCP update, the review process is open, transparent, and requires broad input from residents, elected officials, staff, and stakeholders. It is the Town’s goal to engage residents of all ages and walks of life to participate in a wide number of activities over the life of the review.