Official Community Plans

An Official Community Plan (OCP) can be developed by both municipalities and regional districts. The OCP provides the longer term vision for the community. Under the Local Government Act section 875, an OCP is a statement of objectives and policies to guide decisions on planning and land use management, within the area covered by the plan, respecting the purposes of local government.
 

Local governments are encouraged to consider how the OCP can be integrated with other community strategies, including transportation plans, sustainability plans, and waste management plans. Approaching planning and development in an integrated way supports coordinated efforts.

If a local government chooses to prepare and adopt an OCP, there are requirements for statements and map designations for:

• the approximate location, amount, type and density of residential development required to meet anticipated housing needs over a period of at least five years;
• the approximate location, amount and type of present and proposed commercial, industrial, institutional, agricultural, recreational and public utility land uses;
• the approximate location and area of sand and gravel deposits that are suitable for future sand and gravel extraction;
• restrictions on the use of land that is subject to hazardous conditions or that is environmentally sensitive to development;
• the approximate location and phasing of any major road, sewer and water systems;
• the approximate location and type of present and proposed public facilities, including schools, parks and waste treatment and disposal sites;
• other matters that may, in respect of any plan, be required or authorized by the minister;
• housing policies of the local government respecting affordable housing, rental housing and special needs housing; and,
• targets for the reduction of greehouse gas emissions in the area covered by the plan, and policies and actions of the local government proposed with respect to achieving those targets.

A local government may choose to provide certain types of policy statements in an OCP, including:

• policies relating to social needs, social well-being and social development;
• a regional context statement (if the plan area is in a regional growth strategy area);
• policies respecting the maintenance and enhancement of farming on land in a farming area or in an area designated for agricultural use in the community plan;
• policies relating to the preservation, protection, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment, its ecosystems and biological diversity; and,
• in cases where a matter is not within the jurisdiction of the local government, the plan may only state the broad objectives unless the minister has required or authorized the local government to state a specific policy.

Development permit areas (DPA) may be used to achieve some of the objectives identified in an official community plan. A DPA can be designated to: protect agricultural land, protect the natural environment, and guide the form and character of development. This authority can also be used to achieve climate action goals, including: energy conservation, water conservation and GHG reduction.

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Consultation during the development of an OCP

• the board of any regional district that is adjacent to the plan area;
• the council of any municipality that is adjacent to the plan area;
• First Nations;
• school district boards, greater boards and improvement district boards; and,
• the provincial and federal governments and their agencies.

The board or council decides what form the consultation will take. The consultation can include written referrals, open houses, information meetings, focus groups, workshops, newsletters, questionnaires, etc.
 

This consultation is in addition to the requirements for a formal public hearing.