Have Your Say: Summerland Invites Community Feedback for Official Plan Update!

The Municipality of Summerland is updating its Official Community Plan (OCP). This plan will shape the town for the next 20 years.

On February 18, community members gathered for an open house to share their thoughts on this important update.

The OCP is a long-term guide for growth and development in Summerland. The last update was in 2015. Since then, the town has changed. This new update will look at current trends, gather input from residents, sync up with municipal policies, and meet provincial rules.

This year, all communities in British Columbia are required to refresh their plans. The new OCP must outline development strategies to fulfill housing needs over the next two decades. Earlier laws focused on five-year plans.

The updated plan will cover several key areas, including infrastructure, transportation, parks, economic growth, and the environment.

Dan Penner from Urban Systems, the project leader, explained at the open house that the plan focuses on broad direction rather than specific zoning regulations.

“We want to create a fresh perspective that represents where the community is today,” he said. “What is our vision for the future?”

Penner pointed out important demographic trends. In the 2021 census, Summerland had 12,042 residents, with a median age of 49.5. Notably, one-third of the population was 65 or older.

By next year, the population is forecasted to reach 13,890. Interestingly, the share of younger residents (15 and younger) is projected to decline, while the older population is expected to grow.

“If trends continue, Summerland will age further,” he noted.

From 2021 to 2041, Summerland will see a modest growth rate of about 0.56% annually. Based on the Housing Needs Assessment, the community will need 671 new housing units in the next five years and 2,212 over the next 20 years.

Development reached its peak in 2022 but has since slowed.

Climate change is also a significant factor for Summerland’s future. Penner mentioned that the area has faced severe weather events recently, including major floods in 2017 and 2018, damaging cold spells affecting wineries in 2023 and 2024, and smoke from wildfires during hot summers.

There will be many chances for residents to voice their opinions on the OCP. An online survey is available until February 28, and additional community engagement will happen throughout the year.