City aligns 2040 plan with provincial mandates, invites public input.
The City of Kelowna is preparing to update its 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) to comply with provincial directives and address the community’s evolving needs. Residents have until August 10 to review and provide feedback on the proposed changes.
Planner Specialist Tracy Guidi explained that the OCP modifications are necessary to align housing policies with the Interim Housing Needs Assessment and recent BC Stats growth projections. The city aims to enhance Kelowna’s 2040 OCP while incorporating newer legislation.
Amendments are required for all municipalities to meet the December 31, 2025 deadline set by the Province. Guidi noted that Kelowna’s OCP, being relatively new, is already mostly in line with these requirements, suggesting only minor changes are necessary due to proactive planning.
New projections indicate Kelowna will need 45,000 new housing units between 2021 and 2041 to accommodate growth and address existing needs. The current OCP’s capacity eliminates the need for changes to future land use designations.
In the following weeks, residents can review draft amendments and provide feedback. The city plans to refine these proposals and present them to the Council in fall 2025, followed by a public hearing.
Kelowna will also evaluate its capital plans and financing strategies over the coming year to support infrastructure and improve housing affordability, aiming to robustly manage growth with diverse housing options.
For additional details and to provide feedback, residents are encouraged to visit getinvolved.kelowna.ca.