The Municipality of Summerland鈥檚 update of the Official Community Plan will determine the community鈥檚 direction over the next 20 years.
On Feb. 18, the municipality held an open house as part of the public input process for the update.
The Official Community Plan is a long-term strategy to guide growth and development in Summerland. The existing plan was updated in 2015. Since then, the community has grown and changed.
The updating work will address emerging trends, reflect the views of residents, align with current municipal policies and initiatives and satisfy provincial regulations.
Communities in British Columbia are required to have their plans updated this year. The new plan must identify plans for development to meet current and anticipated housing needs for the next 20 years. Previous legislation had a five-year timeframe.
The plan also looks at infrastructure, transportation, parks, economic development and the natural and social environment.
Dan Penner of Urban Systems, the project leader and planner, provided the update, saying the new community plan will deal with direction, not with specific zoning details.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about creating a fresh view that鈥檚 aligned with where the community is today,鈥� he said at the open house. 鈥淲here do we want to go?鈥�
Penner noted some trends that are affecting the community now and in the future.
In the last census, in 2021, Summerland had a population of 12,042. The median age was 49.5 and one-third of the community鈥檚 residents were 65 or older.
By 2024, the population is expected to rise to 13,890. The percentage of people 15 and younger is expected to decrease, while those 65 and older are expected to form a greater percentage of Summerland鈥檚 population.
鈥淚f things keep trending the way they are, Summerland鈥檚 going to continue to keep aging,鈥� he said.
From. From 2021 to 2041, Summerland鈥檚 growth rate is expected to be 0.56 per cent a year. Based on Summerland鈥檚 2024 Housing Needs Assessment, the community will need 671 new housing units within the next five years and 2,212 new housing units in the next 20 years.
Development activity peaked in 2022, but has declined since that time.
The effects of climate change are also expected to affect Summerland鈥檚 growth and direction in the coming years.
鈥淪ummerland has experienced significant weather and climate events in the last several years,鈥� Penner said.
These include extreme flooding in 2017 and 2018, sudden cold snaps that devastated wineries in 2023 and 2024 and several summers with intense smoke from wildfires in the province.
During the public input process, there will be many opportunities for people to comment on the plan and offer their visions for the community鈥檚 future.
A survey on the community plan is available online and is open until Feb. 28. Other engagement opportunities will continue throughout the year.
