Official Community Plan: Downtown & Area

OCP Amendments Overview 

The District will be amending the Official Community Plan (OCP) in 2024 to incorporate recommendations and policy objectives provided in the final draft of the Downtown Neighbourhood Action Plan. This draft Plan was adopted by Council in July of 2022 and the proposed changes will affect areas in and around downtown.

The following Guiding Principles have informed the amendments for the OCP: 

• Downtown is DIVERSE
• Downtown is VIBRANT
• Downtown is CONNECTED
• Downtown is PREPARED

Two additional maps, 'Proposed Downtown Boundary' and 'Proposed OCP Land Use,' show the boundary for which the amendments will apply in the downtown and the proposed land use changes in that area. 

In addition to the updating of land use designations for the OCP update for the Downtown Core, additional mapping updates are also being done to identify 'Existing Road Types' and 'Proposed Connectivity with existing sidewalks and bike lanes. 

OCP Open House

On March 5th two 2-hour open house sessions were held at the George Ryga Arts & Cultural Centre in Summerland. The OCP updates found on this page were presented to the public. If you missed the open house you can find the open house slide deck here. 

Existing OCP Documents

Please find the existing Official Community Plan here, where existing maps can be viewed, prior to the planned OCP changes. 

To view previous work to update the OCP, please visit this page

Proposed OCP Land Use Updates

Administrative

Civic and administrative uses are supported within this designation. Institutional, cultural, educational, and major community facilities are generally found within or in close proximity to the Downtown core and Lower Town. Administrative and civic uses such as places of worship, schools, daycares, and other minor facilities will continued to be supported in residential areas outside of the Downtown core.

The District will endeavour to support the initiatives of such organizations as the Summerland Community Arts Council, schools groups, and other local organizations.

Policy Overview

1. Encourage arts and culture in civic projects and during redevelopment projects in the Downtown Core area and Gateway Commercial district areas.
2. Retain and expand civic facilities and land to accommodate population growth.
3. Retain and protect significant cultural and historical assets in the community.
4. Continue to ensure that the downtown core is the community hub for cultural activities and civic pride.

The proposed land use map for 'Administration' can be found here

Parks, Recreation and Open Space

Summerland’s aesthetics and quality of life are positively influenced by its foreshore, parks, forested hillside, and non-active agricultural lands that provide an abundance of unstructured outdoor recreation and wilderness experiences.

The Parks designation supports the creation of new parks, and recreation within Summerland, especially the Downtown area where the majority of future residential growth is anticipated. With a proposed increase in intensification and population, the development of future parkland is desired.

The Open Lands designation has been delineated separately from the Parks designations. Forestry, grazing, open land recreation and conservation management will be permitted within this designation.

Policy Overview

1. Ensure a variation in park amenities and types to meet the needs of the community.
2. Monitor community needs to ensure that sufficient land is being allocated to parkland.
3. Ensure that new residential developments are designed to be within walking and cycling distance of parks and greenspace.
4. Ensure that parkland and recreation areas are well serviced, maintained, and connected via pathways or sidewalk connections.

The proposed land use map for 'Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces,' can be found here. 

Low Density Residential

The Low Density Residential (LDR) designation exists in areas with undeveloped land planned for future infrastructure expansion and in mature residential neighbourhoods with access to the District’s water and sanitary sewer systems. Directing growth to areas with existing services is efficient and cost-effective for the municipality while allowing a development pattern and density that supports transit, cycling, and walking as viable alternatives to the private automobile. 

Single detached housing, carriage houses, secondary suites, and small scale multi-unit housing such as duplex, triplex, quadplex, townhousing, courtyard/cluster housing, up to a maximum of four dwelling units per parcel, will be permitted within the Low Density designation.

Policy Overview

1. Maximum heights of up to three (3) storeys.
2. Maximum of four dwellings (4) per property.
3. Dwelling unit access should be from the ground level.
4. A site configuration that enables building orientation towards streets and laneways.
5. Retention of mature and healthy vegetation wherever possible.
6. Parking should be screened wherever possible, either by a concealed structure or vegetation.

The proposed land use map for 'Low Density Residential,' can be found here

Medium Density Residential

The Medium Density Residential (MDR) designation is to accommodate a variety of housing forms within existing and, more importantly, future residential areas. This category is predominantly intended to accommodate medium density housing developments in close proximity to existing or proposed low density residential areas and act as a buffer between higher density housing areas and low density housing areas.

Medium Density Residential (MDR) encourages infill development through street oriented low-rise apartments (to a maximum of four storeys), multi-plex units, rowhouses, bareland strata housing developments, cluster housing, and townhouses. Densities should generally reflect compact and livable communities in a variety of housing forms.

Policy Overview

1. Building height is a maximum of four (4) storeys.
2. Townhouse Housing dwelling units should be accessed from the ground level.
3. Apartment Housing dwelling units located on the ground level should have its own private exterior entrance in addition to the common entry and corridors.
4. Buildings should be oriented towards streets to enhance streetscape, urban form, and safety.
5. Design that is sensitive to surrounding built form and height, particularly for buildings that are three (3) or more storeys in height.
6. Parking for residents should be provided in a concealed, screened, or underground structure.

The proposed map for 'Medium Density Residential' can be found here. 

High Density Residential

The High Density Residential (HDR) designation supports apartment residential land use up to six (6) storeys in height. Accessory uses such as personal service, health services, care facility, and office uses are supported in this designation to serve residents in proximity to the Downtown core and in Lower Town. 

Higher density development should be located along major transportation routes and be restricted to areas close in proximity to the Downtown core or Lower Town. This designation is intended to accommodate multi-storey apartments and townhouses offering residents a compact neighbourhood with integrated uses and facilities. 

Policy Overview

1. Minimum Building Height of three (3) Storeys to a maximum of six (6) Storeys.
2. Each ground level unit should have its own private exterior entrance in addition to the common entry and corridors.
3. Commercial services should be encouraged on the ground floor and compliment, not compete, with the retail services.
4. Development should compliment and be sensitive to adjacent buildings and uses.
5. Parking should be within a concealed structure or underground.

The proposed land use map for 'High Density Residential' can be found here.

Downtown High Density Residential

The Downtown High Density Residential (DHDR) designation is proposed to be the long-term, most dense area in the community, with support for building heights a minimum of (4) four storeys and above. Support services such as day care, indoor recreation, and office are also supported.

This designation is intended to accommodate multi-storey apartments offering residents a compact, walkable, and livable neighbourhood with integrated uses and facilities.

Policies

1. Building height is a minimum of four (4) storeys or higher.
2. Each ground level unit should have its own private exterior entrance in addition to the common entry and corridors.
3. Design should be sensitive to surrounding built form and height, particularly for buildings that are six (6) or more storeys in height.
4. Design and site planning should ensure that on-site amenity spaces are created to allow for livable and fulling communities.
5. Parking should be within a concealed structure or underground.

The proposed 'Downtown High Density Residential' land use map can be found here.

Downtown Core

The Downtown Core (DC) designation supports a ground-oriented retail environment with mixed commercial and residential uses on upper storeys up to four (4) storeys in height, with the intent of maintaining the area as a vibrant, pedestrian oriented commercial hub for the community at a ground-level focused built-form scale.

This designation is intended to accommodate multi-storey apartments located above ground floor retail commercial offering residents and businesses a compact, walkable, and vibrant neighbourhood. 

Policy Overview

1. Maximum building height of four (4) storeys.
2. Commercial retail units are to be located on the ground floor.
3. Residential units are to be located above the ground floor.
4. Streets: a) The third and fourth storeys are strongly encouraged to be recessed appropriately to limit the massing on the street below. b) Storefronts should be double fronting along Wharton Street to increase vibrancy and neighbourhood character.
5. Traditional storefront design should be used to increase vibrancy and enhance the downtown experience.
6. Parking should be within a concealed structure or underground.

The proposed land use map for 'Downtown Core' can be found here. 

Downtown Core Intensification

Closely tied to the DC designation, the Downtown Core Intensification (DCI) designation supports higher density and building heights up to six (6) storeys. Ground floor commercial uses such as retail stores, restaurants and cafés are encouraged to contribute to vibrancy in the downtown neighbourhood.

This designation is intended to accommodate multi-storey apartments located above ground floor retail commercial offering residents and businesses a compact, walkable, and vibrant neighbourhood. 

Policy Overview

1. Maximum building height of six (6) storeys.
2. Commercial retail units are to be located on the ground floor.
3. Residential units are to be located above the ground floor.
4. Parking should be within a concealed structure or underground.
5. Living and activity spaces should be oriented toward streets and public spaces.
6. Incorporating public art into new development and public spaces is encouraged.

The proposed land use map for 'Downtown Core Intensification,' can be found here.

Gateway Commercial

The Gateway Commercial (GC) designation supports tourist based commercial uses within the urban area in and around the downtown including tourist accommodation and tourist-based retail. As well as additional residential density in the form of new mixed-use development, that do not compete with the uses in the Downtown Core. Hotels, motels, and other tourist-orientated businesses are encouraged to be located within this designation and it is proposed that buildings may permit up to six (6) storeys in height.

The GC designation should be located in areas that surround the main access points of Highway 97 and Prairie Valley Road and Rosedale Avenue that provide entry into the downtown core and the greater community of Summerland.

Policy Overview

1. Maximum building height of six (6) storeys.
2. Mixed use development with ground floor commercial and apartment residential located above the ground floor is encouraged.
3. Public art, seating, landscaping, and attractive placemaking should be part of new developments.
4. Parking should be within a concealed structure or underground.
5. Interpretive signage, plaques or other medium that provides historic information of a place, people, and/or event should be incorporated into development wherever possible.
6. Living and activity spaces should be oriented toward streets and public spaces.

The proposed land use map for 'Gateway Commercial' can be found here. 

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the OCP amendments for the downtown and area, please contact the Staff Project Lead below:

Tyson Baker, Planner 
email: tbaker@summerland.ca
phone: 250-404-4091