On Hold
The Elk Valley OCP planning process is currently on HOLD due to changes in staffing. Once the process resumes, the project page will be updated.
The Elk Valley Official Community Plan (OCP) planning process was initiated in 2024. The OCP process will engage Elk Valley residents, the Resorts, First Nations, Elk Valley municipalities and stakeholders on land use issues and opportunities and result in the creation of new land use policies to guide further development or land use conservation. The updated policy framework will promote greater certainty in land use decision making by the Regional District Board for the Elk Valley region.
Project Background
- Draft a new Official Community Plan for the Elk Valley reflects the current land uses, identifies goals and objectives and plans for future land use changes and conservation.
- Amalgamate the three OCPs (Elk Valley, Island Lake and Fernie Alpine Resort) that provide current comprehensive policy direction in the Elk Valley.
- Recognize the opportunity to integrate new Development Permit Areas (DPAs) that align with goals and objectives as identified through Community, Stakeholder and First Nations consultation.
- The project has been identified as a priority project by the RDEK Board of Directors in order to develop policy that provides clear guidance for future development that recognizes the needs of the community, introduction of new regulatory tools (e.g. DPAs) and opportunities for policy introduction in support of conservation and recreation opportunities within the plan area.
- The OCPs for Fernie Alpine Resort and Island Lake Lodge are due for periodic review to ensure that the policies provide direction for the next 5 to 25 years of development and/or conservation.
- Opportunity for cooperative policy development with the City of Fernie as they undergo their independent municipal OCP review.
Communications
Within OCP processes communications between the RDEK, the community and relevant stakeholders is essential to the process. In consideration of diverse communities in the Elk Valley, the RDEK will utilize a combination of in person and online engagement and feedback opportunities.
Two of the initial engagement opportunities in the process were an initial Community Survey and a Collaborative STR Workshop. These two initiatives assisted the RDEK to gather baseline information on community priorities and opportunities for policy development and concurrent regulatory changes. The engagement summary for both of these engagement opportunities is available under Key Documents.
