Panorama Area OCP

Over 70 people participated in the introductory Open House for the Panorama Official Community Plan (OCP) process on Saturday.

“The main purpose of the event was to explain what an OCP is and what this planning process involves, while being able to meet directly with residents and open those lines of communication,” explains RDEK Area F Director Susan Clovechok. “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of community involvement, so I was pleased to see so many people in attendance.”

In addition to the general overview, the RDEK’s lead planner on the project, Karen MacLeod, explained how the RDEK will work with Panorama Mountain Resort throughout the process and discussed the future development potential of the community. “Having residents understand what the possibilities are and then share their ideas and vision for the future of their community is a key component in developing the draft plan,” adds MacLeod.

The Open House was the first step in what will be a 12-month process and the RDEK will be providing information and engagement opportunities both in-person at events such as Saturday’s Open House and online through a digital engagement platform. “We recognize many property owners live outside the community and are eager to participate in the process. The RDEK will be using online engagement as an additional tool to ensure everyone feels they can access the information they need and can meaningfully participate in the process regardless of where they may be,” adds Clovechok.

Copies of the information and display boards from the Open House are posted on the project page on engage.rdek.bc.ca.

The next step will be an issues and ideas survey, which the RDEK hopes to have out in the next few weeks.

A new planning process will soon be underway for the Panorama Area.

“The current Official Community Plan (OCP) was adopted in 1999 and was based heavily on a Concept Development Plan prepared by the previous owner of Panorama Mountain Resort,” explains RDEK Electoral Area F Director Susan Clovechok. “Over the past twenty years there has been significant growth and change in the area, much of which is not recognized in the current OCP, so it is time to update it.”

Recognizing the varied ownership, and that many property owners live outside the area, the RDEK will be adding a new online engagement component. “We will be working directly with the Resort and stakeholders, and will continue to have Open Houses and face-to-face opportunities for residents; however, we will also be adding a new digital engagement aspect to the consultation process to enable the widest participation possible,” says Planner Karen MacLeod.

The RDEK will be hosting an introductory Open House on March 23 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the Copper Crown Conference Room at Panorama Mountain Resort. The Open House will introduce the process and project milestones and begin the conversation with the community about what is important to them. “The goal of updating the OCP is to ensure it reflects the community’s vision for the future of the area and having the community’s participation is key to ensuring we achieve that goal,” adds Clovechok.

The OCP covers properties within the Panorama Mountain Resort and a small number of private properties surrounding it. It is expected to take about a year to complete.

An Official Community Plan (OCP) is a long term strategic planning document that reflects the community’s vision for the future while providing a policy framework to promote greater certainty in land use decision making by the Regional District Board.

More information about the Panorama Area OCP planning process is available on engage.rdek.bc.ca.

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