FAQs

The Official Community Plan (OCP) is the long-term vision for the community’s growth and change. It includes policies on housing, land use, transportation, climate action, infrastructure and more.

The current OCP is nearly 25 years old and needs an update to reflect the community’s current realities, including challenges such as high housing costs, limited services and climate risks.

The update will primarily address housing, land use, Greenhouse Gas emissions reductions, natural hazards, environmental management, services and amenities.

Decisions concerning Crown land within the resort’s Controlled Recreation Area are guided by the Master Development Agreement, administered by the Province, and the Resort Master Plan, developed by Big White Ski Resort. Together, these documents outline the resort’s rights and responsibilities on Crown land, including the areas developed for the ski resort, such as chair lifts, timber harvesting, and trail development.

Decisions concerning the use of privately owned land at Big White Mountain fall under the RDKB’s OCP, Zoning Bylaw and other relevant bylaws, and must also align with the overall capacity outlined in Big White’s Master Development Agreement and Master Plan.

While the OCP sets the vision, the Zoning Bylaw provides the rules to carry it out. It outlines the kinds of buildings and uses allowed on each piece of land.

The Resort Master Plan, developed by the resort and approved by the Province, sets the long-term vision for resort development on both Crown and future private lands and caps the amount of housing and accommodations that can be built, based on the approved balanced resort capacity. When Big White Ski Resort purchases Crown land, it becomes private and is also subject to the OCP and other RDKB bylaws. The OCP and subsequent amendments of the OCP must respect the development rights committed to by the Province under the Resort Master Plan and Master Development Agreement.

The Local Government Act requires local governments to consult with the public, interest-holders, government agencies and First Nations when an OCP is developed or revised. Community input will help shape the direction of the updated OCP. Public feedback – alongside technical work and Board of Directors priorities – will inform key decisions like how neighbourhoods evolve, and what planning policies are prioritized. We’ll share a summary of what we heard publicly so you can see how feedback was used to shape the plan.

A land use designation identifies on a map the location and types of use, such as residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and recreational. These land use designations correspond with objectives and policies for these associated areas within the OCP.

OCPs provide a future vision for the community and guide decisions around long-term community growth – typically expected to occur over the next 20 years or so. The OCP influences where shops and services can go and how neighbourhoods evolve. They affect housing options and access to amenities. Whether you’re looking for a place to live, run a business, or stay connected to your community, an OCP shapes what’s possible.

The OCP Steering Committee is a group of community members and local interest-holders who are helping to guide the process of updating the Official Community Plan. They provide local knowledge, share community perspectives, and help make sure the plan reflects what matters most to people who live and work in the area. The Committee meets at key points in the project to review ideas, discuss options, and offer advice to the project team. Their input helps shape a plan that’s practical, inclusive, and grounded in community values.

We have begun engagement with Westbank First Nation through the proper protocols to understand their interests, priorities, and capacity to participate in the OCP process. This approach ensures that engagement is respectful, relationship-based, and responsive to their preferred ways of involvement.

There are several ways to get involved. You can attend an in-person engagement in December, complete an online survey, or contact Liz Moore, Senior Planner, using the contact details provided under the "Who's Listening" section on this website.