Official Community Plan Update 2025
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENT | JULY 23, 2025
The City of Merritt’s Official Community Plan (OCP Bylaw 2336, 2022) is a vital guiding document for the City. With the input of residents, local business, regional partnerships, stakeholders, and experts in various disciplines, this document provides a vision for growth and high level policy development over the next two decades. This guiding document outlines goals, vision, and policies for numerous topics, including: Land Use and Housing; Economic Development; Transportation and Active Transportation; Infrastructure; Emergency Services; Parks and Recreation; Arts and Culture; Climate Change; Food Security; and Poverty Reduction.
The City’s OCP is a living document that is updated regularly as required. Updates are advertised to the public and the public has the opportunity to provide input at Council Meetings, Open Houses, and other public engagement avenues.
At present, the City is working on more revisions to the Official Community Plan. The timeline for proposed changes is as follows:
- Winter 2024/2025 – Background Research and Project Scoping
- Spring 2025 – Public Engagement
- Summer 2025 – Drafting of Amendments
- Fall 2025 – Council Consideration and Adoption
PROPOSED CHANGES (2025)
The proposed update to the Official Community Plan (OCP) will better address housing needs, align with provincial requirements, and streamline development approval processes. The proposed changes to the Official Community Plan include:
- Compliance with Small Scale Multi Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation
- Incorporation of the City’s 20-year housing needs as identified in the 2024 Housing Needs Assessment
- Alignment with TNRD’s Regional Growth Strategy
PUBLIC INPUT | JULY 2025
Public consultation is a key part of this process. A public engagement opportunity will be provided on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Merritt Civic and Conference Centre, 1950 Mamette Avenue, Merritt, BC. Public input received will be summarized and considered prior to Council’s consideration of the updated OCP.
CONTACT
Planning & Development Services
planning@merritt.ca
2022 OCP UPDATE
OCP Consultation Process
From Spring 2020 to Summer 2022, the City of Merritt conducted a comprehensive development and public consultation process, from surveys to open houses, to the final approval of the new Official Community Plan (OCP) in 2022. This 2022 OCP (updated from a 2012 version) ensures regulatory conformity with the Local Government Act and ensures that alignment is achieved with all plans that fall under its umbrella.
Many thanks to the multiple partners and community members who have collectively contributed to this plan to ensure that it speaks to the unique qualities of the City and needs of its residents.
| Phase 1 |
Project Kick-off Engagement Plan Development
May – July 2020
| Phase 2 |
Background Analysis
July – August 2020
| Phase 3 |
Public Engagement Events
September 2020 – June 2021
| Phase 4 |
Draft OCP Development
July – September 2021
–
Draft OCP Document
Community Review
September 2021 – October 2021
| Phase 5 |
OCP Finalization
November 2021
–
OCP Final Adoption
Public Hearing
December 2021
PAST EVENTS & PROCESSES
Housing Needs Report
In partnership with the TNRD and M’akola Development Services, and with input from Council, community stakeholders and residents, a Housing Needs Report has been developed. Thank you to residents and community stakeholders for your input and feedback into the development of the report.
A Housing Needs Report is a provincially mandated document that identifies key housing needs within the community and proposes recommendations on how to address those needs. The report will also be used to inform housing policies in the Official Community Plan.
Poverty Reduction Assessment
As part of the Official Community Plan Update project, a Poverty Reduction Assessment Report has been created. Recommendations from the report will help inform OCP policy development. To view the final report, click the link below.
Food Security Assessment
As part of the Official Community Plan Update project, a Food Security Assessment Report is being created. Recommendations from the report will help inform OCP policy development. Feedback on the draft report can be provided to planning@merritt.ca until April 22, 2021. To view the draft report, click the link below.
Official Community Plan Survey
Several OCP surveys were conducted. A summary of the survey results is available. Thank you to all who participated.
Public Hearing – May 24th
A Public Hearing on the first two readings of the Proposed OCP was advertised according to legislative requirements and held May 24th, 2022.
Open House – April 22
An Open House was held Friday April 22nd, 4:00pm – 6:00pm at the Civic Centre. Engineering professionals from the Flood Recovery and Coldwater River Analysis/Design teams were present at the Open House to present preliminary findings of the City’s flood mitigation and planning efforts.
Committee of the Whole
Thursday April 21st, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
in-person (Council Chamber), or watch at your convenience
Online Workshop
Wednesday April 20th, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Committee of the Whole Meeting – OCP Neighbourhoods & Development Permit Areas
The event was held on Tuesday, March 16th, 2021.
Committee of the Whole Meeting – OCP Policies
The event was held on Tuesday, February 16th, 2021.
Committee of the Whole Meeting – OCP Visioning
The event was held on Tuesday, January 19th, 2021.
Neighbourhood Specific Workshops
The neighbourhood-specific workshops were held in November 2020. Please check back for an engagement summary that will be published in the spring of 2021.
Business and Economic Development Webinar
This event was held on Wednesday, October 7th, 2020.
Land Use and Housing Webinar
This event was held on Wednesday, October 7th, 2020.
Infrastructure and Climate Change Workshop
This event was held on Wednesday, October 7th, 2020.
Poverty Reduction and Food Security Workshop
This event was held on Friday, October 9th, 2020
City Pop-Up Booth at the Farmer’s Market on Quilchena Ave.
This event was held on October 10th, 2020.
