Inclusive, safe, sustainable, well-planned, age-friendly, healthy, connected and affordable.
These are some of the words used to describe Salmon Arm 30 years in the future. They were shared by people through numerous engagement opportunities with the City of Salmon Arm as part of its official community plan (OCP) update process. These words were also reflected in responses to a different question: What do you love most about Salmon Arm today? Answers included the city's natural beauty and access to nature and green spaces; a safe and connected community that supports one another; access to recreational activities, amenities and services; a vibrant downtown and local businesses; a diverse economy and industries; age-friendly opportunities that support young families and seniors; and relative affordability compared to other B.C. municipalities.
All of what the city heard through its OCP engagement process is encapsuled in the city's recently released OCP Plan Update Engagement Summary Report.
Salmon Arm's current OCP is 11 years old. It is being updated to ensure it reflects community priorities and trends while allowing the city to adapt to changes and opportunities ahead, reads the report, which notes the neighbouring Adams Lake and Neskonlith bands are being included in the engagement process to "understand their priorities and visions for the future, and how their interests can best be respected in the revised OCP."
The report summarizes the first two phases of the OCP update project. The first phase, which began in October 2023 and went to February 2024, included promoting the OCP review and the development of an engagement strategy. The third phase, expected to go from August to November, includes drafting the OCP. All three phases include public engagement.
According to the report, 87 per cent of respondents live (84 per cent) and work (54 per cent) in Salmon Arm.
Through the various engagement opportunities, several wants arose including:
• Connectivity – Safe and connected trails, sidewalks and bike paths; expanded and accessible public transit network and service; and easy access to services and amenities;
• Balanced growth – Well-maintained infrastructure and facilities that support community growth and change; protected and enhanced natural areas green spaces, trees and agricultural lands;
• Sustainability – Reduced greenhouse gas emissions; improved climate resilience; diverse food growing opportunities; access to healthy, local foods and improved water quality;
• Safety – Celebration of diversity and improved sense of belonging; access to low-barrier social, cultural, and wellness services and supports; improved emergency preparedness;
• Affordability – Affordable options for housing; affordable options for transportation and recreation; low unemployment;
• Community vibrancy – vibrant downtown core and small businesses; arts and cultural spaces and celebrations; age-friendly public spaces and recreational opportunities.
An OCP captures a long-range vision for a community, guiding land-use decisions while supporting objectives and policies for things like transportation, parks, agriculture and community services and housing. Regarding the latter, along with infrastructure, more than half of the respondents gave high priority to encouraging different types of housing tenure (rental, ownership, co-ops, etc.) and allowing a greater range of housing forms (duplex/triplex housing, townhomes, apartments, etc.)
"Survey respondents ranked accommodating growth near transit and services as the most important action for Salmon Arm," reads the report.
Regarding transportation, a majority of respondents gave the highest priority to improving walking and cycling infrastructure.
Parks, recreation and trails also received significant attention in the engagement process, and when asked to rank a provided list of options for priorities (protect/enhance connections to natural areas; seek additional funding sources for recreational services and facilities; enhance planning for maintenance and replacement of existing facilities; work with community partners to expand recreation options; expand places for all ages to gather and play; and work with developers and community partners to expand and maintain trail networks), all were deemed to be "very important" by no less than 62 per cent of the respondents.
To environment and climate change, a high priority for respondents was emergency preparedness and wildfire protection. Protecting natural areas/enhancing biodiversity and protecting and planting more trees also ranked high.
Other high-ranking priorities included supporting local farm sales and the agricultural sector, working with the province to expand social programs and supporting inclusive and accessible community events.
"The project team extends our gratitude to all those who provided valuable feedback throughout the OCP Update in Phase One and Phase Two," reads the report. "The input gathered will inform the Draft Plan and how we engage with the community."
Future engagement on early draft policy directions is anticipated in the fall. The OCP review process can be followed at salmonarm.ca/464/OCP2024.
