Village of Pouce Coupe Community Engagement – Official Community Plan FAQS

1. What is the Official Community Plan?

An Official Community Plan is the highest-level policy document for a local government – it informs and guides how the community grows for the next 15+ years. The Official Community Plan is a bylaw adopted by Council that sets out the vision and direction that will guide the future growth and development of the Village of Pouce Coupe. It includes policies on the future use and management of lands, as well as such elements as municipal facilities and services , utility and transportation systems, environmental stewardship, economic development, arts, heritage and culture, and social health and wellness to set out a clear path to guide Council, staff and the community.

2. Why do we need an Official Community Plan?

The Official Community Plan guides every decision made by Council, keeping in mind what the community has identified as important. The Official Community Plan provides a regulatory framework to guide how the Village evaluates and approves future development. It also provides clear direction for how Pouce Coupe should grow in the coming years so that growth is well planned and supports the community’s vision for its future.

3. Does Pouce Coupe already have an Official Community Plan?

Yes. The current Official Community Plan was adopted in 2016. Best practice is to review an Official Community Plan every 5-10 years and revising as necessary. The Village seeks to provide greater clarity on Official Community Plan policies, and make sure the policies are modern, reflect recent legislative changes, studies and plans that the Village has undertaken since 2016. All of this makes it a good time to update the Official Community Plan to reflect these changes and better positions Pouce Coupe to achieve its future aspirations.

Click here to view the current Official Community Plan.

4. What Legal status does an Official Community Plan have?

All Official Community Plans are prepared under the authority of the Local Government Act. The Local Government Act describes an Official Community Plan as a comprehensive guiding document, primarily in relation to land use planning. The Local Government Act outlines both required policy components (e.g. approximate location, amount and type of residential development to meet the community's expected housing needs for the next five years) and optional elements (e.g. policies relating to social well-being in the community). In the past, Pouce Coupe has chosen to include a wide range of policy areas in its Official Community Plan, including policies related to affordable housing, parks and recreation, arts, culture, heritage, and economic development. These all help create a vibrant, holistic and desirable community, thereby increasing the overall quality of life in Pouce Coupe.

All of the Village’s policies, plans, capital projects or bylaws created after adoption of its Official Community Plan should consider the Official Community Plan and align with it. For example, the Zoning Bylaw should be made consistent with the Official Community Plan over time.

5. Who creates the Official Community Plan?

Our whole community does. Every person is asked to provide some input:,  residents, business owners, community groups, First Nations, Village Council and staff, and government agencies.  Ultimately, Village Council will adopt an Official Community Plan that they believe best represents the interests and objectives of the community as a whole.

6. How will the Official Community Plan be developed?

An Official Community Plan involves much community engagement and input. All of this information is gathered through surveys, public workshops, and conversations with the community in a variety of forms. A draft Official Community Plan will be developed that captures the vision of the community, which will then be presented to Council for their feedback. Once the final Official Community Plan is complete it will be referred to external agencies for their comment and work through the bylaw adoption process. Before any Official Community Plan can be adopted by Village Council, a public hearing must also be held.

7. How can you get involved?

Online Survey: complete the online engagement from May 25^th – June 11th and was extended to July 1st. Completed.

Social Media: ‘Like us’ on the Village of Pouce Coupe Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/VillageofPouceCoupe/) to stay up to date on this process.

Website: Follow the Village of Pouce Coupe’s website for more information and project updates here: https://poucecoupe.ca/

Contact Us: If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail info@poucecoupe.ca or call Sandy Stokes, Interim CAO at 250-786-5794.

Have Your Say Invitation to Participate is complete.