The District of Lake Country Council has adopted a new Official Community Plan (OCP), marking the completion of a year-long review process that engaged residents, businesses, community organizations, and partner agencies, and Indigenous communities in shaping a shared vision for the next 20 years.
The updated OCP provides the long-term policy framework that will guide decisions related to growth, housing, infrastructure, transportation, environmental stewardship, agriculture, parks, recreation, and community development through to 2046. The new plan builds on the foundation of the 2018 OCP while responding to updated provincial requirements, community needs and priorities.
"This plan really reflects what our community told us matters most," said Mayor Blair Ireland. "People told us they want to protect what makes Lake Country special, our agricultural roots, natural environment, neighbourhood character, and quality of life, while making sure we're planning thoughtfully for the future. This new OCP helps us do exactly that."
Read the Official Community Plan
A Community-Shaped Vision
The OCP review began in 2025 under the banner "Let's Grow Lake Country Together." Residents participated through online surveys, community workshops, open houses, pop-up events, neighbourhood meetings, Council workshops, written submissions, and the formal public hearing process.
Community feedback consistently highlighted a desire for thoughtful, well-managed growth that protects the qualities residents value most about Lake Country, including its rural character, agricultural heritage, natural environment, and strong sense of community.
What the New OCP Means for Lake Country
The updated OCP continues to direct growth to the Town Centre and other serviced areas while strengthening the protection of agricultural lands, open spaces, and rural neighbourhoods. It also provides a stronger connection between future growth, housing needs, infrastructure capacity, environmental stewardship, and long-term financial sustainability.
Key features of the new OCP include:
- Focusing future growth where water, transportation, sewer, and other municipal services can be efficiently provided;
- Supporting a wider range of housing options to meet current and future community needs;
- Protecting agricultural land, supporting farm viability, and strengthening local food systems;
- Enhancing environmental protection, watershed health, climate adaptation, and wildfire resilience;
- Supporting complete communities with improved mobility, parks, recreation opportunities, and community gathering spaces;
- Encouraging economic diversification and local prosperity; and
- Introducing a dedicated Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation chapter that supports ongoing collaboration and relationship-building with Indigenous communities.
Planning for the Future
Official Community Plans are long-range planning documents required under provincial legislation. They are intended to guide community growth and change over a 20-year horizon by considering housing needs, population projections, infrastructure requirements, environmental considerations, and community priorities.
The adopted OCP does not approve specific development projects. Rather, it serves as Council's primary policy guide for future land use decisions, infrastructure investments, and community planning initiatives.
The new OCP incorporates updated information from housing needs assessments, land capacity analysis, master planning initiatives, and extensive public engagement conducted throughout the review process. It also includes a stronger implementation and monitoring framework to help track progress and ensure the plan remains responsive to changing community needs over time.
The adopted Official Community Plan and supporting documents are available online. Click here to read the adopted OCP, or visit Let's Talk Lake Country to learn more about the project, community input, and the vision guiding Lake Country's future.