Regional Growth Strategies (RGS) are long-term plans that articulate a Board’s vision for future regional growth. The purpose of an RGS is to promote human settlement that is socially, economically and environmentally healthy and that makes efficient use of public facilities and services, land and other resources.

An RGS also ensures alignment between Official Community Plans (OCP) and provides guidance on important regional and local land use decisions.

The South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) encompasses the southern portion of the Okanagan Valley and includes RDOS Electoral Areas “A”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, and “I” as well as the municipalities of Osoyoos, Oliver, Penticton and Summerland.

The current review of the South Okanagan RGS is proposing to replace the Designated Regional Growth Strategy Primary and Rural Growth Areas Map (Map 3) with a new map schedule and to update the "Housing and Development" objectives and policies under "Goal 1" to support the new map schedule land use classifications.

Other proposed amendments relate to updating the Energy Emissions and Climate Change section of the Strategy, updating the community profile section with new Census data, and removing Naramata and Kaleden as designated growth areas.

The Local Government Act (LGA) requires any regional district that has adopted an RGS to consider whether the RGS should be reviewed every five years. The South Okanagan RGS was adopted in 2010 and subsequently amended in 2011 and 2016.

In 2019, the Regional Board resolved to initiate a further review of the RGS, to determine the suitability of several designated “Rural Growth Areas” (e.g. Willow Beach, Anarchist Mountain and Greata Ranch) following the completion of OCP Bylaw Reviews for Electoral Areas “A” and “F”. Other considerations included a review of climate change policies and possible inclusion of findings from the (then) forthcoming Housing Needs Assessment Report.

A review of options to address these matters was undertaken throughout 2021 and early 2022. In June 2022, the Board accepted a Consultation Plan proposing public consultation based on the following amendments to the RGS:

1. replacing “Map 3” with a new “Growth Management Map” schedule; and
2. revising the objectives and policies contained in the “Housing and Development” Section of the bylaw to support the “Growth Management Map” schedule.

On August 3, 2023, the Regional Board considered a summary of consultation undertaken in support of the RGS Review and directed that the scope of the RGS Review be expanded by removing Kaleden and Naramata as designated “Rural Growth Areas”.

The RGS Review project has relied upon the input of the RGS Technical Advisory Committee (made up of senior Planning staff from the RDOS, Penticton, Summerland, Oliver, and Osoyoos), as well as the RDOS Planning and Development Committee which consists of Regional Board members.

The Regional District, City of Penticton, District of Summerland, Town of Osoyoos and Town of Oliver held Open Houses in support of the RGS Review on the following dates:

The following material is available online to assist in the preparation of Proposals. Each document is hyperlinked:

• South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy, Bylaw No. 2770, 2017
• RGS Sustainability Checklist
• RGS Regional Snapshots
• Request for Proposals (2020-05-14)
• Award of Contract (2020-08-06)

• City of Penticton OCP
• Town of Osoyoos OCP 
• Town of Oliver OCP 
• District of Summerland OCP
• RDOS Electoral Area OCPs (Electoral Areas “A”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, and “I)

For additional information, or to submit comments, please contact:

Ben Kent
Planner II
bkent@rdos.bc.ca