INFORMATION RELEASE

The Regional District of Okanagan‑Similkameen (RDOS) is considering amendments to the South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy (RGS). The RGS is a long‑range plan that guides how communities grow to support social, economic, and environmental well‑being across the region. Information about the RGS review, including background materials and updates, is available on the RDOS project web page at rdos.bc.ca.

To provide comments about the RGS for consideration by the Regional Board, feedback forms may be submitted by email to planning@rdos.bc.ca or mailed or submitted in person at the RDOS main office, located at 101 Martin St, Penticton. To ensure that your comments are received prior to first reading of the bylaw by the Regional Board, please submit feedback no later than June 19, 2026.

Proposed changes

The 2026 draft amendment, Bylaw No. 2770.02, proposes updates to the following sections of the RGS:

• Energy emissions and climate change, to reflect the current provincial direction on climate action
• Growth management map, to support improved land‑use decision‑making outside of Primary Growth Areas
• Population and demographics, to incorporate 2021 census data
• Housing and development, to reflect changes in provincial legislation and the RDOS Housing Needs Report
• Village Settlement Area designation, proposed for Naramata, Kaleden, and Gallagher Lake, to limit the scale of housing, services, and amenities while maintaining the small‑town character of these communities

Public consultation in 2026

As several years have passed since the previous round of public engagement, the RDOS is launching a new consultation process to be completed in 2026. Planned engagement activities include:

• Project updates shared through VoyentAlert!
• Ongoing updates and materials posted to the RDOS website
• Mailed notices to affected property owners
• One online public information meeting hosted by the RDOS
• In‑person public information meetings in Okanagan Falls and Naramata
• Referrals to local governments, First Nations, school districts, and provincial and federal agencies

Why the RGS is being updated

Regional districts that have adopted a Regional Growth Strategy are required to consider whether the plan should be reviewed for possible amendment every five years. In 2019, the Regional Board directed that the South Okanagan RGS be amended to assess the suitability of several designated Rural Growth Areas.

Additional considerations included a review of climate change policies and the potential inclusion of findings from the Housing Needs Assessment Report.

A draft amendment bylaw was prepared, and community engagement was undertaken in support of these changes in 2022 and 2023. In August 2023, the Regional Board requested further revisions to remove Kaleden and Naramata as designated Rural Growth Areas.

On January 22, 2026, the Regional Board considered a revised amendment bylaw addressing this direction and voted to initiate the amendment process.

For further information, please contact RDOS Communications.

-30-

Mark Pendergraft, Chair
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Contact:

RDOS Communications
250-490-4148
Toll-free 1-877-610-3737