Draft Official Community Plan - Phase 3

The Community Foundations section of the OCP Summary outlines the vision, guiding principles, and goals that will guide long-term planning decisions in Lake Country.

The Land Use and Growth section of the OCP Summary outlines how and where Lake Country is expected to grow, including policies related to growth management, housing, and future land use designations.

The Draft OCP focuses most future growth within the Urban Containment Boundary while leaving areas outside the Urban Containment Boundary principally rural, agricultural, or low-density residential.

The Draft OCP supports a wider range of housing types, including apartments, townhouses, and secondary suites. The highest development potential is proposed within and between the Town Centre and Woodsdale. Traditional residential neighbourhoods are proposed to support single-family homes in addition to townhouses and other forms of multifamily development.  

The Draft OCP introduces updated land use designations to guide where different types of development may occur. These designations are shown on the Future Land Use Map and indicate the general location, scale, and type of uses that are anticipated across the community, such as residential, commercial, mixed-use, industrial, and agricultural areas. They provide a long-term framework for growth and help inform decisions about zoning, development proposals, and infrastructure planning.

The OCP supports a coordinated approach to future land use and growth by:

• Focusing growth within the Urban Containment Boundary and serviced areas
• Strengthening the Town Centre and key nodes as focal points for growth
• Protecting agricultural land, rural areas, and natural systems
• Supporting a mix of housing types and densities
• Aligning development with infrastructure capacity and investment
• Encouraging compact, efficient, and complete communities
• Supporting infill and redevelopment where appropriate
• Providing clear land use direction to support predictable decision-making
• Coordinating land use with transportation, servicing, and community amenities
•  Identifying Future Planning Areas to guide long-term growth, where development will require more detailed planning and infrastructure coordination before proceeding

The Draft OCP includes policies across several additional topic areas. Please indicate your level of support for the direction in each of the following sections.

The OCP supports environmental protection and sustainability by:

• Protecting lakes, watercourses, and environmentally sensitive areas
• Supporting watershed health and water quality
• Directing development away from hazardous and high-risk areas where possible
• Promoting climate resilience, including wildfire and flood risk reduction
• Encouraging water conservation and efficient use of resources
• Integrating green infrastructure and low-impact development practices
• Supporting biodiversity and ecological connectivity
• Aligning environmental protection with land use and growth decisions
• Continuing to refine environmental policies and tools over time
  
  *Click here to read the Environment & Sustainability section

The OCP supports agriculture and economic development by:

• Protecting agricultural land and limiting non-farm uses in agricultural areas.
• Supporting farm viability and reducing land use conflicts.
• Encouraging agricultural diversification, including agri-tourism.
• Strengthening the Town Centre and commercial areas as economic hubs.
• Supporting local businesses, services, and employment opportunities.
• Providing land for commercial and employment uses in appropriate locations.
• Encouraging economic development that aligns with community character.
• Supporting tourism that reflects Lake Country’s natural and agricultural assets.
• Expanding the local tax base through a more balanced mix of land uses.
  
  

*Click here to read the Agriculture & Economic Development section

The OCP supports transportation and mobility by:

• Improving safety and connectivity for all modes of travel.
• Supporting active transportation networks, including walking and cycling.
• Enhancing transit service and access across the community.
• Coordinating land use and transportation planning to support complete communities.
• Prioritizing infrastructure improvements in areas experiencing growth.
• Supporting upgrades to key corridors, including Highway 97 and Glenmore Road.
• Working with senior governments, regional partners, and neighbouring municipalities on transportation initiatives.
• Improving local and regional connectivity for residents, businesses, and visitors.
• Supporting transportation demand management and reduced reliance on single-occupancy vehicles.
  
  

Click here to read the Transportation & Mobility section

The OCP supports parks and recreation by:

• Supporting the expansion and enhancement of parks, trails, and recreation facilities.
• Supporting a connected network of parks and active transportation routes.
• Ensuring access to parks and recreation opportunities across all neighbourhoods.
• Planning for new parkland and amenities as the community grows.
• Supporting a range of recreation opportunities for all ages and abilities.
• Integrating parks and open spaces with environmental protection objectives.
• Coordinating park planning with land use, growth, and infrastructure.
• Supporting partnerships to deliver recreation facilities and programs.

Click here to read the Parks & Recreation section. 

The OCP supports infrastructure, services, and utilities by:

• Aligning growth with available and planned infrastructure capacity.
• Prioritizing development within existing service areas.
• Planning for infrastructure upgrades and expansions to support growth.
• Supporting efficient and financially sustainable service delivery.
• Encouraging water conservation and responsible resource use.
• Integrating climate resilience into infrastructure planning and design.
• Coordinating land use, servicing, and infrastructure investment decisions.
• Supporting long-term asset management and infrastructure planning.
•  Working with regional and senior government partners on infrastructure initiatives.
  
  

Click here to read the Infrastructure, Services & Utilities section

The OCP supports culture and community well-being by:

• Supporting inclusive, accessible, and connected communities.
• Planning for community facilities, gathering spaces, and social infrastructure.
• Encouraging opportunities for arts, culture, and local expression.
• Supporting programs and services that meet diverse community needs.
• Promoting accessibility and inclusion in community design and planning.
• Strengthening neighbourhood connections and sense of place.
• Coordinating community well-being with parks, recreation, and land use planning.
• Supporting partnerships to deliver community services and amenities.
  
  Click here to read the Culture & Community Well-Being section

The OCP supports reconciliation by:

• Working with Indigenous Nations on planning and shared priorities
• Engaging early and consistently on plans, policies, and projects
• Considering Indigenous knowledge in land use and environmental decisions
• Supporting cultural recognition in public spaces and community design
• Promoting shared stewardship of land and water
• Continuing to build understanding and capacity within the District
  
  

Click here to read the Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation section

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