Boundary Expansion
Following the adoption of the South Okanagan RGS and Oliver’s identification as a Primary Growth Area in it, Oliver deferred implementation of an Urban Growth Boundary pending the review of the OCP Bylaw. With the updating of the OCP, an Urban Growth Boundary will need to be defined and implemented.

As part of this process, a boundary expansion initially expressed in September 2012 (and again in October 2015) will need to be considered. The area of the possible boundary expansion is south of Road 1 and includes approximately 41 properties.

In 2012, Oliver Council considered a staff report on the potential expansion on both sides of Highway 97 between Road 1 and Road 2. This includes some smaller residential and commercial properties on the southwest corner of Highway 97 and Road 2. A property owners survey was conducted in 2012 where 11 property owners indicated they did not want to be a part of Town, 10 indicated they did want to be part of the Town, while 20 property owners did not return the survey. In 2015, a property owner supporting the proposed expansion circulated a petition resulting in 10 responses. Of these 10 petitions received, 4 were from properties in the expansion area that had not completed the 2012 survey. If the survey responses from 2012 are combined with petition results of 2015, this suggests that 14 owners are in favour of expansion, 11 are opposed and 16 have not expressed an opinion.
The area in question consists of a wide range of lot sizes from urban residential, to much larger properties. With the exception of one property, all of the land in question is in the ALR. The adjacent land within the Town to the north-west is in the ALR as are all lands to the east, south and west in Area “C”. The land outside the Town is zoned Agricultural in the RDOS Area “C” Zoning Bylaw. Notwithstanding the ALR status, much of the land fronting Highway 97 has been developed for highway commercial or religious purposes. Most of the land slopes away from the Town, which would preclude extension of the Town’s sewer by gravity (i.e., a lift station would be required).

Municipal Boundary Expansions must abide by the steps set out in the Municipal Boundary Expansion Process Guide published by the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. The process includes six steps and involves property owners and residents in the extension area and the municipality, the regional district, various government ministries and agencies, and First Nations. Municipal boundary expansions are typically accompanied by a strong level of support from the property owners in the expansion area. Prior to submitting a municipal boundary expansion proposal, area property owners will need to be further consulted.

The original OCP Update proposal called for the consultant team to review a potential boundary expansion on the south end of Town. The issue had little support or traction during the first round of engagement, and Town Council directed the consultants to report back at the completion of the Community Survey, which included the following question on the matter.

Source: Report to Oliver Town Council – no decisions reflected in this report and discussion

Oliver OCP Council Update and Oliver Survey Report from Consultant, EcoPlan Consulting