Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a Regional Growth Strategy (RGS)?
An RGS is a long-term land use planning policy document that is coordinated by regional districts for its member municipalities. The Local Government Act gives regional districts the authority to adopt a regional growth strategy to guide decisions on growth, change, and development, under section 429. It is developed collaboratively and addresses issues such as housing, transportation, environment, economic development and more. It provides long-range (20+ years) planning direction that ensures regional sustainability with a main emphasis on avoiding urban sprawl.
What does a Regional Growth Strategy do?
An RGS provides policies to direct population growth and to promote human settlement in the South Okanagan for the next 20 years. It promotes regional coordination on issues associated with growth such as water, sewer and solid waste, for example, to support the envisioned growth strategy.
What does a Regional Growth Strategy NOT do?
An RGS can not regulate land use within member municipalities and electoral areas, as local governments are given the authority to regulate land use through the use of tools such as official community plans, zoning bylaws, development permits, temporary use permits, and development variance permits in divisions 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 of the Local Government Act, respectively.
What’s the difference between an OCP and an RGS?
An OCP provides guidance and policies on a broad range of topics and also designates land for specific purposes. Collectively, the OCP's land use map and the policies are used by the Regional Board, Regional District staff, and other agencies and the community to guide future land use and investment in the community.
The RGS is a high level policy document which sets out a region wide vision for the future with supportive policies and promotes coordination among municipalities and Regional Districts on issues that cross municipal boundaries.
Individually, within their OCPs, municipalities plan for growth and change within their own boundaries. To ensure consistency between the RGS and OCPs, each member municipality's OCP must include a Regional Context Statement that identifies the relationship between the OCP and RGS Policy Goals and Objectives.
What is a Gowth Area?
Growth Areas are areas where future growth should primarily be directed. In the South Okanagan RGS area, “Growth Areas” comprise the incorporated municipalities of Penticton, Summerland, Oliver and Osoyoos as well as Okanagan Falls as these are the communities that have been identified as having the necessary services, infrastructure and amenities in place to accommodate future growth.
What communities are included within this Regional Growth Strategy?
The South Okanagan 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.
How is an RGS Implemented?
The RGS is implemented within each community through local Official Community Plans, infrastructure plans, and regulatory tools such as zoning bylaws.
How often is an RGS reviewed?
The Local Government Act requires any regional district with an RGS to consider an update once every five years. The RDOS adopted the RGS in 2010 and initiated a minor review in 2015, 2020 in considered a suitable time for an additional review.