The Town of Osoyoos has changed dramatically in the last few years, but the Official Community Plan hasn't…

The OCP was last revised in 1997, and Osoyoos has changed substantially in the past seven years.
Our biggest problem in 1997 was we couldn't point to specific areas at the time and say they would be developed, Mayor John Slater said.
But since that time, Osoyoos has experienced a boom in real estate sales and has expanded dramatically. Slater said it is important to not only revise the OCP but to make sure certain areas are preserved , despite rapid growth.
We need to protect our agricultural areas. If you don't have agriculture, what have you got left? Slater asked.
He said it is important to establish corridors for development, in order to regulate where building occurs.
The bottom line is the biggest threat to agriculture is urban sprawl, Slater said.
He said it is important to protect as much agricultural land as possible, but put development in non-agricultural areas.
Slater said a new OCP would not only have to deal with agriculture, but also with tourism and economic development.
The OCP committee meets every month to examine how to improve the current document.
Jean Gubby is the current chair of the OCP committee, with Fred Fairweather as co-chair. Maurice Toporowski, Lionel Dallas and Art Purdon are also on the committee. Councillors Ken Davreux and Dick Flintoft act as liaisons for town council, and town planner Alain Cunningham is the facilitator.
We're looking at lands within and some lands outside the town's boundaries, Slater said.
He pointed out changing the town of Osoyoos into a district municipality would facilitate dealing with these issues, as well as with extending services into new areas.
It's the ultimate goal. It would create a level playing field for all players, he said.
But he added changing from a Town into a District Municipality would take at least until 2008, past when the current council is in session. He said it would be an issue for the election after the next one.
And sewers and other services can't wait that long, he said.