It's been three years in the making and now the public will have one final say this fall in how it's put together.
The new 2041 Official Community Plan (OCP) for the City of Richmond will undergo final public and stakeholder review between now and potentially the middle of November.
Around that time, it's expected that the city will hold a public hearing into the OCP, which is titled "Moving Towards Sustainability."
The updated plan includes targets for Richmond's population to grow from around 200,000 to 280,000 by 2041, by allowing increased density in selected areas, while protecting existing single family neighbourhoods, farmland and environmentally sensitive areas.
Other significant new measures include steps to support Richmond's aging population, plans to reduce reliance on the vehicle for local transportation and supporting the city's commitments to combat climate change.
The new 2041 OCP Update received first reading from city council last month and is expected to go to public hearing in November, the last step before final approval from council.
Before then, the public has a number of opportunities to get involved:
- Visit www.letstalkrichmond.ca to learn more about the plan and provide comments;
- Attend a public open house on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. at city hall;
- Attend or make a written submission to the public hearing, anticipated to be Nov. 19 (correspondence may be sent at any time prior to the City Clerk's Department). The city last updated its OCP in 1999.
