The Planning Department is responsible for the management of all land use decisions in West Kelowna. Champions of Smart Growth, Planning Staff strive to ensure that development in the community enhances both the quality of life and the natural environment while respecting the goals of residents, business owners, and the development community.
West Kelowna Planning Staff are focussed on both short-term and long-term planning. Long-term community planning is important because it helps us forecast and address future community needs. Plans and strategies, including the Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Zoning Bylaw, provide the District of West Kelowna with the knowledge and direction necessary to prepare for potential challenging times and it establishes goals and policies to manage change. Planning Staff also perform strategic planning and environmental initiatives on behalf of the District.
Short-term planning is largely reactionary in nature and is primarily focussed on the management of development in the District. In this capacity, the Planning Department performs a number of responsibilities ranging from processing Development Permit or Zoning Amendment applications to responding to day to day inquiries from the general public.