A vision for rural Enderby communities is moving ahead.
The Regional District of North Okanagan board gave second reading Wednesday to the draft Area F official community plan.
“We are preserving the (Shuswap) river and that comes out loud and clear in the plan,” said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director.
The current OCP, adopted in 2005, is being updated to incorporate changes to provincial legislation and the adoption of the regional growth strategy and the Kingfisher local area plan which occurred in recent years.
Among the priorities in the OCP are development, infrastructure, services, social and environmental issues for Grindrod, Grandview Bench, Mara, Ashton Creek, Kingfisher/Mabel Lake, Springbend and Twin Lakes.
The draft plan includes input from outside agencies and that has fuelled some concern.
“I’m interested that the Interior Health Authority is now in the planning business,” said Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director.
“The community nutritionist is weighing in on all things. Will we see this in the future — them providing words of wisdom on how we do business?”
However, RDNO staff insist input from IHA is evolving and most recently has included issues like tobacco reduction.
“It’s not uncommon to get similar comments for applications we have done,” said Marnie Skobalski, planner.
The draft OCP will now go to a public hearing before the board considers final adoption.
“We encourage people to review it and provide comment,” said Skobalski.
