Official Community Plan Update

The Village of Lytton launched Future Forward: Lytton's Official Community Plan (OCP) Update in August 2025. The project consists of seven phases over a 12-month project timeline. The plan is being developed by the community through Nlaka’pamux consultation and ongoing engagement opportunities.

The updated Official Community Plan will set the course for future development and land use within Lytton by establishing a community vision, objectives, and policies, as well as actions for implementation. 

Progress reports  

Read the latest progress reports on the OCP Update:

• Progress report #3 - May 26, 2026
• Progress report #2 - February 24, 2026 
• Progress report #1 - November 25, 2025 

Latest news

At the May 26, 2026, Council Meeting, staff shared a progress report on the Official Community Plan Update.

Learn about the key themes from the Community Conversations

The Village hosted seven Community Conversations from February through April 2026. These were opportunities for community members, property owners, and local interests from Lytton and surrounding Nlaka'pamux and TNRD communities to directly engage on topic areas including economic development, housing, parks and trails, food security and agriculture, infrastructure and facilities, emergency preparedness, and Lytton’s identity. 

Read a summary of key themes from the Community Conversations in the OCP Update May 26, 2026, progress report (beginning at page 6).

Key strategy areas for attracting a younger demographic to Lytton

Students from the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) presented a literature review to Council on May 26, 2026, related to key strategic areas for attracting a younger demographic to Lytton.

The intent of the UFV project was to better understand what attracts new residents and workers in their 20s and 30s to small communities like Lytton and how to retain residents of this younger demographic. Their research focussed on strategic areas, including economic development, tourism, building climate resiliency, mobility, housing, and supportive services. Read their presentation to Council. 

Next steps

Over the next few months, the Village will work on the following:

• Engaging youth at Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux School and Kumsheen ShchEma-meet School through activities and young adults (18 to 35 years) in the Lytton area through a questionnaire to understand their ideas, aspirations, and needs; 
• Working with geotechnical and environmental consultants to better understand development constraints; and
   
• Drafting parts of the OCP document based on community feedback.

The Village will continue to reach out to Nlaka’pamux governments for their input on developing the OCP.  

The Village is in Phase 3 of the project and expects an initial draft of the OCP document to be ready for community review in August and the final bylaw document to be adopted in October.

Community engagement conducted from October 2025 to April 2026 included the following:

• Informal engagement booths at the Farmers' Market and Village Open House
• An OCP Update launch meeting (30 views + in-person attendees)
  • See the meeting recording.
  • Read the presentation: Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3
• A take-home workbook questionnaire with 45 respondents
• Social media engagement
• Seven Community Conversation meetings with an average of 20 attendees in-person and over 750 views online on
  • Topics included
    • Economic development
    • Housing
    • Parks & trails
    • Food security & agriculture
    • Infrastructure & facilities
    • Emergency preparedness
    • Lytton's identity
  • Watch the meeting recordings. 

See the project phases and timing:

What is an Official Community Plan? 

An Official Community Plan (OCP) is a comprehensive planning document and bylaw that includes a vision, objectives, policies, actions to guide municipal decision-making around land use and development within the Village boundaries. The Local Government Act requires the Village (and all municipalities in B.C.) to adopt an Official Community (OCP), which focusses on general land use directions, such as growth areas, sustainability initiatives, hazard and environment protection, parks, and housing. 

Is the OCP the same as a Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP)?

An OCP has some similarities to a Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP) for a First Nation, particularly because both plans include directions and policies related to a community vision, sustainability, and resilience. 

While the primary focus of an OCP is on land use within the municipality, the scope of a CCP is much broader. A CCP is a holistic long-term planning framework, which can encompass land and resources, culture and language, education, economy, governance and administration, health, infrastructure development, and more. 

Although the scope of OCPs continue to evolve with the addition of policies, such as climate and food security, the primary purpose of the OCP is to act as a high-level, long-term blueprint or vision document that sets out objectives and policies to guide local government decisions on planning and land use management. The Village does not have the legislated authority to negotiate governance, as that is under the provincial jurisdiction.

Why update the current OCP? 

Building on parts of the existing OCP (adopted in 1998) that are still relevant, the updated plan will: 

• Include Nlaka’pamux consultation 
• Incorporate new requirements from the Local Government Act  
• Reflect changing Village demographics and needs following the 2021 fire and atmospheric river 
• Set the foundation to attract people to live, work, and invest in Lytton in the next five, 10, or 25 years 

Council reports and updates

Read the latest updates (published as news articles on our website):

Sign up for updates

Sign up to the Village's e-newsletter to receive email updates about the Official Community Plan Update. 

Contact

If you have questions or would like to meet with a community group to learn more about the OCP update and how you can contribute, contact Caroline Lamont, the Village of Lytton's Director of Development and the OCP update project coordinator.

Email clamont@lytton.ca or phone 778-554-7880.