Bylaw No. 1061, 2025 OCP Amendment Bylaw-Housing Needs

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TOWN OF PRINCETON

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 1061, 2025

A Bylaw to amend the Town of Princeton Official Community Plan.

A bylaw to amend the "Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1044, 2023".

WHEREAS Council has adopted an Official Community Plan pursuant to the Local Government Act;

AND WHEREAS Council wishes to amend the Official Community Plan in accordance with provincial Bill 44 (Housing Statutes [Residential Development] Amendment Act, 2023) and Section 585 of the Local Government Act;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to Section 477 of the Local Government Act and after first reading of the bylaw to adopt the Official Community Plan, Council has, in sequence:

1. considered the proposed Official Community Plan in conjunction with its most recent financial plan and any waste management plan;

2. referred the Plan to the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and Vermillion Forks Métis Society for comment; and

3. held a Public Hearing pursuant to Sections 464 through 470 of the Local Government Act.

NOW THEREFORE Council of the Town of Princeton, Province of British Columbia, in open meeting assembled ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:

1. This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Town of Princeton Official Community

Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1061, 2025.”

2. "Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1044, 2023" is hereby amended as follows:

a. Part 1: Planning Process (Pg. 6) is amended by inserting the following heading and text after “Funding Opportunities” paragraph:

2025 UPDATE

The Official Community Plan (OCP) was revised in 2025 to meet Bill 44, which requires municipalities to plan for 20 years of housing needs using their most recent Housing Needs Report. The Town of Princeton completed its Housing Needs Report in December 2024.

b. Part 2: Community Context is amended by inserting two new pages provided as

SCHEDULE A, after page 19.

c. Part 2: Growth Management [Existing Page (EPG) 20, New Page (NPG) 22] is amended by deleting the words “The population of the Town Princeton is anticipated to be 3,955 by 2042 with a higher, but moderate annual growth rate of 1.5%. This means an additional 1,061 people living in the Town by 2042” and replacing them with

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“The population of the Town of Princeton is anticipated to be as high as 4,385 by 2042 with an average annual growth rate of 2%. This means up to an additional 1,491 people living in the Town by 2042.”

d. Part 2: Growth Management (EPG 20, NPG 22) is amended by deleting the Population Projection graph on page 22 with the following graph:

e. Part 2: Growth Management, Population Projections is amended by inserting the following sentence at the end of the first paragraph on EPG 21, NPG 23: “It also considers the results of the 2024 Princeton Housing Needs Report.”

f. Part 2: Growth Management, Comparison of Population Projections Using Various Annual Growth Rates chart (EPG 21, NPG 23) is amended by inserting a new column to the right of the chart as follows:

“Population at 2% 2,894 2,952 3,598 4,385”

g. Part 2: Growth Management, Anticipated New Development Population Using Various Growth Rates Year 2042 chart (EPG 22, NPG 24) is amended by deleting the title “Anticipated New Development Population Using Various Growth Rates Year 2042” and replacing it with “Anticipated New Population Using Various Growth Rates (Year 2042)” and by inserting a new column to the right of the chart as follows:

“Aggressive Growth Rate 2% 1,491”

h. Part 2: Growth Management, Housing Projections and Densities (EPG 23, NPG 25) is amended by deleting the following paragraph:

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“With a population growth rate of 1.5%, the number of new housing units that will be needed to accommodate future growth to 2042 would be 321 units. Given the community’s desire and need to better balance housing type and density, the following table breaks down housing type and density for the additional 321 units.”

And replacing it with the following paragraph:

“With a population growth rate of 2%, the number of estimated new housing units that will be needed to accommodate future growth to 2042 and in alignment with the Town's 2024 Housing Needs Report, would be 877 units. This includes new people moving to Town and existing residents in need of homes. Given the community’s desire and need to better balance housing type and density, the following table breaks down the estimated housing type and density.”

i. Part 2: Growth Management, Residential Density Type Table (EPG 24, NPG 26) is amended by adding a new category of Residential Density Type called “Shelter/Emergency Housing – Shelters and housing for people experiencing homelessness, which could be modular or within a building set up as a shelter or emergency housing.”; and deleting the following two columns:

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and replacing them with the following two columns:

% Residential Development By 2045 Estimated No. of Dwelling Units By 2045 78% (with a greater focus on two- family and accessory dwelling units than historically seen. 684 19% 169 3% 24 100% 877

j. Part 2: Growth Management, is amended by inserting one new page provided as

SCHEDULE B, after EPG 24 (NPG 27).

k. Part 2: Growth Management, Non-Residential Growth, Commercial Development Areas (EPG 25, NPG 28) is amended by deleting the words “14,589” and “1.5” and replacing them with the words “25,501” and “2”.

l. Part 2: Growth Management, Non-Residential Growth, Industrial Development Areas (EPG 25, NPG 28) is amended by deleting the word “2,653” and replacing it with the word “3,728”.

m. Part 2: Growth Management, Non-Residential Growth, Institutional Development Areas (EPG 25, NPG 28) is amended by deleted the words “1.5” and “9,284” and replacing them with the words “2” and “13,046”.

n. Part 2: Growth Management, Breaking Down Princeton’s Future Growth Plan infographic (EPG 27, NPG 30) is amended by deleting the word “1.5” and replacing it with the word “2”.

o. Part 4: Goals and Policies, Residential Designation Policies, Special Needs and Affordable Housing Policies, Policy a. (EPG 38, NPG 42) is amended by deleting the word “Assessment” and replacing it with the word “Report”.

p. Part 4: Goals and Policies, Residential Designation Policies, Special Needs and Affordable Housing Policies (EPG 38-39, NPG 43) is amended by inserting the following new policies after Policy h.:

i. The Town shall support the preservation and rehabilitation of housing units identified as needing major repairs through: a. Encouraging use of senior government programs (e.g., CMHC, BC Housing) to upgrade and extend the life of existing homes. b. Exploring municipal incentives (e.g., permissive tax exemptions, utility rebates, density bonusing) to promote rehabilitation projects. j. Where rental housing requiring major repairs is redeveloped or rehabilitated, the Town shall seek to minimize tenant displacement. k. The Town shall monitor and identify neighbourhoods and housing types exhibiting higher incidences of dwellings in need of major repair, and may establish Development Permit Areas, revitalization programs, or other policy mechanisms to facilitate housing renewal and reinvestment.

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l. Encourage group home facilities to locate within residential areas, provided that the facilities maintain the character of the neighbourhood.

1. The Town supports the development of permanent supportive housing,

low-barrier housing, transitional housing, and other forms of housing that provide on-site or connected services for people with mental health and substance use needs. Supportive housing will be directed to locations with good access to transit, health services, community facilities, and daily amenities.

2. The Town will work with BC Housing, the regional Health Authority,

Indigenous governments, and non-profit providers to secure land, funding, and operations for supportive housing projects.

3. At least 8 units or ~4% of the total housing units required in the next five

years should be prioritized to reduce homelessness as identified in the

2024 Housing Needs Report.

4. The Town will monitor delivery of supportive housing units and update this

Plan following each Housing Needs Report cycle to ensure policies remain responsive to evolving needs.”

q. Part 4: Goals and Policies, Fostering Strong Community Partnerships, Overarching Goals (EPG 57, NPG 63) is amended by inserting the following new goal after Goal e.: “f. Foster an inclusive and connected community by supporting programs, spaces, and partnerships that promote belonging, empathy, and respect for all residents while reducing stigma and social isolation.”

r. Part 4: Goals and Policies, Fostering Strong Community Partnerships, Policies, Indigenous Partnership Policies, Policy a. (EPG 57, NPG 63) is amended by deleting the words “To work” and replacing it with the word “Work”.

s. Part 4: Goals and Policies, Fostering Strong Community Partnerships, Policies, Indigenous Partnership Policies, Policy b. (EPG 58, NPG 64) is amended by deleting the word “To work” and replacing it with the word “Work”.

t. Part 4: Goals and Policies, Promoting Healthy and Active Living, Policies, General Policies (EPG 65-66, NPG 71-72) is amended by deleting the following policies:

“a. Promote Princeton as an active and healthy community by providing accessible and convenient use of diverse, alternative transportation modes (i.e., pedestrians, bicycles, scooters and wheelchairs) within the community. b. Develop a Poverty Reduction Strategy that addresses affordable housing and homelessness with a particular focus on families to address poverty at the local level. c. Create an accessible environment where people of all ages, using a variety of transportation modes (including walking, cycling, motorized scooters, wheelchairs), can move with ease. d. As per legislation establish an Accessibility Committee and develop an Accessibility Plan and monitoring tool in accordance with the Accessible British Columbia Regulation that addresses the following principles:

1. Inclusion

2. Adaptability

3. Diversity

4. Collaboration

5. Self-determination

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6. Universal design

e. Work cooperatively with federal and provincial agencies towards dyke improvements and easements associated with the establishment of a riverfront walkway/park system. f. Partner with outdoor recreational organizations to develop additional facilities for snowmobiling and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). g. Encourage community participation in active transportation through events and initiatives that promote physical activity and alternative transportation (e.g., Bike To Work Week). h. Consider and purposefully use the statutory authority for density bonus provision in exchange for provision of a public park, recreational or other amenity that meets the guiding principles and goals of this Plan. i. Conduct an Age-Friendly Assessment and develop an Action Plan to better understand and support the needs and desires of our aging population..”

And inserting the following new policies:

“a. Promote Princeton as an active and healthy community for all residents by providing accessible and convenient use of diverse, alternative transportation modes (i.e., walking, bicycles, scooters and wheelchairs) within the community. b. Implement the Poverty Reduction Strategy to address affordable housing and homelessness and review the strategy every five years alongside the Housing Needs Report. c. Work toward alleviating homelessness through land use policy that supports a continuum of housing options — from emergency shelter to long-term supportive housing. d. Provide adequate land capacity to meet the overall 20-year housing unit target identified in the HNR, including units appropriate for people experiencing homelessness or at risk. e. Designate land in the OCP that permit seniors housing in: a. Mixed-use designations (i.e., Town Centre) within walking distance of public transportation, services and amenities. b. Institutional designations. f. Encourage partnerships with non-profit housing providers, Indigenous organizations, BC Housing, and local service agencies to fund, develop, and operate shelter and supportive housing projects. g. Enable supportive housing and seasonal (emergency) shelters through appropriate zoning and temporary use permits to address urgent needs. h. As per provincial legislation establish an Accessibility Committee and develop an Accessibility Plan and monitoring tool in accordance with the Accessible British Columbia Regulation that addresses the following principles:

1. Inclusion

2. Adaptability

3. Diversity

4. Collaboration

5. Self-determination

6. Universal design

i. Work cooperatively with federal and provincial agencies towards dyke improvements and easements associated with the establishment of a riverfront walkway/park system. j. Partner with outdoor recreational organizations to develop additional facilities for snowmobiling and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

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k. Encourage community participation in active transportation through events and initiatives that promote physical activity and alternative transportation (e.g., Bike To Work Week). l. Consider and purposefully use the statutory authority for density bonus provision in exchange for provision of a public park, recreational or other amenity that meets the guiding principles and goals of this Plan. m. Implement the Princeton Age-Friendly Action Plan to support the needs and desires of the Town's aging population. n. Promote housing that supports mental and physical well-being by encouraging designs, locations, and partnerships that integrate access to health services, social supports, and community connections..”

u. Part 4: Goals and Policies, Promoting Healthy and Active Living, Policies, Recreation Policies (EPG 66, NPG 72) is amended by deleting the following policy:

“Review and update the Town’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan as needed to: 1. review all municipally-owned spaces (including trails/park/greenways) for passive recreation and determine the potential for future improvements such as fountains, public washrooms and playgrounds; and 2. explore opportunities and feasibility of expanding or enhancing recreation facilities and related programming.”

And inserting the following new policy:

“Implement the Town’s 10-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2025) to ensure the health and wellness needs of residents continue to be met and enhanced through the availability and accessibility of parks, recreation and greenspace opportunities.”

v. Part 4: Goals and Policies, Prioritizing Environmental Responsibility and Stewardship, Policies, Climate Change Policies (EPG 69-70, NPG 76) is amended by inserting the following new policy after policy “d.”:

“e. Promote affordable, climate-resilient housing by integrating flood and wildfire risk reduction measures with housing design, location, and affordability strategies, ensuring long-term safety and cost stability for residents.”

w. Part 6: OCP Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation, OCP Reviews, Eight to Ten Year Comprehensive Review (EPG 101, NPG 107) is amended by inserting the following new sentence at the end of paragraph one: “To ensure continued alignment with provincial legislation for housing needs reporting, it may be useful to identify a comprehensive review timeline that coincides with Council adoption of the next required Housing Needs Report which could be as soon as 2028.”

x. Part 8: Schedule M: Implementation Tables, Promoting Healthy and Active Living, no. 40 General Policies (EPG 127, NPG 133) is amended by deleting the words “Develop a Poverty Reduction Strategy that addresses affordable housing and homelessness with a particular focus on families to address poverty at the local level.” and “High”

and replacing them with the words “Implement the Poverty Reduction Strategy to improve housing affordability, reduce homelessness, and support families in addressing local poverty.” and “Ongoing”.

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y. Part 8: Schedule M: Implementation Tables, Promoting Healthy and Active Living, no. 43 General Policies (EPG 128, NPG 134) is amended by deleting the words “Conduct an Age-Friendly Assessment and develop an Action Plan to support the needs and desires of our aging population.” and “High”

and replacing them with the words “Implement the Princeton Age-Friendly Action Plan to support the needs and desires of the Town's aging population.” and “Ongoing”.

z. Part 8: Schedule M: Implementation Tables, Promoting Healthy and Active Living, no. 46 General Policies (EPG 129, NPG 135) is amended by deleting the words “Review and update the Town’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan as needed to based on additional policy directions found in Recreation Policies b 1-2.” and “Medium”

and replacing them with the words “Implement the Town’s 10-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2025) to ensure the health and wellness needs of residents continue to be met and enhanced through the availability and accessibility of parks, recreation and greenspace opportunities.” and “Ongoing”.

3. The following schedules attached hereto are hereby made part of this amendment bylaw

and adopted as the Official Community Plan 2042 for the Town of Princeton:

• SCHEDULE A: Two New Pages to be inserted after EPG 19 (NPGs 20-21) • SCHEDULE B: New Page to be inserted after EPG 26 (NPG 27)

4. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Bylaw is for any reason held

to be invalid by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, the invalid portion shall be severed and the decision that it is invalid shall not affect the validity of the remainder.

READ A FIRST TIME THIS 3rd DAY OF December, 2025.

READ A SECOND TIME THIS 3rd, DAY OF December, 2025.

PUBLIC HEARING HELD THE 21st DAY OF January, 2026.

READ A THIRD TIME THIS 21st DAY OF January, 2026.

RECONSIDERED AND ADOPTED THIS 4th DAY OF February, 2026.

________________________________ MAYOR Spencer Coyne

________________________________ CORPORATE OFFICER R. Lyle Thomas

I certify this to be a true copy of Bylaw No. 1061, 2025 adopted by Council on the_______ day of _____, 2026. Original signed by Mayor Coyne Original signed by CAO Thomas