South Okanagan

Photo: Contributed

The City of Summerland will spend more than $60,000 for a review of the community's Urban Growth Strategy.

Council awarded the contract to Sustainability Solutions Group Monday.

The current strategy, adopted in 2008 as part of the Official Community Plan (OCP), directs growth to the Prairie Valley area and primarily includes property intended to form the Summerland Hill Golf Resort.

That development has since been abandoned.

Summerland Mayor, Janice Perrino says the growth strategy is the most important document council will deal with this term.

She says the first priority of council's 2013-2014 Goals and Objectives is to "work towards establishing Summerland as a sustainable community."

Perrino says the first objective in working to achieve this goal is a review of the growth strategy to determine if it is still relevant.

She adds an urban growth boundary affects infrastructure costs, community character and the natural environment.

"At a time when municipalities are concerned about fiscal and environmental responsibility, it is important for us to re-visit our urban growth boundary and the associated impacts," says Perrino.

As part of the review process, the Sustainable Solutions Group are being asked to engage at least 1,000 Summerland residents.

More information is available at the city's website.