Fort Nelson Complete Communities and Official Community Plan Update

2023-2025 | Fort Nelson, BC

Strengthening Livability and Resilience in Fort Nelson

As Northern Rockies Regional Municipality planned for long-term growth, shifting economic conditions and changing community needs required a refreshed approach to land use, infrastructure, and livability.

McElhanney partnered with the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM), which governs the Fort Nelson area, to deliver an integrated Complete Communities Study and Official Community Plan (OCP) update providing a coordinated, data-informed framework to guide Fort Nelson’s future development.

Addressing Evolving Community Needs in a Northern Context

Planning in Fort Nelson required a comprehensive response to interconnected challenges:

Changing population dynamics and housing needs
A desire to improve access to daily services and amenities
Transportation and walkability considerations in a remote community
Infrastructure capacity and long-term investment planning
The need to align policy, land use, and community priorities under a modernized OCP

The solution required integrating community insights with technical analysis to create a practical, implementable path forward.

Integrated Planning Approach: Data, Engagement, and Policy

McElhanney delivered two complementary planning initiatives that work together to support decision-making:

Complete Communities Study

Community engagement to understand resident priorities and lived experience
Geospatial analysis to map housing, services, transportation, and infrastructure
Evaluation of opportunities to improve how residents live, move, and access daily needs
Project testing and prioritization based on their contribution to a “complete community”

Official Community Plan (OCP) Update

Development of a new policy framework aligned with community needs and growth objectives
Community profile and land use analysis to inform future development patterns
Drafting of updated policies and development permit areas to guide land use decisions
Multi-stage public engagement with residents, staff, and Council
Council presentations and iterative review to support adoption of the new OCP

Together, these efforts connected data, policy, and community priorities into a single, actionable planning framework. Explore more of the OCP here, on NRRM’s website.

Results: A Clear Path Forward for Growth and Investment

The combined study and OCP update provide NRRM with a coordinated roadmap for strengthening Fort Nelson’s livability and resilience. Together, they establish clear policy direction to guide land use and development decisions, identify prioritized actions to improve housing, transportation, and access to services, and deliver data-informed insights to support infrastructure planning and investment. Grounded in community and Council engagement, the work reflects a shared vision for the future and positions Fort Nelson to make confident, informed decisions that support long-term community well-being.