Kelowna council is moving forward with a plan to bring more housing and better transit to major areas of the city, even though some councillors raised concerns about timing and infrastructure.
At its Aug. 11 meeting, council endorsed the Transit Supportive Corridor Pilot Project Draft Plan, which pre-zones certain streets to allow more housing without the need for case-by-case rezoning.
City staff say that will make it faster and more predictable for developers to build near public transit while upgrading walking, cycling, and bus infrastructure.
The work is tied to Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 $31.5-million federal Housing Accelerator Fund grant, which supports measures that boost housing supply.
香蕉视频直播淭his pilot project is a way to get out in front of the bus, so to speak, so that we can actually move it along in a more planned way,香蕉视频直播� said Coun. Luke Stack. 香蕉视频直播淚 like that it香蕉视频直播檚 very selective.香蕉视频直播�
The current draft includes a new Transit Supportive Corridor Zone and updates to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaws.
Transit Supportive Corridor map / City of Kelowna
Several councillors stressed the importance of coordinating housing growth with improved transit.
香蕉视频直播淧art of the reason for the pilot project, one of the goals, is to increase transit usage, and yet we香蕉视频直播檙e hearing that we香蕉视频直播檙e not looking at the transit facilities being upgraded until 2032,香蕉视频直播� Coun. Rick Webber noted.
He also called for other levels of government to step up and help.
香蕉视频直播淭hey can香蕉视频直播檛 just say we are a transit-oriented city and then香蕉视频直播攑oof香蕉视频直播攚e are. We need action. We can香蕉视频直播檛 do it ourselves.香蕉视频直播�
Coun. Ron Cannan opposed pre-zoning at this stage, saying the city is putting 香蕉视频直播渢he cart before the horse.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e got at least five to seven years before we can get the transit confirmed,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hese developments may not take place for several years, but the land will be pre-zoned, and residents won香蕉视频直播檛 have any say. It might be cheaper for the developer, but I'd rather have people over profits in that respect.香蕉视频直播�
Director of Planning and Development Ryan Smith told council that it香蕉视频直播檚 unlikely that thousands of units will be built over the next few years without transit capacity.
香蕉视频直播淚 think that the risk is relatively low, and there are lots of benefits in terms of coordination and planning in advance and making sure that we get the right infrastructure in place.香蕉视频直播�
Mayor Tom Dyas acknowledged the community香蕉视频直播檚 long-standing concerns about transit.
香蕉视频直播淣o disrespect, planning and decisions were not made years ago, and now we're sitting here at this particular point in time when we're hearing it regularly,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淚 recognize that this will be a number of years before it comes about completely, but I truly believe that we're taking a strong position in advocating for it to happen.香蕉视频直播�
The first two phases of the pilot project saw council tour potential corridors and staff gather public input.
Phase 3 will see more consultation with residents and developers this fall, followed by revisions and a final plan for council香蕉视频直播檚 approval.
