Kelowna council has approved the final adoption of planning bylaws that clears the way for the Gurdwara Guru Amardas Darbar Sikh Society to build a new temple at 2809 Benvoulin Road.
The decision, made at the June 9 meeting, included an amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP), and also allowed the land to be rezoned from agricultural to institutional use.
Normally, before bylaws like these receive final approval, certain conditions must be met. These included council香蕉视频直播檚 consideration of a development permit, and completion of engineering requirements. However, planning staff recommended that council waive these steps.
They noted that a design permit is no longer typically required before final bylaw adoption and will be brought forward later. Engineering requirements will still need to be fulfilled, but only before a building permit is issued.
Not everyone on council was comfortable with the fast-tracked process.
香蕉视频直播淕oing back to the original public hearing, I did not support this project taking farmland to be turned into a Gurdwara, or church, or any other use to be quite frank with you,香蕉视频直播� Councillor Luke Stack said. 香蕉视频直播淥n the OCP amendment, I香蕉视频直播檓 opposed to it because I don香蕉视频直播檛 believe it香蕉视频直播檚 good for our farmland.香蕉视频直播�
The society is in need of a new facility. The plan for Benvoulin Road is for a 25,133 square foot, two-and-a-half-storey building. Although not within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), the property is designated and zoned for agriculture and directly borders ALR land.
A staff report to council in 2023 stated that OCP policies specifically discourage public or private institutional use including places of religious assembly on agricultural lands.
Coun. Gord Lovegrove argued that the development adds value back to the community.
香蕉视频直播淭he Gurdwara is already in such cramped quarters香蕉视频直播攚e know they need help,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Council approved the OCP amendment with Stack and Coun. Ron Cannan opposed. Stack did vote in favour of rezoning the property.
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Coun. Ron Cannan, who opposed both the OCP amendment and the rezoning, said he struggled with the decision.
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The next step for the project will be a form and character development permit at a future council meeting.
