Peachland香蕉视频直播檚 signature charm was the centre of a council discussion during the July 8 Committee of the Whole meeting.
As the district works through a minor review of its Official Community Plan (OCP), councillors wrestled with how to protect the community香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渟mall town character香蕉视频直播� while still planning for inevitable growth and meeting provincial housing mandates.
Urban Systems, the consultant leading the review, presented updates on the plan, which was adopted in 2018. The review is intended to align the OCP with updated legislation and growth trends while refreshing development permit guidelines and clarifying policies.
But it was the section on Peachland香蕉视频直播檚 character that launched a 20-minute debate among council members.
香蕉视频直播淚f we香蕉视频直播檙e looking to focus on what resonates with this community, I don香蕉视频直播檛 think that we should be representing them with commonly found buzzwords,香蕉视频直播� said Coun. Alena Glasman. She felt the current description could apply to almost any B.C. community.
She also raised concerns that some residents may not fully understand the trade-offs involved in 香蕉视频直播減reserving香蕉视频直播� Peachland香蕉视频直播檚 character.
香蕉视频直播淸It] technically means no development, no growth, no increasing of infrastructure, no increasing of density to preserve Peachland and the small-town character that seems to mean something different for everyone,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Coun. Randey Brophy argued that development doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have to erase character.
香蕉视频直播淲hat you have to do is tailor the development so it promotes what the small town is good for,香蕉视频直播� he said.
He noted Peachland has the longest stretch of public beach in the Okanagan香蕉视频直播攜et no hotels on Beach Avenue.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a gimmie," he added. "That doesn香蕉视频直播檛 change the small-town character of Peachland, it just accentuates what Peachland has.香蕉视频直播�
Coun. Keith Thom said it香蕉视频直播檚 council香蕉视频直播檚 job to find out what that character means to the people who live there.
香蕉视频直播淪o that we follow along the lines of the majority of our residents,香蕉视频直播� he pointed out.
Mayor Patrick Van Minsel reminded council that times have changed.
香蕉视频直播淲e need to, ideally, preserve as much of Peachland as we can. But we need to let some density (development) happen here and there.香蕉视频直播�
He also highlighted the growing pressure to meet housing targets.
Peachland香蕉视频直播檚 Housing Needs Assessment香蕉视频直播攁lso part of the OCP香蕉视频直播攕hows the district will need 494 new housing units over the next five years and 1,650 within 20 years. According to the OCP, existing zoning and current development applications could meet those numbers.
Van Minsel stressed the need to communicate this clearly to residents.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a fact that we need around 100 a year just to keep our property taxes manageable,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭o see that we don香蕉视频直播檛 have the 20 or 30 per cent increases that some other municipalities had.香蕉视频直播�
But building those homes could come with pushback.
香蕉视频直播淚 remember at one open house香蕉视频直播 had a person stand up香蕉视频直播nd the comment 香蕉视频直播榃e don香蕉视频直播檛 want those kinds of people in our neighbourhood香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈as if people who live in townhouses have devil香蕉视频直播檚 horns,香蕉视频直播� Thom said.
Coun. Terry Condon voiced frustration over what he saw as low engagement in the OCP process so far.
香蕉视频直播淚 find it very disappointing that we香蕉视频直播檝e got only 135 responses from our community,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Urban Systems consultant Daniel Sturgeon noted that the project is a minor review, so engagement was scaled accordingly.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 unfortunate, I agree with you. We will provide what information we receive to council.香蕉视频直播�
Van Minsel floated the idea of a larger event later in the year.
香蕉视频直播淲here, as a council, we sit with our consultant, and we will have way more information then香蕉视频直播nd say, 'Now it香蕉视频直播檚 your time to give us your feedback.'香蕉视频直播�
Engagement so far has included a community open house and BBQ in June, two pop-up events in July, and an .
The minor is expected to wrap up in early 2026.
