Kelowna council greenlights plan to boost growth, density in 5 urban centres

Kelowna City Council has endorsed a plan that aims to bolster growth and density in the city’s five major urban centres.

Earlier this year, council reviewed a report that said the five urban centres are all growing but are also facing their own unique challenges like lacking schools or enough grocery stores.

On Monday, they supported the final phase of a plan that will foster employment opportunities, support new housing, enhance public spaces, and improve transportation options across all five urban centres.

The urban centres include downtown, which has the highest growth potential for both homes and jobs, Pandosy, Capri-Landmark, midtown and Rutland.

Tracy Guidi, a planner specialist with the city, told council the plan includes five strategic approaches.

That includes growing local services and employment, keeping the housing coming, advancing great public spaces, providing the best transportation options and building community relationships.

“All of Kelowna’s five urban centres are all in different stages of maturity in realizing the OCP’s vision of becoming dense, amenity rich, mixed-use and walkable neighbourhoods,” Guidi said.

“As a result, each urban centre has unique strengths and challenges but all urban centres are anticipated to grow substantially by 2041, accommodating nearly 40% of new homes and over 70% of Kelowna’s future employment growth.”

Guidi said that residential growth is specific to each urban centre’s boundary while employment growth was based on the urban centre and surrounding area.

For example, Guidi said Pandosy has similar future employment demands to downtown and its largely influenced by the hospital, which is within its employment catchment area.

Coun. Cannan said had issues with a lack of funding attached to the report. However, staff said each action item would be dealt with individually and funding would be sought through grants.

“I’m not against growth and development, but over-development without the proper infrastructure and financing in place is not smart planning, in my mind, or sustainable,” he said.

The plan was moved forward with only coun. Cannan opposed.