Kelowna City Council moved five major rezoning applications forward during the Monday afternoon meeting.
Three of the five applications were moved forward unanimously, however, all applications will require three bylaw readings and formal adoption before they are officially rezoned.
If these projects move forward to the development permit stage, that could mean over 300 new units are brought online in Kelowna, 219 of which could be rentals.
Below is a breakdown of each application that was moved forward and the discussion around the council table.
A property on Bernard Avenue, which is currently home to a retirement building operated by the Abbeyfield Society, could soon become zoned as MF3r - Apartment Housing (Rental Only) zone to allow for a six-storey, 51-unit building.
Staff recommended support because the proposal is consistent with the MF3 zone, the future land use and achieves Official community Plan (OCP0 land use objectives for the core area.
City council unanimously approved initial rezoning for this project.
A property at the corner of Martin Avenue and Gordon Drive will soon be rezoned to the MF3 – Apartment Housing zone to facilitate a six-storey building with up to 33 units.
Staff recommended support because the proposal is consistent with future land use in a core area neighbourhood and follows OCP objectives for properties that front onto transit supportive corridors.
Coun. Charlie Hodge wondered what kind of amenity space council would see at the development permit stage for this project. Staff said the applicant was still working on the final site plans but have indicated that there would be a rooftop amenity space.
This was also moved forward with unanimous support.
An application looking to rezone a trio of properties on Mills Road in Rutland was moved forward with only coun. Hodge opposed. The applicant is looking to rezone to MF2 - Townhouse zone, which will eventually give way to eight three-storey buildings with 55 units.
This application sparked a debate about the city’s relocation policies for existing tenants on a site that is set for redevelopment.
Coun. Loyal Wooldridge pointed to the fact that the rent prices at the existing building were fairly low and asked if there was anything the city could do to ensure they found something new within their budget. Staff said the OCP had policies that allow staff to work on a broader relocation plan for this and future developments that are similar.
A draft report under the Housing Supply Plan, which includes more details on relocation, is due in front of council later this year.
Coun. Rick Webber said he wanted council to be careful with approving new multi-family housing projects that replace these types of older, cheaper multi-family buildings.
“(Under) the tenant transition plan that they’re going to be replacing the 20 existing rental units, which are affordable because the buildings are kind of run down, and there’s quite a few people living in each unit in some cases,” coun. Webber said.
“The existing rental units are going to be replaced with 55 new purpose built rentals. The market rates are anticipated to be in the range from $2,400 to $3,000 a month. So, what we’re doing is trading in a small number of affordable housing for a larger number of unaffordable housing.”
Coun. Webber encouraged his colleagues to take into consideration the removal of affordable housing for these types of projects, adding that it could impact the total overall number of units council approves. Coun. Webber said he was not opposed to the proposal.
This was moved forward with only coun. Hodge opposed.
A group of properties on Glenmore Drive will likely become zoned under the MF3R - Apartment Housing Rental Only zone. This could allow for up to 56 units including a mix of one, two and three bedrooms.
However, no formal development permit application has been submitted for this proposal and a more detailed application would be brought forward at a future date.
This application was supported by a unanimous vote.
After about 15 minutes of discussion, city council gave initial approval to an application that will eventually, if approved, rezone 1402 Cara Glen Court to the MF3r – Apartment Housing (rental only) zone.
This will eventually allow for 112 rental units in two four-storey apartment buildings.
Coun. Hodge had issues with a lack of green and amenity space in regards to the proposed units, pointing to the need to make the project appealing to families.
However, Doug Gilchrist, the city manager, reminded council that those kinds of concerns could be better addressed at the development permit stage.
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Ryan Smith, the city’s city planning and development director, also said added density was common in this area because it relates back to an original deal from 2003 or 2004 with the land owner, which saw the transfer of a large portion of land to the city, including the Kathleen Lake in Knox Mountain Park.
“In exchange for that rezoning was done down below (in this area) and this neighbourhood is actually still under densified or underdeveloped with regards to that prezoning,” Smith told council.
“There was actually mean to be more apartment building this neighbourhood than have been built.”
Coun. Hodge said he understood and that he would reluctantly support the application but was still “very concerned” about the lack of green and common amenity space and hoped to see more brought forward at the development permit stage.
Coun. Gord Lovegrove wanted to see more work done on an active transportation corridor on Clifton Road with this project in mind, pointing to several concerns raised by residents.
‘I just need more information. I can’t support this,” he said.
The application was submitted with only coun. Lovegrove opposed.
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