West Kelowna council has given final adoption to a zoning bylaw amendment that will see a mobile home park rezoned for industrial uses.
The land use for 2355 Marshall Road has been in front of West Kelowna city councillors about seven times in the past 14 months.
It was first introduced to the city’s advisory planning commission in October 2023.
In December 2023, city council sent the matter to a public hearing but the process was paused in January 2024 to give the developer, Kerr Properties, to work with tenants.
The matter was not revisited until early July but was subsequently postponed for a second time until West Kelowna council could get confirmation that four remaining residents would be receiving compensation from the developer
Those four remaining tenants chose one of multiple relocation options, which included 12 months notice to move out with a minimum compensation of $20,000 plus the assessed value of their home.
According to staff reports, some tenants had indicated they felt they were not being treated fairly by the developer and struggled with the relocation process.
However, council revisited the application for a third time in early September, which was followed by third reading of the zoning bylaw amendment.
Shortly after that council decision, the one-year eviction notices were issued and are expected to be for the end of next September.
During the Dec. 10 meeting, city staff told councillors that a mobile home park redevelopment policy could be expected in the new year.
“Next priority on our list is that review of the mobile home park redevelopment policy as well how Bill 16 looks at that because it’s given local governments new authority to include rental protection provisions,” staff told city councillors.
“We’re going to be bringing this forward to council, hopefully very early in the new year, with some draft policy options for council to consider.”
