Two new townhome developments in Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 south-central area set off a debate at city council香蕉视频直播檚 Monday meeting (Feb. 24), as residents pushed back against increasing density in established neighbourhoods.
Both projects, proposed for Stillingfleet Road (2236-2248), between Springfield and Guisachan roads, would see nine townhomes built on each lot. Council received several letters opposing the developments, with two specifically addressing concerns about 2236 Stillingfleet Rd.
Councillor Maxine DeHart referred to one letter that asked how many councillors had experienced infill development in their neighbourhoods.
香蕉视频直播淚 live in a big infill centre,香蕉视频直播� DeHart said, adding that other councillors do as well, though she didn香蕉视频直播檛 name them. 香蕉视频直播淧eople think we香蕉视频直播檙e not sensitive. We live in these neighbourhoods too. We are taxpayers, just like you, and we香蕉视频直播檙e just trying to do the best for our community.香蕉视频直播�
Coun. Ron Cannan said many residents aren香蕉视频直播檛 against change but argued that the province香蕉视频直播檚 new housing regulations allowing up to six units in infill areas are moving too fast.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 more than, I guess, taking their fair share of the growth,香蕉视频直播� Cannan said. 香蕉视频直播淭o be most effective, it needs to be implemented more gradually and with a little more sensitivity to the character and form of the neighbourhood.香蕉视频直播�
He opposed both developments, pointing to the need for density without destroying established communities. Coun. Rick Webber disagreed that the projects would have a detrimental impact.
香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 subscribe to the idea that the arrival of nine townhomes, or whatever, is gonna wreck the neighbourhood,香蕉视频直播� Webber said. 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think it香蕉视频直播檚 as bad as some of these letters are spelling out.香蕉视频直播�
Coun. Loyal Wooldridge backed the developments, stating that moderate-density housing is a necessary part of the city香蕉视频直播檚 growth.
香蕉视频直播淭ime and time again, we hear from residents that 香蕉视频直播榳e don香蕉视频直播檛 want six-storey buildings, we want townhomes香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈we don香蕉视频直播檛 want townhomes, we want duplexes,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd at the end of the day, we hear from many other residents that need to find a place to live here.香蕉视频直播�
He also pushed back against the idea that the city needed 香蕉视频直播渟aving香蕉视频直播� from infill.
香蕉视频直播淚 think our community is growing, it香蕉视频直播檚 changing, and with that comes challenges in some neighbourhoods,香蕉视频直播� Wooldridge said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think we do our best to mitigate that. From my perspective, this isn香蕉视频直播檛 intensive infill.香蕉视频直播�
Deputy Mayor Luke Stack said he believes many Kelowna residents support the densification of the central core of city and said that infill development is the planned path forward.
香蕉视频直播淯ntil it arrives on their street香蕉视频直播攖hen it香蕉视频直播檚 personal,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is where I go outside, and this is where I walk my dog, and this is where I let my children play.香蕉视频直播�
He said that change is difficult but necessary to prevent uncontrolled urban sprawl.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 basically wired into our Official Community Plan. That this is the direction we need to go, otherwise we would have endless sprawl going up our mountainsides, and I know the public doesn香蕉视频直播檛 want that either.香蕉视频直播�
Stack added that developers should be consulting with residents to ensure new projects fit into existing neighbourhoods as smoothly as possible.
Council adopted rezoning applications for both developments with Cannan opposed.
