The frustration over sweeping provincial housing legislation was palpable at Kelowna council91裸聊视频檚 Monday (Feb. 26) meeting.
Several new bills brought down by the NDP government over the past few months dictate, to certain municipalities, how much housing they must provide and where it needs to be built.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 really uptight and really angry at what we91裸聊视频檝e been forced to do here,91裸聊视频 said Coun. Charlie Hodge. 91裸聊视频淚 feel pushed by the provincial government.91裸聊视频
Staff have provided briefings on legislative amendments over the past two meetings and council considered the changes at Monday91裸聊视频檚 meeting.
They affect infill housing, heights of buildings, and what can be built around transit hubs and heritage areas, causing much concern for council and residents.
Mayor Tom Dyas noted he has had several meetings with the housing minister and staff about those concerns.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e not only hearing it from us but being at the BC Housing Summit last week, they91裸聊视频檙e hearing from other communities,91裸聊视频 he said.
The legislation, which Coun. Ron Cannan called 91裸聊视频榦ne size fits all,91裸聊视频 affects approximately 26,000 lots in the city.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e heard this legislation coined as 91裸聊视频榩lanning with a sledgehammer.91裸聊视频 I don91裸聊视频檛 think it91裸聊视频檚 going to address affordability and housing crisis in our community,91裸聊视频 he said.
Cannan did agree with colleagues who said working with the province for a 91裸聊视频榤ade in Kelowna91裸聊视频 solution is the best course of action.
Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said he heard from other municipal leaders at the BC Housing Summit that Kelowna is 91裸聊视频榝ar ahead when it comes to policy shifts.91裸聊视频
He also acknowledged that some residents perhaps don91裸聊视频檛 feel council has pounded the table enough with the province regarding how the changes will affect the city.
91裸聊视频淏ut at the end of the day when we91裸聊视频檙e an easy door to push on that means we91裸聊视频檒l be a community that91裸聊视频檚 selected in the future for investment and a test pilot for housing projects,91裸聊视频 he added.
Councillors did agree that the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) is essentially moving in the same direction the province has chosen.
91裸聊视频淲e are faced with probably, at least in my time, the most comprehensive zoning that I91裸聊视频檝e ever seen,91裸聊视频 said Coun. Luke Stack. 91裸聊视频淥bviously from our perspective, I think it can be tweaked to serve the interests of our community a little better.91裸聊视频
Amendments to the OCP will be brought forward by staff in the coming months for council91裸聊视频檚 consideration, and there will be an opportunity for the public to speak to those changes.
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