Two new townhome developments in Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 south-central area set off a debate at city council91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚 live in a big infill centre,91裸聊视频� DeHart said, adding that other councillors do as well, though she didn91裸聊视频檛 name them. 91裸聊视频淧eople think we91裸聊视频檙e not sensitive. We live in these neighbourhoods too. We are taxpayers, just like you, and we91裸聊视频檙e just trying to do the best for our community.91裸聊视频�
Coun. Ron Cannan said many residents aren91裸聊视频檛 against change but argued that the province91裸聊视频檚 new housing regulations allowing up to six units in infill areas are moving too fast.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 more than, I guess, taking their fair share of the growth,91裸聊视频� Cannan said. 91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚 can91裸聊视频檛 subscribe to the idea that the arrival of nine townhomes, or whatever, is gonna wreck the neighbourhood,91裸聊视频� Webber said. 91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think it91裸聊视频檚 as bad as some of these letters are spelling out.91裸聊视频�
Coun. Loyal Wooldridge backed the developments, stating that moderate-density housing is a necessary part of the city91裸聊视频檚 growth.
91裸聊视频淭ime and time again, we hear from residents that 91裸聊视频榳e don91裸聊视频檛 want six-storey buildings, we want townhomes91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频攚e don91裸聊视频檛 want townhomes, we want duplexes,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd at the end of the day, we hear from many other residents that need to find a place to live here.91裸聊视频�
He also pushed back against the idea that the city needed 91裸聊视频渟aving91裸聊视频� from infill.
91裸聊视频淚 think our community is growing, it91裸聊视频檚 changing, and with that comes challenges in some neighbourhoods,91裸聊视频� Wooldridge said. 91裸聊视频淚 think we do our best to mitigate that. From my perspective, this isn91裸聊视频檛 intensive infill.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淯ntil it arrives on their street91裸聊视频攖hen it91裸聊视频檚 personal,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭his is where I go outside, and this is where I walk my dog, and this is where I let my children play.91裸聊视频�
He said that change is difficult but necessary to prevent uncontrolled urban sprawl.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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 doesn91裸聊视频檛 want that either.91裸聊视频�
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.
