The frustration over sweeping provincial housing legislation was palpable at Kelowna council害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 really uptight and really angry at what we害羞草研究所檝e been forced to do here,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Charlie Hodge. 害羞草研究所淚 feel pushed by the provincial government.害羞草研究所�

Staff have provided briefings on legislative amendments over the past two meetings and council considered the changes at Monday害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e not only hearing it from us but being at the BC Housing Summit last week, they害羞草研究所檙e hearing from other communities,害羞草研究所� he said.

The legislation, which Coun. Ron Cannan called 害羞草研究所榦ne size fits all,害羞草研究所� affects approximately 26,000 lots in the city.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e heard this legislation coined as 害羞草研究所榩lanning with a sledgehammer.害羞草研究所� I don害羞草研究所檛 think it害羞草研究所檚 going to address affordability and housing crisis in our community,害羞草研究所� he said.

Cannan did agree with colleagues who said working with the province for a 害羞草研究所榤ade in Kelowna害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所榝ar ahead when it comes to policy shifts.害羞草研究所�

He also acknowledged that some residents perhaps don害羞草研究所檛 feel council has pounded the table enough with the province regarding how the changes will affect the city.

害羞草研究所淏ut at the end of the day when we害羞草研究所檙e an easy door to push on that means we害羞草研究所檒l be a community that害羞草研究所檚 selected in the future for investment and a test pilot for housing projects,害羞草研究所� he added.

Councillors did agree that the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) is essentially moving in the same direction the province has chosen.

害羞草研究所淲e are faced with probably, at least in my time, the most comprehensive zoning that I害羞草研究所檝e ever seen,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Luke Stack. 害羞草研究所淥bviously from our perspective, I think it can be tweaked to serve the interests of our community a little better.害羞草研究所�

Amendments to the OCP will be brought forward by staff in the coming months for council害羞草研究所檚 consideration, and there will be an opportunity for the public to speak to those changes.

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