It was near the end of Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 (May 14) public hearing when Councillor Ron Cannan unloaded on the provincial government over housing legislation affecting the city害羞草研究所檚 Heritage Conservation Area (HCA).
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 willing to put a stake in the ground and not be bullied by this top-heavy, sledgehammer, controlling provincial government,害羞草研究所� he said.
Cannan was referring to a comment made by an area resident earlier in the evening challenging council to stand up to the province.
害羞草研究所淚 think elected officials need to drive a stake in the ground,害羞草研究所� said Gerry Fee.
That was the general feeling in the room with many speakers echoing the call to push back against the province.
害羞草研究所淲e feel that the citizens have spoken and that they cherish the character of the area and the history that it represents,害羞草研究所� said Barry Jessup with Friends and Residents of Abbot Street Heritage Conservation Area Society (FRAHCAS), referring to a 900-signature petition in support of preserving the HCA.
Jessup added that the group wants to work with council and city planners on heritage guidelines and bringing back the heritage advisory committee.
The public hearing was to adopt Official Community Plan (OCP) amendments to align with provincial housing legislation regarding small-scale multi-housing and Transit Oriented Areas (TOA).
Under the new legislation, four and six units can built on single-family lots depending where they are in the city. Staff made an exception for Abbott and Marshall heritage areas by creating a Core Area - Heritage District (C-HER) zoning.
害羞草研究所淲e applied a special future land use designation to be clear害羞草研究所ou can害羞草研究所檛 build six units here, we害羞草研究所檙e looking for four,害羞草研究所� Robert Miles, long-range planner, told the hearing.
C-HER encourages the preservation of existing homes and mandates that new developments and alterations align with HCA guidelines which will be updated this summer.
The province also designated the area around Kelowna General Hospital (KGH), at the south end of the HCA, a TOA given the hospital is a major employer. Up to six-storey buildings can be built in a TOA, a fact that was not well received by most of the audience.
A voice that resonated with several councillors came from 20-year-old college student Ben Harris.
害羞草研究所淎ffordability is the biggest issue of my generation,害羞草研究所� he said.
Harris also singled out Cannan for a comment he made at council害羞草研究所檚 May 13 meeting stating that 害羞草研究所渨e are not going to build our way out of this affordability crisis.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭hat spits in the face of the fact this affordability crisis is caused by a lack of housing supply,害羞草研究所� Harris said, further arguing that densification should be shared throughout the city.
He urged council to not just consider those lucky enough to afford a home, but also think about young people who can害羞草研究所檛, adding that the provincial legislation gives him hope.
害羞草研究所淚 might be able to afford a home in a neighbourhood that I love and have biked through many times,害羞草研究所� Harris said.
Coun. Loyal Wooldridge, also the NDP candidate in Kelowna-Centre for the upcoming provincial election, spoke about collaborating with residents, and all levels of government to provide affordable and available housing.
害羞草研究所淭hrowing a sledgehammer down and pounding the desk might look good in the headlines, but at the end of the day it害羞草研究所檚 about working together and accomplishing both levels of government goals.害羞草研究所�
Mayor Tom Dyas told the hearing that he has spoken to his counterparts on the BC Urban Mayors害羞草研究所� Caucus about how the legislation will affect heritage areas in their cities.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 our community yes, but it is every other community throughout the province that this affecting.害羞草研究所�
Advocacy work is happening, the mayor told the audience.
Council adopted the OCP amendments with Cannan opposed.
READ MORE: Coun. Cannan wants Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 heritage area exempted from density, development
READ MORE: Massive development proposed for McKinley Beach lands in Kelowna
