The massive reams of housing legislation changes coming at B.C. municipalities have left West Kelowna council wondering how its staff will handle the workload.
害羞草研究所淪ome have called it an 害羞草研究所榓tmospheric river害羞草研究所� of legislative changes,害羞草研究所� Brent Magnan, director of development approvals told council at its Tuesday (Feb. 26) meeting.
Among the changes are zoning bylaw amendments supporting four units per single-family lot which must be in place by June, a 20-year housing needs report, required by Jan. 2025, and an updated Official Community Plan (OCP) and the pre-zoning of developable land, both by Dec. 2025. Approximately 7,000 lots in the city are affected by the legislative changes.
害羞草研究所淭he amount of work is unfathomable,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Jason Friesen. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 insane.害羞草研究所�
Magnan said the changes will put a strain on staff resources, adding that many projects planned for this year will have to be put on hold.
害羞草研究所淭he reality is we害羞草研究所檙e not going to be able to get everything done, we害羞草研究所檙e just going to have to work with what we have.害羞草研究所�
Friesen said that it was 害羞草研究所渘ot a good scenario.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚n order to increase our housing supply you害羞草研究所檙e having to pull from current planning which delays the approvals which is the same thing the province is complaining about.害羞草研究所�
Coun. Stephen Johnson said it looks like the province rewrote council害羞草研究所檚 strategic priorities.
害羞草研究所淚 sympathize with staff害羞草研究所ou害羞草研究所檝e got a lot to do with a limited amount of information.害羞草研究所�
Several councillors complained about not being consulted by the provincial government regarding the changes.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a typical bureaucratic solution to a perceived problem, which may not even be the real problem, but it害羞草研究所檚 one size fits all,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Carol Zannon. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not Vancouver, we害羞草研究所檙e not Victoria, we害羞草研究所檙e not even Kelowna. We害羞草研究所檙e very different.害羞草研究所�
Magan told council that he believes the legislation is 害羞草研究所渨ith good intentions害羞草研究所� but noted there will be challenges.
害羞草研究所淭here is going to be a number of years as we transition to this proactive nature of planning that害羞草研究所hings aren害羞草研究所檛 going to work perfectly.害羞草研究所�
Several councillors said they were confident staff will do the best job possible in dealing with the changes.
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