This fall the BC Provincial Government will be proceeding with Bill 26 which, when passed, will state that no public hearing will be required for a zoning bylaw as long as it is consistent with an Official Community Plan (OCP) that is in effect for that area.
This will effectively remove our right, as citizens, to have our say about developments in our community when an OCP has broad parameters for development, and gives great discretion to city council in approving development.
The City of West Kelowna is attempting to include a discretionary density clause, in our new OCP as follows, “Additional density will be considered where proposals address community-wide challenges, (eg. affordable housing, child care, public parking, etc.)”. Additional density also can include additional height over and above what the OCP specifically states. We must ensure that the new OCP for West Kelowna:
- Specifically states what we, as citizens, expressed in the award-winning Community Vision, in terms of development in our communities.
- The discretionary development clause must be removed to protect our right to be heard on developments in our community for the next twenty years.
The GBGPCA will continue to monitor Bill 26 and the concerning language in the draft OCP.
Gellatly Bay Goats Peak Community Association 