Fewer opportunities to speak
Citizens no longer have the opportunity to comment on straightforward development permits that come before West Kelowna council.
Council voted this week to change the wording of a policy that allowed for both builders and interested members of the public to have their say on projects that don’t require a rezoning, variances or changes to the ofÀcial community plan.
Provincial law does not allow municipalities to give the public the chance to speak at council meetings on such matters, councillors say.
“Council is really bound not to take public input on development permits,” said Coun. Duane Ophus.
“It’s not our choosing. It’s how we’ve governed by the province,” said Coun. Rusty Ensign.
Inviting public input on straightforward development permits could give people the “false hope” that council might act on that information to deny the approvals necessary for a project to proceed, town planner Nancy Henderson told staff.
It could also invite legal action from developers if a project was turned down after councillors heard from members of the public.
“There is no forum for public input at development permit stage,” Henderson told council. “This is provincial legislation, not really something where there’s flexibility for the city to change.”
Several councillors stressed the public can still comment on other types of development projects, such as those that require rezoning or variances, as well as in the drafting of the ofÀcial community plan.
“It certainly doesn’t mean we can’t hear from people individually or in small groups,” outside council chambers, said Coun. Duane Ophus. “I hear from people all the time, and I welcome those comments and emails, regardless of what the issue is.”