Growth to be focused in existing town centres

Some suburban lands could be forever closed off from development under a new growth strategy adopted by the City of Kelowna.

Council on Monday endorsed what’s said to a “progressive” planning approach that will focus most new development in existing town centres.

By 2040, the city hopes, 52 per cent of all new homes will be in multi-unit complexes, with the rest in traditional single-family homes or two-unit properties.

Higher-density development in existing urban areas will reduce reliance on private automobiles, lessen sprawl and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, city officials say.

“Residents do want to see a change in the way the city develops,” planner Robert Miles told council.

Evidence of the statement was presented in the form of a survey, completed by 577 people.

“Results show a trend in respondents’ desire to live close to amenities and employment,” reads part of a staff report on the survey.

“What is clear is that very few respondents wanted to see dispersed development in suburban areas with higher infrastructure maintenance costs,” the staff report stated.

To achieve more residential construction in urban areas, city staff propose removing the development potential from currently vacant lands in suburban areas.

Details of exactly how that might be accomplished will be presented at a future meeting. Any such move along those lines would likely generate considerable opposition from landowners who have long counted on the future developability of their properties.