West Kelowna opts to restart advisory planning committee

Wanted (again) by the City of West Kelowna: People interested in giving council advice on development projects.

Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to revive the advisory planning commission, a body made up of citizen volunteers who comment on rezoning applications and changes to the official community plan.

“I do see the commission’s (comments) as enriching and improving my decision-making process,” Coun. Rick de Jong said. “It’s helping me be a better councillor.”

“I think we need as much help and participation from our community members as possible,” said Coun. Carol Zanon.

The fate of the commission was in limbo, with no recruits being sought since the October civic election. The argument in favour of its abolition centred largely on the speedier timeline for development projects reaching council for a decision.

Coun. Doug Findlater said he didn’t see the commission as providing particularly useful or incisive comment.

“I haven’t found any advice from the APC to be particularly unique,” said Findlater, who noted he himself, like other council members, was a former member of the commission.

The City of Kelowna abolished its APC in 2012 so development applications get a quicker route to council, where the fate of projects is decided.

“They haven’t missed it. They haven’t found they wanted to bring it back,” Findlater said.

Voting to re-establish the West Kelowna APC were de Jong, Zanon, Mayor Gord Milsom, and councillors Stephen Johnston and Jason Friesen. Opposed were Findlater and Coun. Jayson Zilkie.