Who says city has to grow?

Dear Editor:

Who runs Kelowna? The developers, the planning department, or our elected mayor and council?

If everything in Kelowna’s 2040 Official Community Plan can be changed to suit the wishes of developers through rezoning or a new variance, how is it really a “plan” at all?

We should change “Kelowna city council” to “Kelowna city planners and developers council”.

On Feb. 15, Mayor Tom Dyas spoke at a Kelowna Chamber luncheon. He said: “We have a plan and a vision for growth .... We have a great opportunity and responsibility to make growth sustainable.”

How does Dyas define “sustainable growth/development”?

From “Our Common Future”: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Kelowna’s population is expected to grow by more than 45,000 taxpayers by 2040. How will increasing demand for water connectivity to new housing be sustainable?

Lauded economist Herman Daly has developed arguments in favour of a steadystate economy, which recognizes the physical limitations of our planet and seeks a sustainable economic and ecological equilibrium, which can apply to a city, region or country.

On July 17/22, Daly told The New York Times: “Growth is an idol of our present system .... Every politician is in favour of growth, and no one speaks against growth or in favour of steady state or leveling off. But I think it’s an elementary question to ask: Does growth ever become uneconomic?”

In 2022, Noah Reid released his album, Adjustments. The sixth track is titled “Another F- Condo”.

What follows is my lyric rewrite:

Another Mega Tower

Another mega tower goin’ up Another glass and concrete sign for all those who are movin’ up

And there’s another giant hole dug in the ground

I see the cracks in what’s left of K-Town

And there’s another heritage building comin’ down

Another piece of history is gone without a sound

And it’s another jewel stolen from the crown

Who’s hackin’ down the trees of K-Town?

I pledge allegiance to this city I was born in

That’s the one bein’ rezoned, infilled, and condoed every mornin’ Bloated budget for a new Rec Centre Odds are in their favour

For the Official Community Continuously Changing Plan

Another zoning bylaw just got passed Another group of heat islands will be such a hot hot blast

Another sign they just want the tourists around

The tower cranes are invading K-Town

David Buckna Kelowna