West Kelowna gives developers greater say in street names

Developers in West Kelowna will have more influence over the names given to streets in new neighbourhoods under changes approved by city council.

Council approved an updated street naming policy Tuesday that shifts away from the city’s previous reliance on a master list featuring historical figures and community heroes.

Under the new approach, developers can propose names and themes that reflect the character and identity of individual neighbourhoods. City staff say that approach better reflects current development practices, where street names are increasingly tied to the character or theme of a particular area.

The change does not mean prominent local residents and community figures can no longer be recognized. The city has approved a separate commemorative naming policy that provides a process for recognizing people who have made significant contributions to West Kelowna.