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By Pete McIntyre
Council highlights

Long range vision for Kelowna gets council support

Sep 22, 2021 | 5:00 PM

Kelowna council has given preliminary support to the city’s 2040 Official Community Plan.

The strategy will guide how and where Kelowna will grow.

Over the last 10 years, the city has seen transformation and undertaken the Imagine Kelowna visioning exercise to shape a new vision for the city.

“Consolidating these initiatives in the 2040 OCP provides a clear, consistent long-term vision for Kelowna to help guide how the city develops and changes,” a city news release stated. “Once approved, the 2040 OCP will work in conjunction with the city’s Transportation Master Plan, 20-Year Servicing Plan and capital plan budgeting process to inform a strategic framework for how priorities are set and how the city achieves its goals for years to come.”

Council gave first reading and forwarded the proposal to a public hearing on October 26.

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==

The following are other highlights from Kelowna council’s Sept. 20 meeting.

Gordon Drive gas station

A development permit was approved for a project to revamp the existing gas station at 3802 Gordon Drive, at the corner of Gordon and Cook.

The proposal adds a second floor to the existing building, removes the car wash and reduces the size of the convenience store.

A new restaurant will be added as well as electric vehicle charging stations.

Planning and development update

Kelowna council heard a staff update around building and development statistics for the second quarter of 2021.

The planning department said it’s on pace to process around 900 development applications in 2021, similar to peaks seen in 2016 and 2019.

In 2021, 2,418 units have been permitted — 1,672 are multi-family, with 54 per cent of those in Kelowna’s urban core. Also, 385 applications for secondary suites were processed.

Initiatives expected to come forward this year include: Official Community Plan 2040 adoption; electric vehicle strategy endorsement; public consultation for zoning bylaw update; Champion of the Environment update; and, tree protection options report.

by Pete McIntyre
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