The frustration over sweeping provincial housing legislation was palpable at Kelowna council含羞草研究社檚 Monday (Feb. 26) meeting.

Several new bills brought down by the NDP government over the past few months dictate, to certain municipalities, how much housing they must provide and where it needs to be built.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 really uptight and really angry at what we含羞草研究社檝e been forced to do here,含羞草研究社� said Coun. Charlie Hodge. 含羞草研究社淚 feel pushed by the provincial government.含羞草研究社�

Staff have provided briefings on legislative amendments over the past two meetings and council considered the changes at Monday含羞草研究社檚 meeting.

They affect infill housing, heights of buildings, and what can be built around transit hubs and heritage areas, causing much concern for council and residents.

Mayor Tom Dyas noted he has had several meetings with the housing minister and staff about those concerns.

含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e not only hearing it from us but being at the BC Housing Summit last week, they含羞草研究社檙e hearing from other communities,含羞草研究社� he said.

The legislation, which Coun. Ron Cannan called 含羞草研究社榦ne size fits all,含羞草研究社� affects approximately 26,000 lots in the city.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e heard this legislation coined as 含羞草研究社榩lanning with a sledgehammer.含羞草研究社� I don含羞草研究社檛 think it含羞草研究社檚 going to address affordability and housing crisis in our community,含羞草研究社� he said.

Cannan did agree with colleagues who said working with the province for a 含羞草研究社榤ade in Kelowna含羞草研究社� solution is the best course of action.

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said he heard from other municipal leaders at the BC Housing Summit that Kelowna is 含羞草研究社榝ar ahead when it comes to policy shifts.含羞草研究社�

He also acknowledged that some residents perhaps don含羞草研究社檛 feel council has pounded the table enough with the province regarding how the changes will affect the city.

含羞草研究社淏ut at the end of the day when we含羞草研究社檙e an easy door to push on that means we含羞草研究社檒l be a community that含羞草研究社檚 selected in the future for investment and a test pilot for housing projects,含羞草研究社� he added.

Councillors did agree that the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) is essentially moving in the same direction the province has chosen.

含羞草研究社淲e are faced with probably, at least in my time, the most comprehensive zoning that I含羞草研究社檝e ever seen,含羞草研究社� said Coun. Luke Stack. 含羞草研究社淥bviously from our perspective, I think it can be tweaked to serve the interests of our community a little better.含羞草研究社�

Amendments to the OCP will be brought forward by staff in the coming months for council含羞草研究社檚 consideration, and there will be an opportunity for the public to speak to those changes.

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