There is frustration and concern for Kelowna councillors over changes to provincial housing legislation.
含羞草研究社淭here is a whole bunch of what we含羞草研究社檙e looking at that I just fundamentally have a problem with,含羞草研究社� said Coun. Charlie Hodge during a council meeting on Feb. 5.
Part of the legislation requires a minimum of four units on lots in suburban areas of a municipality and six units in urban areas.
There are approximately 13,400 lots in the city that can accommodate four units.
The legislation also does away with requirements for public hearings for developments as long as they don含羞草研究社檛 seek variances and meet Official Community Plan guidelines.
The public hearing issue is one that Hodge has spoken against at several previous council meetings.
READ MORE: Lack of public hearing frustrates Kelowna councillors
含羞草研究社淭hat being the main access the public has to council on issues and I wonder how long before we含羞草研究社檒l even need a council if they continue to take away everything from our ability to deal with the public.含羞草研究社�
Infill housing in the heritage conservation and building heights around Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) also concerned councillors.
含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 see tearing down a heritage house and putting in a fourplex含羞草研究社here含羞草研究社檚 nothing heritage about that no matter how it含羞草研究社檚 designed,含羞草研究社� said Coun. Rick Webber.
Coun. Ron Cannan suggested that the mayor write the province asking that the few blocks in the Abbott Street and Marshall Street areas be exempt from the legislation.
The suggestion was not taken up by the rest of council.
Staff is proposing that suburban infill rules be applied to the heritage conservation area.
含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 to accommodate the sensitivity related to that particular area,含羞草研究社� said Adam Cseke, planner specialist.
The legislation also requires a minimum of 10-storey buildings within 200 metres of a transit exchange.
The province has designated the bus stop at KGH as a transit hub.
含羞草研究社淗owever, when we met with Interior Health, that would significantly impact the operations of the heliport,含羞草研究社� said Cseke. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e recommending we only go to six storeys.含羞草研究社�
Staff will present more information on the changes to legislation at council含羞草研究社檚 next regular meeting on Feb. 12.
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