North End Neighbourhood Plan

Thanks for your question, Tom.

First, to be clear, the new Waterfront Park mentioned would occur in the North End neighbourhood. There are areas on the Mill Site as well as on Manhattan Point that have been identified as potential locations for such a park as part of the North End Plan process thus far. Also, while funds from specific projects and developments are not earmarked for specific infrastructure projects and amenities, in neighbourhood planning we do need to ensure that new proposed amenities are broadly able to be covered by new growth, and that is the intention here.

Thank you for your question on traffic.

The City has performed a preliminary investigation into traffic and other travel modes as part of the Background Report in Phase 1 of the North End Plan process. As Concept Plans are created, and a Preferred Concept is chosen, additional traffic study will be done--including a full Traffic Impact Assessment. A Traffic Impact Assessment is also required as part of the submission of the Mill Site Area Redevelopment Plan.

Thank you for your question.

Regarding the log boom: The Lake is in Provincial jurisdiction, and Tolko is continuing to work with the Province on the decommissioning of the former Mill Site--including the log boom area. As for watercraft in the area, again, moorage in the Lake is covered under the Province so these concerns are best directed there. Returning the Lake to a condition that is suitable and conducive to recreational use is a priority of the City, and Staff will work with the Province to ensure this is the case.

Hello, thank you for your question. We're still early in the planning process, so we haven't decided on any of the public amenities that we'd like to make a priority in the Plan, but we're wide open to considering your ideas, so please make your voice heard through one of our many public engagement tools on the GetInvolved web page!: North End Neighbourhood Plan | Get Involved Kelowna 

Hello, thank you for your question. As far as tools to guide the development of the North End, we can expect a few out of the North End Plan. First, the North End Plan will be implemented mainly through policies. These policies can influence growth and development in a number of ways. For instance, they may speak to capital projects that need to happen to fulfill the goals of the plan, such as the development of a park, the extension of a road, or an upgrade to storm infrastructure. These projects would then eventually be added to the City's capital plan based on priority identified. 

As far as land acquisition, any of the capital projects recommended may require the acquisition of land, so the policy itself may influence the City in their land acquisition strategy (so yes, the City may seek to acquire land in connection with guidance laid down by the plan, but there are significant constraints here since land is very expensive).  

Another thing the Plan may do to influence growth and development is to propose changes to certain City bylaws. For instance, when it comes to the land use question, the Plan may recommend a change in the land use of a certain area. This would then have to be implemented through a change to the future land use map in the Official Community Plan, or the Zoning Bylaw, which proposed changes would themselves have to be brought forward to Council separately. 

Hello,

Thank you for your interest in the North End Plan, and Poplar Point in particular. We acknowledge your concerns regarding Poplar Point Dr. The City does not have any specific plans for this road at this time.

As for why Poplar Point was not included within the North End Plan, the main reason for this is that the City is not willing to entertain any change to this area, as it is situated within a very sensitive environmental area--between Okanagan Lake and Knox Mountain Park and on a steep slope. That said, we recognize that residents of Poplar Point may well be affected by the North End Plan as the area is accessible only through the North End. For this reason, we welcome input from residents of the area through the planning process. Please stay tuned to the Get Involved webpage for opportunities to make you voice heard.

Hello, 

Thank you for you comment regarding the need for a grocery store in the North End. This is something we've heard from many local residents. I've answered a similar question in the past, so I'll repeat that answer here:

The City certainly would like to have every resident be able to meet all their daily needs within close walking distance of their homes—and a grocery store is definitely a big part of this. One thing the City can do to help ensure this is the case is to make sure zoning is in place that allows shops (including grocery stores) within walking distance of homes—and this will be a consideration in the case of the North End Plan. However, it is important to note that the City does not have complete control over what shops and services locate where. Local shops and services depend on a certain base population density in order to support them. Again, the City can help by ensuring that enough density is permitted in zoning to support local shops and services, and this will also be a consideration in the case of the North End Plan. But these shops and services must ultimately commit to buying into a community in order for this to occur.

Hello,

Thank you for your comment. With regards to parking requirements: The City of Kelowna’s parking requirements are tied to zoning. The City recently (in 2019) reviewed its parking requirements in the Zoning Bylaw and did reduce these parking minimums in many cases—especially under mixed-use zones found in the downtown and other urban centres where transit service is best and daily needs are close-by and easy to reach through either walking or biking. The Report to Council on the project is available here: Section 8 Parking & Loading Zoning Bylaw Text Amendment Application (escribemeetings.com). It is true that several cities in North America have now eliminated parking minimums in some circumstances. Researcher and professor Donald Shoup is a prominent figure in support of such measures. However, the City of Kelowna has, until now, proved to be unprepared to take such a step.  

Hello,

Thank you for your comment regarding the need for a grocery store and pharmacy in the North End. The City certainly would like to have every resident be able to meet all their daily needs within close walking distance of their homes—and a grocery store and pharmacy are definitely a big part of this. One thing the City can do to help ensure this is the case is to make sure zoning is in place that allows shops within walking distance of homes—and this will be a consideration in the case of the North End Plan. However, it is important to note that the City does not have complete control over what shops and services locate where. Local shops and services depend on a certain base population density in order to support them. Again, the City can help by ensuring that enough density is permitted in zoning to support local shops and services, and this will also be a consideration in the case of the North End Plan. But these shops and services must ultimately commit to buying into a community in order for this to occur.