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Shape the future of the North End!
The North End is quickly evolving – home to an eclectic mix of residential, recreational, industrial and commercial uses, and a popular craft-industrial district, it’s rich with amenities that draw visitors near and far. The North End Neighbourhood Plan will guide growth and redevelopment in the area over the next 20 years and beyond. The detailed strategy will include locations of parks and public spaces, growth and development standards, and transportation solutions among other considerations.
What's happening now
The project is now in its third phase and concept development is underway.
How we got here
Last year, a "community needs" list - a list of amenities - for the North End was developed based on the Vision & Objectives for the Plan and endorsed by Council in Aug. 2022. The North End Vision & Objectives were shaped by the previous round of public engagement, our Imagine Kelowna community vision, the 2040 Official Community Plan and technical analysis.
These community needs / amenities are being considered for the North End Plan draft neighbourhood concepts.
Between February and March, residents are being invited to take part in a new learning opportunity designed to show how growth and amenities are related.
How to get involved
Take part in a learning opportunity
Do you know how neighbourhood growth and public amenities are related – or how much growth is needed to pay for new amenities? Try out a new, interactive new tool to:
Build a bundle of amenities from a sample list of North End community needs
Discover how much new growth would be needed to support the kinds of items you chose
Later, you can use what you learned from this exercise to evaluate draft neighbourhood concepts (coming soon!)
Ask a question
Want to learn more about the North End Neighbourhood Plan? Send us your question and we'll get back to you.
Project Background
The North End is being prioritized for a neighbourhood plan because the pace of change and the imminent development of the former Tolko mill site will require us to plan this area proactively and holistically – in a way that ensures any new development aligns with our Imagine Kelowna community vision and incorporates residents' aspirations for this unique part of town.
Next steps
Staff will translate the amenities in the community needs list into specific features and projects to be included in the concept plans. Soon you will have the chance to weigh in on preliminary concepts for the neighbourhood and help determine a preferred direction for how the North End will grow.
Following the City's lead, the Mill Site development team will also be engaging with the public for input on complementary concepts for their privately owned waterfront location. To learn about the Mill Site development team's planning process, visit: kelownamillsite.ca
Shape the future of the North End!
The North End is quickly evolving – home to an eclectic mix of residential, recreational, industrial and commercial uses, and a popular craft-industrial district, it’s rich with amenities that draw visitors near and far. The North End Neighbourhood Plan will guide growth and redevelopment in the area over the next 20 years and beyond. The detailed strategy will include locations of parks and public spaces, growth and development standards, and transportation solutions among other considerations.
What's happening now
The project is now in its third phase and concept development is underway.
How we got here
Last year, a "community needs" list - a list of amenities - for the North End was developed based on the Vision & Objectives for the Plan and endorsed by Council in Aug. 2022. The North End Vision & Objectives were shaped by the previous round of public engagement, our Imagine Kelowna community vision, the 2040 Official Community Plan and technical analysis.
These community needs / amenities are being considered for the North End Plan draft neighbourhood concepts.
Between February and March, residents are being invited to take part in a new learning opportunity designed to show how growth and amenities are related.
How to get involved
Take part in a learning opportunity
Do you know how neighbourhood growth and public amenities are related – or how much growth is needed to pay for new amenities? Try out a new, interactive new tool to:
Build a bundle of amenities from a sample list of North End community needs
Discover how much new growth would be needed to support the kinds of items you chose
Later, you can use what you learned from this exercise to evaluate draft neighbourhood concepts (coming soon!)
Ask a question
Want to learn more about the North End Neighbourhood Plan? Send us your question and we'll get back to you.
Project Background
The North End is being prioritized for a neighbourhood plan because the pace of change and the imminent development of the former Tolko mill site will require us to plan this area proactively and holistically – in a way that ensures any new development aligns with our Imagine Kelowna community vision and incorporates residents' aspirations for this unique part of town.
Next steps
Staff will translate the amenities in the community needs list into specific features and projects to be included in the concept plans. Soon you will have the chance to weigh in on preliminary concepts for the neighbourhood and help determine a preferred direction for how the North End will grow.
Following the City's lead, the Mill Site development team will also be engaging with the public for input on complementary concepts for their privately owned waterfront location. To learn about the Mill Site development team's planning process, visit: kelownamillsite.ca
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I am confused why you are inferring in your survey that higher density in the North End will pay for City-wide amenities like a new Waterfront Park. I think such items should be paid for by the entire City, not just funded by North End redevelopment. Tom.
Tom W16
asked
about 1 month ago
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.
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Has a traffic impact study been completed? If yes how do I get a copy? If not are the plans to complete one and if so when? Thanks
johnlig
asked
8 months ago
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.
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The log booms from the former Tolko mill site are still sitting in the Sutherland Park bay. Also several log pickers or some kind of similar apparatus are just sitting right in front of the public beach area and boat launch at Sutherland Park. Why are these steel rusted out pieces of equipment still allowed to just sit and continue to rust and pollute our public swim areas when the Mill has been closed for years? Also the large barge is just sitting and rusting away just across from the same public beach area. What are the plans for it and will it be removed? Why is the Commercial Diving Company allowed to park their floating rig right in front of the boat launch and public beach area? A house boat is also moored in the same area right next to the Commercial Diving rig, why? Who owns the house boat and why is it allowed to be moored in front of the public boat launch and beach area at Sutherland Park? As a resident in the North End I am concerned about the impact that these old rusted out items continue to pollute our lake not to mention that beach goers and boaters need to look at them and work around them when enjoying the Sutherland Park waterfront. The City needs to take a serious look at this and please do something about it. Thank you in advance for looking into these concerns
johnlig
asked
8 months ago
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.
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What plans do the city have to build a multi use structure that can be used for many events. eg. convention centre multi use complex for this multi generational community.๐โโ๏ธ๐๐
Angelica Goodove
asked
about 1 year ago
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
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Apart from zoning, what other tools does the city have at its disposal to guide the development of this area? Is it possible that the city will purchase any of this land to better control its direction and guide the north end plan?
Kyle.conne
asked
about 1 year ago
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.
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As long time residents of Poplar Point we have experienced the congestion on PP drive with increased walkers, bikers and of course traffic.
We have a narrow roadway with some blind corners and very little parking , creating an unsafe roadway.
I would like to know the cityโs plan for this road which directly links to the Northend plan. Iโd also want to know why Poplar point isnโt included in the North End Plan.
Murray
asked
over 1 year ago
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.
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With all of the development both in downtown and the north end, and the city's hope to move people out of their cars and densify with more options for walking/biking - there needs to be at least one (ideally two or three) grocery stores put in this area!! Where are all the new residents of these high rises supposed to get their grocery needs? The closest one is the downtown Safeway which is small and far from the north end - is this being considered??
Laura S33
asked
over 1 year ago
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.
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Not an easy topic that I expect an answer to on a board like this, but a growing list of cities (including Edmonton) have eliminated parking minimums, at least in their downtowns, to create space for more valuable use, help create affordable housing by unbundling parking, and reduce car dependency. Can the city consider eliminating their minimums at the same time, at least in the area, before the North End sees too much redevelopment?
NathanH
asked
over 1 year ago
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.
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Will there be a grocery store & a pharmacy in the North end. I think that is vital.
Debra Pender
asked
over 1 year ago
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.
North End Neighbourhood Plan has finished this stage
Fall 2021: Identify community needs through technical analysis and public engagement
Phase 2: Issues & visioning
North End Neighbourhood Plan has finished this stage
Spring 2022: Establish an overall community vision for the North End, along with objectives to guide neighbourhood concept development
Phase 3: Neighbourhood concepts
North End Neighbourhood Plan is currently at this stage
Winter 2023: Develop and present scenarios/future concepts of the neighbourhood, which align with the vision and objectives established in the previous phase
Phase 4: Final plan development
this is an upcoming stage for North End Neighbourhood Plan
Summer 2023: Seek any final input on the preferred concept and proceed to drafting the final plan
Phase 5: Final plan complete
this is an upcoming stage for North End Neighbourhood Plan