On the road to 15 minute cities in Kamloops and the Okanagan
The term 15 minute city is a concept you are likely to start hearing more about — the idea is that the basics of people’s daily needs (work, housing, food, health, education, culture and leisure) should all be within a 15-minute walk or bike ride.
The concept has spread to many cities around the world, and is the buzz among urban planning. But it's become a rather unlikely target for opposition, including serious pushback from conspiracy theorists.
“This approach to community planning embraces the potential of urban living to reduce car dependency, improve resilience and create dynamic local neighbourhoods with a high quality of life,” the City of Kelowna’s Community Trends 2020 report states.
That report, in terms of the 15 minute city, focuses on how important it is to avoid COVID by getting more goods and services locally rather that travelling to crowded big box stores.
Kamloops went a little further in its 2021 Community Climate Action Plan with a focus on the economic benefits of what it refers to as the 10 minute city.
“Providing incentives for infill development is more equitable and reflective of service provision and infrastructure costs,” the report says. “A shift from peripheral single-family development to higher-density urban housing results in relative reductions in city infrastructure and service costs.”
If 40% of new housing construction (3,890 units) by 2050 are multi-family in Kamloops, the infrastructure savings would come to $8.7 million a year, it says.
“Households in higher-density areas spend, on average, 25% less on transportation due to better access to transit and active transportation infrastructure,” the report says. “This represents a savings of $3,600 per year in Kamloops.”
The Kelowna report points out that the concept doesn’t work everywhere.
“This approach of 15-minute cities or complete communities can’t be implemented in all areas,” the report says. “Lower density urban areas and suburban neighbourhoods will be challenged.”
The 15 minute city concept is not just about concentrating housing in core areas but also encourages shops and other services to set up in areas outside the centre.
That’s illustrated by a May 2022 City of Penticton news release about its North Gateway Plan that is designed to create that city’s first 15 minute neighbourhood.
READ MORE: Premier Eby clearing local government hurdles for more housing
Regardless of these caveats, conspiracy theorists claim it’s an attempt to take basic freedoms away from citizens.
“15 Minute Cities are being marketed and introduced under the guise of convenience, safety and protecting the environment,” Action4Canada says on its website. “But don’t be naive, this is another massive step toward enriching the globalists and facilitating them in controlling the masses. This attempt at a take over is an act of treason and it will be important to have the names of those who participated in this crime, should legal actions commence.”
That has triggered recent counter-attacks in articles in major media outlets like the Toronto Star’s ‘How the dream of 15-minute cities was twisted into a nightmare’ or a Global News piece called ’15-minute cities: What they are, and why some people are lashing out against them.’
Go here to read about the 15 Minute City Project or here for more information about the idea.
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