Some Kelowna residents want to protect heritage neighbourhoods from infill: petition
A new online petition created by the Friends and Residents of the Abbott Street Heritage Conservation Area Society is pleading for the City of Kelowna’s heritage conservation areas to be protected.
With BC’s new infill housing legislation, no property is safe from redevelopment, even Kelowna’s much-loved heritage neighbourhoods.
“It is critical that City of Kelowna continues to maintain the Heritage Conservation Areas for the long-term benefit and enjoyment of these areas for our residents and visitors,” the heritage society wrote on the petition.
READ MORE: Kelowna working to balance housing needs with heritage conservation
The provincial legislation states that heritage conservation areas cannot be used to limit density. This means that the heritage sites on Abbott Street and Marshall Street will not be immune to redevelopment.
The legislation allows for four or six units to be permitted on almost any residential lot. However, city staff have said that they will do their best to protect heritage areas.
“We are certainly doing our best to balance the character of the neighbourhood with the with the legislation that the government has passed,” the city's Long Range Policy Planning manager Robert Miles told iNFOnews.ca.
Staff met with neighbours last November, who raised concerns about the character of heritage buildings and the existing tree canopy being lost.
READ MORE: More than 27,000 Kelowna lots targeted for more crowding with infill housing
In response, Miles said staff will create a guideline demonstrating how four- or six-plexes can take form. That guideline will go to city council once the new zoning amendments are adopted around April or later.
In the meantime, resident’s concerns are growing with some commenting on the petition that Kelowna's skyline is being hidden by highrises and the character of neighbours is at risk to cookie-cutter buildings and towers.
“I'm signing because far too many healthy mature trees keep disappearing in this city. Since moving here in 2009 I've seen too much development being done in older parts of the city with no consideration for the old healthy trees that provide much-needed shade, homes for wildlife,” Doris Van Andel wrote on the petition.
READ MORE: No public hearing needed for infill housing in Okanagan, Kamloops
Other commenters expressed concern that the city’s distinctive and historical character will be lost.
“The diverse heritage architecture and the well-treed streets in the area are a pleasure to walk and bike through,” Carol Millar wrote on the petition. “They are close to downtown, so easily accessible and I think a major tourist attraction, especially in summer.”
In less than two weeks, the petition has amassed over 400 signatures.
More information about the petition can be found here.
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