Still image of Kelowna Springs Golf Course
Image Credit: Lucide Visual
December 03, 2024 - 7:00 PM
A developer’s plan to turn a Kelowna golf course remains in limbo despite the city's efforts to buy it.
Denciti Development Corp. bought the Kelowna Springs Golf Course in 2021, and it has been a controversial topic ever since.
The city has tried to buy the course from Denciti, but they don’t want to sell, according to a press release from the city on Dec. 3.
Denciti expected to turn the course into an industrial park, however, there was so much public support for the golf course that the city decided to make a move to prevent the development.
The golf course at 480 Penno Road was rezoned to industrial in January 2022.
The industrial zoning aligned with what Denciti had planned, and the developer said the industrial park would have created 1,000 jobs.
After the change to industrial became public, people told Kelowna council how much they value the golf course and urged them to keep it as a recreational space.
READ MORE: 'Win-win' turns to major loss for new owners of Kelowna Springs Golf Course but company not deterred
The city received more than 400 pages of correspondence on the golf course, including 172 letters of support for the course and 34 letters supporting the development.
The city listened and changed the zoning back to recreational in June 2023 after a new mayor and council came into power, which means Denciti can’t build its industrial park.
During the 2022 municipal election mayor Tom Dyas told people he wanted to “save” Kelowna Springs.
Following the rezoning situation and controversy, the city attempted to buy Kelowna Springs Golf Club from Denciti, but the developer doesn’t want to sell.
Denciti can still submit a development application, and the city said it will evaluate any application with “the utmost care, ensuring it aligns with applicable policies, processes, and the broader interests of our community.”
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