More houses needed in West Kelowna, B.C. to match growth – Okanagan | 24CA News
West Kelowna, B.C., is at present the house to almost 40,000 folks and town expects that quantity to develop considerably over the subsequent twenty years.
Staff are outlining how they will enhance the housing provide to satisfy demand.
“We’re looking at somewhere in the neighbourhood of about 300 homes per year,” stated Brent Magnan director of growth approvals for the City of West Kelowna.
That is what number of homes are wanted to accommodate the rising inhabitants in West Kelowna, in response to the official group plan.
The metropolis is seeing an inflow of individuals shifting right here, primarily from the Lower Mainland.
“We’re looking at somewhere between 14,000 people in the next 20 years to maybe even upwards of 18,000 people that we’re going to welcome into the community. We’re really just trying to provide the necessary growth and housing,” stated Magnan.
The OCP is West Kelowna’s blueprint for the way it ought to evolve its city centres and neighbourhoods over the subsequent twenty years.
“Between 2021 and 2040, West Kelowna is projected to experience demand for approximately 5,383 additional dwelling units, or 299 new units per year,” learn the report.
One of the challenges is having that property out there for builders.
“We’ve tried to build some buffering in the plans, so that we just don’t assume that all properties will develop independently and on their own. So that we provide enough opportunity for development and that should some properties not develop, we still have enough properties that will,” Magnan stated.
Another step within the OCP is figuring out town’s two city centres, Westbank and Boucherie. To accommodate development and demand for companies, further top allowances will likely be permitted for brand new developments.
“We’re going to be looking at additional density and heights that we haven’t seen in Westbank Centre before. On the periphery of the centre, probably somewhere in the neighbourhood of six-plus storeys. Getting into the heart of Westbank centre, 12 or even more,” added Magnan.
The OCP is in draft type and employees will conduct preliminary bylaw readings with metropolis council within the coming weeks.
“What council’s asked us to do is embark on a housing strategy and that will sort of give us the information we need to identify how we’re going to fill the gaps in housing,” he stated.
Although the general public enter periods are over, public hearings will likely be held sooner or later the place residents can present suggestions.
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