The frustration over sweeping provincial housing legislation was palpable at Kelowna council乌鸦传媒檚 Monday (Feb. 26) meeting.

Several new bills brought down by the NDP government over the past few months dictate, to certain municipalities, how much housing they must provide and where it needs to be built.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 really uptight and really angry at what we乌鸦传媒檝e been forced to do here,乌鸦传媒� said Coun. Charlie Hodge. 乌鸦传媒淚 feel pushed by the provincial government.乌鸦传媒�

Staff have provided briefings on legislative amendments over the past two meetings and council considered the changes at Monday乌鸦传媒檚 meeting.

They affect infill housing, heights of buildings, and what can be built around transit hubs and heritage areas, causing much concern for council and residents.

Mayor Tom Dyas noted he has had several meetings with the housing minister and staff about those concerns.

乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e not only hearing it from us but being at the BC Housing Summit last week, they乌鸦传媒檙e hearing from other communities,乌鸦传媒� he said.

The legislation, which Coun. Ron Cannan called 乌鸦传媒榦ne size fits all,乌鸦传媒� affects approximately 26,000 lots in the city.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e heard this legislation coined as 乌鸦传媒榩lanning with a sledgehammer.乌鸦传媒� I don乌鸦传媒檛 think it乌鸦传媒檚 going to address affordability and housing crisis in our community,乌鸦传媒� he said.

Cannan did agree with colleagues who said working with the province for a 乌鸦传媒榤ade in Kelowna乌鸦传媒� solution is the best course of action.

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said he heard from other municipal leaders at the BC Housing Summit that Kelowna is 乌鸦传媒榝ar ahead when it comes to policy shifts.乌鸦传媒�

He also acknowledged that some residents perhaps don乌鸦传媒檛 feel council has pounded the table enough with the province regarding how the changes will affect the city.

乌鸦传媒淏ut at the end of the day when we乌鸦传媒檙e an easy door to push on that means we乌鸦传媒檒l be a community that乌鸦传媒檚 selected in the future for investment and a test pilot for housing projects,乌鸦传媒� he added.

Councillors did agree that the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) is essentially moving in the same direction the province has chosen.

乌鸦传媒淲e are faced with probably, at least in my time, the most comprehensive zoning that I乌鸦传媒檝e ever seen,乌鸦传媒� said Coun. Luke Stack. 乌鸦传媒淥bviously from our perspective, I think it can be tweaked to serve the interests of our community a little better.乌鸦传媒�

Amendments to the OCP will be brought forward by staff in the coming months for council乌鸦传媒檚 consideration, and there will be an opportunity for the public to speak to those changes.

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