Fewer than two dozen people turned out for a public hearing on Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 North End Plan (NEP) on Tuesday (Apr. 8), a long-term blueprint that will guide growth and development in the city乌鸦传媒檚 North End over the next 30 years.
It covers four key areas: the expansion of the Downtown Urban Centre, the Manhattan Point Neighbourhood, the Walrod Park Neighbourhood, and the Mixed Employment District.
Business owner Darcy Hebert (925乌鸦传媒�926乌鸦传媒�929 Ellis Street) told council that he was concerned about the possible annexation of part of his property under the NEP.
乌鸦传媒淚t pretty much encompasses 925 Ellis St. which is the south lot of our property, which is an operating business, and so we have concerns, obviously, about what that annexation would look like,乌鸦传媒� Herbert added.
Staff explained that the city would enter into extensive negotiations with a business owner before seeking to annex any property that may be required as part of building out the NEP. However, it could be several years before such a process takes place.
乌鸦传媒淚f you owned the property or the business, you乌鸦传媒檇 be sitting around waiting for that day to come, it乌鸦传媒檚 kind of vague in a way,乌鸦传媒� Councillor Rick Webber pointed out.
He also asked staff whether the NEP protects industrial land in the area.
乌鸦传媒淲hat this plan does is open up new employment opportunities in that mixed employment area while still allowing existing industrial uses to continue,乌鸦传媒� said Robert Miles, long-range planning department manager.
Dean Neufeld, owner of Kelowna Ready-Mix (1131 Ellis St.), expressed concern about the NEP乌鸦传媒檚 impact on truck traffic in the neighbourhood. He noted that all traffic entering the North End currently comes down Gordon Drive.
乌鸦传媒淪o there is no more balance through the city into the North End乌鸦传媒攖hat has affected our business in a great way,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淣ow, I feel with this North End Plan we乌鸦传媒檝e been restricted again.乌鸦传媒�
Hebert echoed Neufeld乌鸦传媒檚 concerns regarding truck routes.
乌鸦传媒淥ne of the things in the NEP is to discontinue truck routes north of Clement (Avenue) and I think that is going to impact us,乌鸦传媒� said.
Miles responded that several routes would be maintained, including a future connection from Weddell Place to Recreation Avenue, which would eventually link to Gordon Drive.
Neufeld also raised concerns about the possible installation of bike lanes near his plant, which he said would narrow roads and cause congestion and safety concerns. He noted that 50 to 70 trucks access the plant each day.
乌鸦传媒淢y trucks are 90 feet long that service me乌鸦传媒攎y concrete trucks are 41 feet long.乌鸦传媒�
Miles replied that potential bike lanes would depend on how the neighbourhood develops under the NEP.
乌鸦传媒淪o this is likely a project we乌鸦传媒檒l be exploring at some point in the future as the neighbourhood starts to build up and we start to see that demand materialize for cyclists in the area.乌鸦传媒�
He added that a bike lane is needed in the area to connect with the Bertram Active Transportation Corridor. City Manager Doug Gilchrist said residents and businesses would be consulted.
乌鸦传媒淚n some cases that may be that the plan says this side of the street, and we do some design and neighbourhood consultation and it乌鸦传媒檚 better to put it on the other side of the street,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭here is no one-size-fits-all.乌鸦传媒�
A Manhattan Drive resident also voiced concern about how the NEP will affect her community. Although she is moving from the area, she said she worries about her neighbours.
乌鸦传媒淎re the decisions that have been made the highest and best use?乌鸦传媒�
Coun. Luke Stack acknowledged that there were potential major changes to Manhattan Point, including more public park space.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e ended up leaving it more or less as it is, basically as a response to public feedback we乌鸦传媒檝e had,乌鸦传媒� he added.
There was also concern about the potential discovery of First Nations artifacts in the Manhattan Point area during development. Staff noted any such findings would be handled with respect, in consultation with Westbank First Nation.
Only four people spoke at the public hearing. Council unanimously approved the adoption of the NEP, with Mayor Tom Dyas assuring the public that their voices had been heard.
乌鸦传媒淚t is a long-range plan乌鸦传媒 have seen the opportunity of this staff to recognize and have consultations with business owners and residents throughout the community,乌鸦传媒� the mayor added.