Two new townhome developments in Kelowna’s south-central area set off a debate at city council’s Monday meeting (Feb. 24), as residents pushed back against increasing density in established neighbourhoods.
Both projects, proposed for Stillingfleet Road (2236-2248), between Springfield and Guisachan roads, would see nine townhomes built on each lot. Council received several letters opposing the developments, with two specifically addressing concerns about 2236 Stillingfleet Rd.
Councillor Maxine DeHart referred to one letter that asked how many councillors had experienced infill development in their neighbourhoods.
“I live in a big infill centre,” DeHart said, adding that other councillors do as well, though she didn’t name them. “People think we’re not sensitive. We live in these neighbourhoods too. We are taxpayers, just like you, and we’re just trying to do the best for our community.”
Coun. Ron Cannan said many residents aren’t against change but argued that the province’s new housing regulations allowing up to six units in infill areas are moving too fast.
“That’s more than, I guess, taking their fair share of the growth,” Cannan said. “To be most effective, it needs to be implemented more gradually and with a little more sensitivity to the character and form of the neighbourhood.”
He opposed both developments, pointing to the need for density without destroying established communities. Coun. Rick Webber disagreed that the projects would have a detrimental impact.
“I can’t subscribe to the idea that the arrival of nine townhomes, or whatever, is gonna wreck the neighbourhood,” Webber said. “I don’t think it’s as bad as some of these letters are spelling out.”
Coun. Loyal Wooldridge backed the developments, stating that moderate-density housing is a necessary part of the city’s growth.
“Time and time again, we hear from residents that ‘we don’t want six-storey buildings, we want townhomes’—we don’t want townhomes, we want duplexes,’” he said. “And at the end of the day, we hear from many other residents that need to find a place to live here.”
He also pushed back against the idea that the city needed “saving” from infill.
“I think our community is growing, it’s changing, and with that comes challenges in some neighbourhoods,” Wooldridge said. “I think we do our best to mitigate that. From my perspective, this isn’t intensive infill.”
Deputy Mayor Luke Stack said he believes many Kelowna residents support the densification of the central core of city and said that infill development is the planned path forward.
“Until it arrives on their street—then it’s personal,” he said. “This is where I go outside, and this is where I walk my dog, and this is where I let my children play.”
He said that change is difficult but necessary to prevent uncontrolled urban sprawl.
“It’s basically wired into our Official Community Plan. That this is the direction we need to go, otherwise we would have endless sprawl going up our mountainsides, and I know the public doesn’t want that either.”
Stack added that developers should be consulting with residents to ensure new projects fit into existing neighbourhoods as smoothly as possible.
Council adopted rezoning applications for both developments with Cannan opposed.
