Aerial view of portion of downtown Kamloops/via City of Kamloops
Kamloops city council has narrowly decided to move forward with provincially-mandated changes to its zoning bylaws to add more housing stock.
In a 5-4 vote in favor, council is proceeding with amendments to allow for more density around transit hubs, as well as allowing up to 4 units to be built on a single-family lot.
After lengthy debate running close to an hour on Tuesday morning, Kamloops council voted to move forward, with councillors Kelly Hall, Margot Middleton, Dale Bass and Mike O’Reilly in opposition.
“I think we lose the uniqueness of our community, of what Kamloops is. We will lose what we’re known to be in different areas. I really have concern with that,” said O’Reilly as part of the debate.
Of concern are issues surrounding the availability of money to create the infrastructure needed to support the increased density in certain areas, including water and sewar, as well as issues around parking.
Councillor Bill Sarai, who is hoping to be a candidate for the governing NDP in the forthcoming provincial election, was among those voting in support of the changes.
“If we want some funding from the government, this isn’t the time and place to say no, we’re not going to listen to any of your recommendations,” argued Sarai. “This has been coming to us for 7 months now.”
In recommending council go forward, City staff have warned that around 60 million dollars is going to need to be raised in the coming years to finance the infrastructure needed to support the increase in housing.
Projection of population growth areas in Kamloops from 2017 to 2039/via City of Kamloops
Meanwhile, due to concerns about fire suppression, the City of Kamloops will be applying for exemptions to the provincially-mandated zoning changes.
This will include the whole of Rayleigh, which City staff say doesn’t have enough reservoir capacity in its locally-managed water system to sufficiently cover the amount of fire coverage needed for the density the province would be demanding with multi-unit homes on single-family lots.
On top of this, Development Director Marvin Kwiatkowski says around 4,300 other lots in areas of Kamloops would fall under that same level of concern, and will be part of an exemption application.
“So those are lots that will be up in Aberdeen that are homes that are 10, 15, 20 years old in cul-de-sacs,” noted Kwiatkowski. “There wouldn’t be an indication or a desire to tear down those homes [and create multi-unit structures on the single-family lot].”
The bylaw changes will still require final approvals, including some which will need to go through public hearings.
Under provincial mandate, the City of Kamloops has to have this process finished by June 30th.
