North end plan
Council supported the North End Plan that aims to guide the growth of the North End neighbourhood by defining land use, housing strategies, transportation networks, parks, utilities, and community amenities. Plan refinements include reintroducing low-rise apartments up to six storeys in Manhattan Point, consolidating industrial areas for flexibility, clarifying land dedication for Brandt’s Creek improvements, and adjusting the future Bertram Active Transportation Corridor route. The plan will be forwarded to April 8, 2025, public hearing.
Bernard Ave multifamily
Council OK’d initial rezoning for 12 properties along Bernard Avenue, D’Anjou Street, and Richmond Street to allow for a six-storey, 361-unit rental apartment housing building.
New OC building
Council approved a development permit for a new four-storey academic building at Okanagan College’s KLO Road campus, focusing on food, wine, and tourism education. The building will feature 10 classrooms, food labs, offices, a restaurant, and student lounges.
Council priorities update
Council heard the 2024 progress report on 2023-2026 Council Priorities. The report shows that out of 24 measures, 12 are on track, five show no significant change or lack current data, and seven require improvement. Notable achievements include reductions in property crime rates and increased investment in public safety, as well as stabilization in housing affordability and a substantial rise in rental availability. Challenges persist in enhancing the public’s sense of safety and meeting provincially mandated targets for below-market rental housing.
Making measurable progress on key issues in our community
On Monday, March 17, Kelowna City Council received the City’s 2024 progress report on key issues important to the community. The report, which identifies seven priority areas and 24 measures, shows the City trending in the right direction on half the measures.
In the first 24 months of the present Council term, the progress report shows the City has made gains in five areas, including Transportation, Crime & Safety, Agriculture, Homelessness, and Affordable Housing. Success highlights include:
· A two per cent reduction in the overall property crime rate as reported by the RCMP, including a 19 per cent decrease in business break and enters (B&Es) and a five per cent decrease in residential B&Es compared to 2023 data.
· Adoption of 19 recommendations from the Mayor’s Task Force on Crime Reduction, resulting in new 2025 funding for the recommendations and for seven RCMP members, four civilian police services support staff, and five bylaw enforcement officers.
· Increased grants for non-market housing up to $3 million from the Housing Accelerator Fund, and the formation of the Middle Income Housing Partnership, which will begin construction on 160 to 200 new housing units in 2025.
· Opening of 20 complex care units through Interior Health, with plans to open 20 more in 2025.
· Opening of 120 transitional housing units at STEP Place and Trailside, with 60 more units scheduled to open in 2025.
· Launch of the Transportation Accelerator Program to expedite the delivery of transportation infrastructure projects including Frost Road, Lakeshore, Burtch Road, Hollywood Road, and Glenmore Road.
· Completion of the Climate Resilient Kelowna Strategy and support for 36 home retrofits through the Home Energy Navigator Program.
Progress on the sixth Council priority, Climate & Environment, has been challenging, with two measures showing no data or no change, and one trending poorly. The seventh Council priority, the Economy, was added in July 2024 and will see progress throughout 2025.
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made over the past two years,” says Mayor Dyas. “Council priorities are driven by what matters most to our community, ensuring that every decision we make reflects the needs and concerns of Kelowna residents. Together with our corporate team, we’ll be exploring ways to accelerate progress and deliver more of what citizens want and deserve.”
Demonstrating the City’s commitment to transparency and accountability, the annual Council progress reports provide a visual snapshot of the City’s impact on key issues. The reports also keep Council priorities top of mind and show measurable results.
Additionally, a separate progress report on corporate priorities shows the City’s internal workings trending in the right direction. There’s better alignment between budget processes and service priorities, digital tools are expanding the City’s service capacity, and leadership skills are growing among staff.
“We want Council and residents to see the drivers behind our work and how well we’re doing,” says Mike McGreer, Manager of Corporate Strategy and Performance. “Our Council and corporate progress reports guide our work and help us make better business decisions, as do the performance measures for each service found in the Financial Plan.”
Progress reports on Council priorities and corporate priorities are available online at opendata.kelowna.ca/pages/progress-reports.
For more information on Council priorities, visit kelowna.ca/councilpriorities.
To watch a playback of the Council meeting and view all presentations, visit “Past Meetings” at kelowna.ca/council.
