loading...
Artist's renditions of a plan at the heart of the controversial comprehensive development zone. (Graphic City of Kelowna)
The downtown redevelopment plan known as the CD-21 zone is one of the most controversial and important issues facing city council. And despite the hope that council would be in a position to deal with the matter before the the new councillor elected in the Nov. 28 by-election is sworn in, it, is looks now like the newcomer will end up casting an important vote on the matter.
So we asked the by-election candidates, “What do you think of the CD-21 zone? How do you think Kelowna’s downtown can be revitalized?” Their answers are at the bottom of this post.
In a nutshell, the CD-21 zone is is an extensive redevelopment plan for the downtown area bounded by Highway 97, Abbott Street, Water Street and Queensway. It includes parks, sidewalk shops and cafes, as well as several high-rises, some as tall as 27 storeys.
If adopted, the plan will be put in place through by-law changes but carrying it out will be up to the private sector.
A draft of the plan -based on a proposal by developer Philip Milroy- was presented to the public about a year-and-a-half ago. At a nine-and-a-half hour public hearing in October 2008, council heard from 67 speakers as the meeting dragged on into the wee hours of the morning.
Council eventually approved the by-laws at third reading by a 6-3 vote. But the plan then had to be sent off the B.C. Ministry of Transportation for approval. And while all indications are the approval will be granted, it still has not been delivered more than a year after it was submitted. Once it comes back council will give it fourth and final reading.
Here’s the rub: there has been an election since third reading. The three who voted against the plan, Mayor Sharon Shepherd and Couns. Michele Rule and Robert Hobson are still on council but only Coun. Andre Blanleil remains of those who voted in favour. Among the four newcomers, it looks like Couns. Charlie Hodge and Angela Reid are leaning towards opposing the plan in its current form while Couns. Graeme James and Luke Stack appear to be leaning in favour of the plan.
All of which means that if council voted right now, the plan would go down to defeat.
One of the problems is that fourth reading is pretty much just a yes or no vote. Amendments cannot be made and procedural rules limit council’s ability to debate the plan because information and arguments brought forward since last year’s public hearing are not allowed to be considered. Fourth reading is usually a matter of rubber stamping something which has been thoroughly reviewed and hashed out during the first three readings.
For some of the new councillors, most notably Hodge, this state of affairs is extremely frustrating.
One alternative, should council not want to simply accept or reject the CD-21 zone when it comes up for final adoption, is to rescind second and third readings so it can make changes. But then the matter would have to go to another public hearing and be sent back to the Ministry of Transportation for a fresh review.
Even in a best case scenario, that process would likely take a minimum of a year.
The by-election’s candidates perspectives on what should happen are listed in random order: Clayton Kessler, Mary-Ann Graham, Kevin Craig, Andrew Uitvlugt, Todd Sanderson, Rocky Mix, Ernie Patterson, Vern Nielsen, Mark Thompson, Michael Loewen and Matthew Reed.
Kim Ouellette, James Murphy, Dennis Rojem and Valerie Hallford did not reply to our questionnaire.
Related stories:
- Meet your candidates
- Understanding the job of city councillor
- The biggest issue facing council
- How to manage Kelowna’s future growth
Clayton Kessler
I will support the rezoning of the downtown to the CD-21. Kelowna was awarded the Culture Capital of Canada award in 2004 and boasts a vibrant cultural district, however; many opinions in a recent forum state that the arts and Cclture are sputtering in Kelowna.
The CD-21 zoning will help to reignite the sputtering Cultural District.
Read Clayton Kessler’s profile
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
2 Responses to “What to do about downtown redevelopment”
Tags: by-election, CD-21 zone, cd21, downtown redevelopment, Kelowna
loading...
There goes Mary-Ann Graham again trying to appeal to both sides on an issue. From her answer to Adrian’s question on the downtown CD Zone, she sounds like she is generally in favour of it, doesn’t she? Well, have a look at her answer to a similar question posed by the group Citizens for Responsible Community Planning of which I am Chairman:
1. If you are elected to Kelowna city council, how do you plan to vote on the current proposal for the downtown CD Zone (CD-21) when it comes before city council for fourth reading? (For or Against)
At this time, NO, considering that even most in favour still think it is flawed. It would irresponsible to approve a plan that would require revisions in the near future. The application can come back in 6 months. I am inclined to see this be rescinded to first reading.
a. If your answer to Question 1 is “against,” what changes to the plan do you require in order to vote in favour of it?
The Royal Trust site, heritage protection and the heights of buildings.
b. What do you think should be the maximum building height allowed in the downtown?
I do not know.
From her answer to our question she sounds like she is mostly against it.
So if Mary-Ann answers crafts her answers to questions depending on who is asking it, where does she really stand on this issues? Does anyone know? Does Mary-Ann even know? How would she vote on this if she was elected to council? Does anyone have any confidence that she will vote as she says when she is constantly saying different things.
loading...
My intention is to make a motion to have the CD21 zone 2nd and 3rd readings rescinded so that changes can be made based on the public hearing input. The revitalization of the downtown is too important to have a plan go through that does not have the vast majority in favour. This plan would be defeated by the present council if the past stands stay true. Even if the new councillor is in favour, it would be defeated. The revitalization of the downtown is too important to have a plan go through that does not have the vast majority of council in favour. Having it pass by one vote would not send a strong message to the development community that the city is ready for it. Sending it back to 1st reading could address the trust and accountability issue faced by council and city hall. The Kelowna.com question did not ask how I would vote.
Please continue discussion on the forum: link