Details on Lot Glut Sought

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 25 June 2012 19:07
  A Vernon councillor is concerned the city is getting a reputation of not being developer-friendly.  Brian Quiring feels city staff seem to discourage new housing developments due to a backlog of more than six-thousand residential units already available. "I don't know if it's hurting the city's reputation but I definitely think there's some sentiment out there that because we have this large inventory, there's less of an appetite for the city to development lands." City staff say the city has about 6,100 approved-- but unused-- residential development lots around the city, enough to cover growth for more than 50 years. Quiring has asked staff for more details on the inventory after staff were opposed a housing project at 9012 Eastside Road. "I want to know whether the lots are suited for families, how many are suited for retirement, how many maybe on the lake front, how many may be lake view. I would like a cross section of what those lots would look like." Councillor Juliette Cunningham supports staff's rejection of proposed homes far outside the city core, saying it doesn't represent smart growth. "We're trying to encourage development in the core and the existing zones that we have. There's plenty of opportunities for development within our community, and I think the implications of not following a staff recommendation and our OCP could have far reaching effects in terms of infrastructure and roads. Cunningham says Okanagan Landing Road is already busy, and new development could hasten the need for the Ellison Parkway, it would have a big impact on the city's infrastructure costs. Quiring's motion came after a long debate about an Official Community Plan amendment application for a 33-lot, 14 acre housing development on Eastside Road, which was put on  hold, pending the staff report.