Public Hearings

The Local Government Act provides opportunity for property owners to change the Official Community Plan or zoning designations on their properties by applying for an amendment through the local governing municipality.

Public hearings are held to provide a platform for public comment on such proposed amendments. The City of West Kelowna schedules public hearings after the first reading of the proposed amendment bylaw has been given, and Council has authorized proceeding to a public hearing.

Ads are published in local newspapers on Wednesdays and can be reviewed at public notices.

Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaws

Property owners can apply to amend land use designations within the Official Community Plan to permit uses not allowed under the current designation.

A Zoning Bylaw amendment or rezoning is the process of changing the zoning to allow use of the land not permitted under the current zone.

OCP and zoning amendments can be considered simultaneously.

Public hearing process

Public hearings are generally conducted in the following format:

When possible, public hearings are broadcast live via webcast and all webcasts are provided for viewing after the meeting on the city's website;
At the beginning of the public hearing the proposed amendments are introduced;
The mayor will then call for speakers and will facilitate the speaker's list;
Each interested person will be given an opportunity to speak to council on the application;
Speakers are asked to provide their name and address for the record; and,
After all speakers have been heard, the mayor will call three times for further members of the public to come forward; if there are none, the public hearing on that item is closed.

Public hearings have limited seating, available on a first-come, first-service basis; alternatively, the city may provide opportunity for the public to speak by phone.

After the Public Hearing

When further deliberating the bylaw for subsequent readings, Council takes into consideration information received at the public hearing, information submitted prior to the public hearing and relevant city policies and objectives.

Examples of information can include input from members of the community, submissions from the applicant and the applicant's consultants, stakeholders' submissions and reports from city staff.

However, after the public hearing is concluded, council cannot receive or consider any submissions or new information from the applicant or public regarding the application.

If a submission is received after the public hearing, it will be provided to the Planning Department for information but will not be circulated to council.

Public notification

The City of West Kelowna, in accordance with the Local Government Act, notifies the public of upcoming public hearings by:

Where required, mailing notifications to property owners and tenants in occupation within 100 metres of the subject property.
Advertising in a print newspaper distributed within the boundaries of the City of West Kelowna.
Posting electronically at public notices.

Copies of the bylaw and related materials may be viewed online.

How to make a submission

All submissions must be made Attn: Corporate officer, file number and must include your name and address by 4 p.m. on the Monday before the public hearing is held. Written submission can be provided to council in advance of the scheduled public hearing date via:

Mail to corporate officer, City of West Kelowna City Hall, 3731 Old Okanagan Highway, West Kelowna, B.C., V4T 0G7
Email to submissions@westkelownacity.ca
In-person by leaving your submission with reception or in the drop box outside the main doors of City Hall, 3731 Old Okanagan Highway, West Kelowna, B.C., V4T 0G7

Any written submissions received before 4 p.m. on the Monday before the council meeting will be provided to as part of the publicly posted agenda. All submissions received before the close of the public hearing are provided to council and become part of the public record.

Council cannot receive submissions on the matter after the conclusion of the public hearing.

Agenda and Minutes

The agenda will be posted on or about 12 p.m. on the Friday preceding the date of the proceedings, and remain posted until the conclusion of the public hearing:

Public hearing agenda

Draft minutes can be viewed under the agenda of the council meeting that follows the date of the public hearing. Agendas are posted on or about 12 p.m. on the Friday preceding the scheduled meeting.

Council meeting calendar

If you are having trouble finding the minutes of a public hearing, or if you require an official copy of the minutes, which Council has adopted, please contact Legislative Services at 778-797-2250. Fees will apply for copying and/or processing of official minutes.