| Plan West Kelowna! Official Community Plan (OCP update) |
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Today, West Kelowna is home to 37,046 residents, and by 2040, our population is expected to be more than 49,400.
This growth will bring both opportunities and challenges and strategic planning is essential to ensure West Kelowna can continue to grow in ways that reflect the vision for the community.
To accommodate our growth over the next 20 years, we need to create and implement plans and policies that clearly identify where development will be prioritized and supported with infrastructure and amenities. The City's Official Community Plan (OCP) update is one way that we can help direct growth to positively impact our community.
While our policy updates have been underway and we have completed the first phase of the project—OurWK Visioning, we have more work ahead. To help us build on this work and understand your thoughts on West Kelowna's future growth, we want you to get involved.
Learn more about the OCP update.
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| Short Term Accommodations |
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Learn more about the new Short Term Accommodations regulations.
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| Non-Medical Cannabis Retail Sales |
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Federal, provincial and municipal governments all share the responsibility for overseeing the proposed new system for Non-Medical Cannabis Retail Sales.
Federal Responsibilities
The federal Cannabis Act - Bill C-45 received Royal Assent on June 21, 2018, setting the stage for the production, distribution, sale, possession, and consumption of non-medical cannabis. Under this authority, non-medical cannabis will be legalized on October 17, 2018.
The Federal Government will be responsible for licensing and monitoring cannabis producers and for setting industry-wide rules and standards for the cultivation, processing, packaging and advertising of non-medical cannabis.
Provincial Responsibilities
Provinces and territories control the distribution and retail sales of non-medical cannabis within their jurisdictions. The BC Provincial Government has appointed the Liquor and Cannabis Distribution Branch (LCDB) to be the exclusive wholesale distributor of non-medical cannabis, while retail sales will be offered to the public through a combination of government and privately-owned stores, as well as online through the LCDB.
For more information, visit the Provincial cannabis retail sales webpage.
Municipal Responsibilities
Municipal governments can regulate retail locations through their zoning authority and some aspects of retail operations through their business licensing authority. Municipal governments may also support the Federal and Provincial governments with public education and the enforcement of cannabis rules and regulations. West Kelowna Council has decided to permit the non-medical cannabis retail stores within the community and will require proponents for these stores to apply for a site-specific zoning text amendment to permit this use.
Process To Date
- An online survey was developed to solicit preliminary community feedback on the future use of non-medical cannabis retail sales in West Kelowna. The survey was available online (and paper copies were available at City Hall) from July 16 to July 31, 2018. The online survey results were compiled and provided to Council at the September 4, 2018, Special Council Meeting (report / webcast).
- Following the September 4, 2018 Council meeting, direction was provided to staff to draft amendments to existing bylaws as well as develop a Council Policy and Evaluation Framework for Non-Medical Cannabis Retail Sales. The proposed amendments and policy were provided to Council at the September 25, 2018 Special Council Meeting (report / webcast).
- At the October 2, 2018 Council Meeting, Council adopted the Non-Medical Cannabis Retail Store Rezoning Policy. This Policy acts as the guiding framework for the intake and review of applications for non-medical cannabis retail stores and also includes the application evaluation matrix (report / webcast).
- Initial rezoning applications for non-medical cannabis retail stores were accepted by the City during the initial intake period from October 17, 2018 to January 2, 2019. The intake period is now closed and the City is completing an initial review of applications.
- The City received four applications in the Westbank Centre Neighbourhood and six in the Boucherie Centre/ West Kelowna Business Park Neighbourhood areas. The City is committed to evaluationg these applications against the Council approved scoring matrix within three months of the application acceptance (January 2, 2019).
Next Step
- Following the initial review, a report will be brought to Council recommending which stores should move forward through the rezoning process.
Other Helpful Links:
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Municipal Cannabis Consumption Regulations
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Provincial Legislation
Under the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, the Province prohibits cannabis smoking and vaping everywhere tobacco smoking and vaping are prohibited, as well as at playgrounds, sports fields, skate parks, and other places where children commonly gather. In addition, the use of cannabis is also prohibited on school properties and in vehicles. Municipalities have the ability to further restrict where cannabis smoking and vaping are permitted if they so wish.
Municipal Regulations
The City’s existing Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw prohibits smoking of both tobacco and marihuana in any park or public space other than a space temporarily designated for such use. At the September 25, 2018 Council meeting, Council directed that this Bylaw be updated to prohibit cannabis smoking or vaping everywhere except on private parcels. Following the September 25, 2018 meeting, staff prepared bylaw amendments to reflect the proposed prohibition. Council gave the proposed amendment bylaws first, second and third reading on October 2, 2018 (report / webcast). Council adopted the blyaw amendments on October 9, 2018 (report/ webcast).
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Bylaw Review
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| Works and Services Bylaw Review |
| The Works and Services Bylaw housekeeping review has been identified as a project for the 2018 Operational Plan. As part of the review of this bylaw, internal departments have provided comments and proposed changes to the Bylaw to provide clarity regarding the application of the bylaw and update standards to reflect current best practices.
Process To Date
The new Works and Services Bylaw No. 0249 (previously Bylaw No. 120) was adopted on July 24, 2018. If you have any questions regarding the new Bylaw, please contact Development Services.
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| Sign Bylaw |
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The review of the sign bylaw has been identified as a priority for 2017. As part of the review of this bylaw staff prepared a report to Council with decision points regarding key areas of focus for the review. The comprehensive review has included a comparative analysis of best practice regulations, specifically examining sign regulations in five Okanagan communities, in addition to West Kelowna, including: Vernon, Lake Country, Kelowna, Summerland, and Penticton. ln some cases, the specific sign regulation issue being examined warranted additional analysis outside the region, typically within BC, but, specifically with respect to electronic signs, the review was expanded to examine best practices in Canada. In addition to the municipal sign regulations review, preliminary consultation was undertaken with the Sign Association of Canada and local sign companies, specifically regarding electronic signs.
Process To Date
The new Sign Bylaw No. 0250 (previously Bylaw No.0183) was adopted on June 12, 2018. If you have any questions regarding the new Bylaw, please contact Development Services.
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| Major Developments |
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Comprehensive Development Plans
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| Raymer (Ongoing) |
| The City of West Kelowna has received a Phase 2 submission for the Raymer Comprehensive Development Area. The Raymer CD Area is located at the northern extent of the City. The plan area is bordered to the north by Bear Creek Provincial Park, to the east by Okanagan Lake, and to the south by Rose Valley Estates and Westbank First Nation. The Raymer CD Area is comprised of a large number of parcels with multiple landowners making up 433 hectares of land. Phase 2 contemplates development that includes park and open space, agricultural uses, village centre with multiple family and commercial components, and continued single family and rural residential areas. The plan includes phasing and implementation of services, roads, and amenities to ensure orderly development. |
| Smith Creek |
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The Smith Creek Comprehensive Development Plan contemplates the development opportunities and constraints of three rural parcels that comprise an area of 154 hectares in the Smith Creek neighbourhood, approximately three kilometres north of Westbank Centre. Based on the preliminary land use planning analysis, future development may contain over 900 dwelling units with a population greater than 2000 residents. As of October 27, 2020 the Smith Creek Comprehensive Plan has been endorsed by Council and it is anticipated that subsequent rezoning application will be received shortly.
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Goats Peak
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The Goats Peak Comprehensive Development Plan outlines the planned development to take place above the Northwest shore of the Okanagan Lake at the Southern boundary of the City of West Kelowna. The development area consists of four separate lots located adjacent to Gellatly Road, near the Glenrosa interchange. The concept for the area has a diverse range of uses with a phased development and may include approximately 933 units.
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Upper Glenrosa/Salmon Road
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The Upper Glenrosa/Salmon Road Comprehensive Development Plan consists of three parcels with a combined total land area of 12.07 hectares approximately 3km NW of the intersection of Glenrosa Road and Highway 97. The property is bordered by Glenrosa Road to the South, residential neighborhoods to the East, residential, country residential, and forest reserves to the North, and rural residential large parcels to the West. The development would support residential development options.
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Ask West Kelowna
