The frustration over sweeping provincial housing legislation was palpable at Kelowna councilsa国际传媒檚 Monday (Feb. 26) meeting.

Several new bills brought down by the NDP government over the past few months dictate, to certain municipalities, how much housing they must provide and where it needs to be built.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 really uptight and really angry at what wesa国际传媒檝e been forced to do here,sa国际传媒� said Coun. Charlie Hodge. sa国际传媒淚 feel pushed by the provincial government.sa国际传媒�

Staff have provided briefings on legislative amendments over the past two meetings and council considered the changes at Mondaysa国际传媒檚 meeting.

They affect infill housing, heights of buildings, and what can be built around transit hubs and heritage areas, causing much concern for council and residents.

Mayor Tom Dyas noted he has had several meetings with the housing minister and staff about those concerns.

sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檙e not only hearing it from us but being at the BC Housing Summit last week, theysa国际传媒檙e hearing from other communities,sa国际传媒� he said.

The legislation, which Coun. Ron Cannan called sa国际传媒榦ne size fits all,sa国际传媒� affects approximately 26,000 lots in the city.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e heard this legislation coined as sa国际传媒榩lanning with a sledgehammer.sa国际传媒� I donsa国际传媒檛 think itsa国际传媒檚 going to address affordability and housing crisis in our community,sa国际传媒� he said.

Cannan did agree with colleagues who said working with the province for a sa国际传媒榤ade in Kelownasa国际传媒� solution is the best course of action.

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said he heard from other municipal leaders at the BC Housing Summit that Kelowna is sa国际传媒榝ar ahead when it comes to policy shifts.sa国际传媒�

He also acknowledged that some residents perhaps donsa国际传媒檛 feel council has pounded the table enough with the province regarding how the changes will affect the city.

sa国际传媒淏ut at the end of the day when wesa国际传媒檙e an easy door to push on that means wesa国际传媒檒l be a community thatsa国际传媒檚 selected in the future for investment and a test pilot for housing projects,sa国际传媒� he added.

Councillors did agree that the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) is essentially moving in the same direction the province has chosen.

sa国际传媒淲e are faced with probably, at least in my time, the most comprehensive zoning that Isa国际传媒檝e ever seen,sa国际传媒� said Coun. Luke Stack. sa国际传媒淥bviously from our perspective, I think it can be tweaked to serve the interests of our community a little better.sa国际传媒�

Amendments to the OCP will be brought forward by staff in the coming months for councilsa国际传媒檚 consideration, and there will be an opportunity for the public to speak to those changes.

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