There was an impassioned plea to save the Kelowna Springs Golf Club (KSGC) from possible, future industrial land designation at city council Monday (July 25).
Coun. Luke Stack made a motion to amend the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) to have the KSGC property deemed recreational, noting two specific pillars in the OCP.
sa国际传媒淥ne pillar is take action on climate change, and the other pillar is protect and restore our environment,sa国际传媒� said Stack.
The course, located at 480 Penno Road, is bordered by industrial lands to the west and south, and property in the Agricultural Land Reserve to the north and east. It was identified as a major opportunity for new industrial development in 2020. According to a staff report, at that time, the property owner approached the city to explore opportunities for either a commercial or industrial land use designation change.
Stack added that over the past 30 years several other golf courses have been turned into commercial and residential developments. He also pointed out that Shadow Ridge Golf Course was purchased by the city for future expansion of Kelowna International Airport, which he said he supported, and Michaelbrook Golf Course has recently designated future park space.
sa国际传媒淪o I argue that the collective loss of these green spaces is taking its toll on our citizens,sa国际传媒� he added. sa国际传媒淥ne by one they are being converted to other uses. Cumulatively the loss is significant.sa国际传媒�
He also referenced the 2022 citizenssa国际传媒� survey, which noted a perception of worsening quality of life among Kelowna residents.
sa国际传媒淚 believe the loss of this private recreational space will contribute to a further perception that the quality of life is decreasing in Kelowna. At least that would be consistent with the theme of the people that are writing me the letters. They view this as a tremendous loss to our community.sa国际传媒�
Discussion of Stacksa国际传媒檚 motion also generated a testy exchange between Coun. Maxine DeHart and Mayor Colin Basran.
sa国际传媒淛ust to set the record straight Kelowna Springs is not a private golf course,sa国际传媒� said DeHart. sa国际传媒淚 book hundreds and hundreds of clients from my hotel there. The public can go on that course.sa国际传媒�
She was interrupted by Coun. Wooldridge and the mayor.
sa国际传媒淚 might dare say that itsa国际传媒檚 a conflict if yousa国际传媒檙e sending business there,sa国际传媒� said Basran.
DeHart answered that hotels all send business to KSGC, to which Basran replied itsa国际传媒檚 clear DeHart was making a decision on something she has a business relationship with.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 not the one who needs to decide nor is it the business of the clerk or the city manager to advise you,sa国际传媒� he said.
DeHart argued if that were the case then she would have to excuse herself from everywhere she sends business.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 talking about tourism,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚 wonsa国际传媒檛 be doing that because theresa国际传媒檚 a lot of things today I would have had to excuse myself from.sa国际传媒�
DeHart said she supports the need for more industrial land, but was torn about the KSGC property. Coun. Mohini Singh and Coun. Charlie Hodge was in favour of Stacksa国际传媒檚 motion.
Mayor Basran reiterated that the property owner approached city staff with the expectation they were going to cease operating and that the industrial designation was approved by council in the OCP.
sa国际传媒淭o now go sa国际传媒榦ops we missed that letsa国际传媒檚 relook at thatsa国际传媒� when the owners have made life-altering decisions based on a decision by council just doesnsa国际传媒檛 sit well. I think for the greater good of our community wesa国际传媒檝e done the right thing.sa国际传媒�
Stack admitted he didnsa国际传媒檛 fully appreciate the potential industrial designation for KSGC when it was going through the OCP process.
sa国际传媒淲hen it was highlighted to me what we had passed it really grabbed my attention. So Isa国际传媒檒l take ownership of that.sa国际传媒�
The motion passed with councillors Donn and Wooldridge and Mayor Basran opposed. Coun. Brad Sieben excused himself from the discussion and vote citing a conflict of interest as he provides insurance services to the property owner.
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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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