Peachland乌鸦传媒檚 signature charm was the centre of a council discussion during the July 8 Committee of the Whole meeting.
As the district works through a minor review of its Official Community Plan (OCP), councillors wrestled with how to protect the community乌鸦传媒檚 乌鸦传媒渟mall town character乌鸦传媒� while still planning for inevitable growth and meeting provincial housing mandates.
Urban Systems, the consultant leading the review, presented updates on the plan, which was adopted in 2018. The review is intended to align the OCP with updated legislation and growth trends while refreshing development permit guidelines and clarifying policies.
But it was the section on Peachland乌鸦传媒檚 character that launched a 20-minute debate among council members.
乌鸦传媒淚f we乌鸦传媒檙e looking to focus on what resonates with this community, I don乌鸦传媒檛 think that we should be representing them with commonly found buzzwords,乌鸦传媒� said Coun. Alena Glasman. She felt the current description could apply to almost any B.C. community.
She also raised concerns that some residents may not fully understand the trade-offs involved in 乌鸦传媒減reserving乌鸦传媒� Peachland乌鸦传媒檚 character.
乌鸦传媒淸It] technically means no development, no growth, no increasing of infrastructure, no increasing of density to preserve Peachland and the small-town character that seems to mean something different for everyone,乌鸦传媒� she said.
Coun. Randey Brophy argued that development doesn乌鸦传媒檛 have to erase character.
乌鸦传媒淲hat you have to do is tailor the development so it promotes what the small town is good for,乌鸦传媒� he said.
He noted Peachland has the longest stretch of public beach in the Okanagan乌鸦传媒攜et no hotels on Beach Avenue.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a gimmie," he added. "That doesn乌鸦传媒檛 change the small-town character of Peachland, it just accentuates what Peachland has.乌鸦传媒�
Coun. Keith Thom said it乌鸦传媒檚 council乌鸦传媒檚 job to find out what that character means to the people who live there.
乌鸦传媒淪o that we follow along the lines of the majority of our residents,乌鸦传媒� he pointed out.
Mayor Patrick Van Minsel reminded council that times have changed.
乌鸦传媒淲e need to, ideally, preserve as much of Peachland as we can. But we need to let some density (development) happen here and there.乌鸦传媒�
He also highlighted the growing pressure to meet housing targets.
Peachland乌鸦传媒檚 Housing Needs Assessment乌鸦传媒攁lso part of the OCP乌鸦传媒攕hows the district will need 494 new housing units over the next five years and 1,650 within 20 years. According to the OCP, existing zoning and current development applications could meet those numbers.
Van Minsel stressed the need to communicate this clearly to residents.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a fact that we need around 100 a year just to keep our property taxes manageable,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭o see that we don乌鸦传媒檛 have the 20 or 30 per cent increases that some other municipalities had.乌鸦传媒�
But building those homes could come with pushback.
乌鸦传媒淚 remember at one open house乌鸦传媒 had a person stand up乌鸦传媒nd the comment 乌鸦传媒榃e don乌鸦传媒檛 want those kinds of people in our neighbourhood乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綌as if people who live in townhouses have devil乌鸦传媒檚 horns,乌鸦传媒� Thom said.
Coun. Terry Condon voiced frustration over what he saw as low engagement in the OCP process so far.
乌鸦传媒淚 find it very disappointing that we乌鸦传媒檝e got only 135 responses from our community,乌鸦传媒� he said.
Urban Systems consultant Daniel Sturgeon noted that the project is a minor review, so engagement was scaled accordingly.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 unfortunate, I agree with you. We will provide what information we receive to council.乌鸦传媒�
Van Minsel floated the idea of a larger event later in the year.
乌鸦传媒淲here, as a council, we sit with our consultant, and we will have way more information then乌鸦传媒nd say, 'Now it乌鸦传媒檚 your time to give us your feedback.'乌鸦传媒�
Engagement so far has included a community open house and BBQ in June, two pop-up events in July, and an .
The minor is expected to wrap up in early 2026.
