Councillor Charlie Hodge drew a round of applause at council乌鸦传媒檚 Monday (Mar. 11) meeting for his stance on potential infill housing development in Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 heritage conservation area.

New provincial legislation sets out density targets for several zones in municipalities across B.C.

READ MORE: Frustration and acceptance for Kelowna council on housing legislation

乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 think we乌鸦传媒檙e leading by saying yes to this, I think we乌鸦传媒檙e leading by saying no, not this time,乌鸦传媒� Hodge added. 乌鸦传媒淚f that is going to cost us something down the road乌鸦传媒�then so be it.乌鸦传媒�

The approximately 20 members of the public attending the meeting applauded the comment.

Ryan Smith, director of planning and development, said there was likely no ability to separate the heritage component from the rest of the legislation, noting it could cost the city if council pushed back.

乌鸦传媒淢y response would just be speculation乌鸦传媒�.but there may be things like grant funding applications乌鸦传媒�.where it乌鸦传媒檚 tens of millions of dollars that relate back to that decision.乌鸦传媒�

Hodge likened the province乌鸦传媒檚 actions to those of a playground bully.

乌鸦传媒淚f somebody doesn乌鸦传媒檛 stand up and say no they乌鸦传媒檙e just going to continue to do it.乌鸦传媒�

Councillor Ron Cannan was on the same page as Hodge.

乌鸦传媒淲e have nothing to lose by saying no, this is our position as a council.乌鸦传媒�

He noted that Penticton is holding several public open houses to hear residents乌鸦传媒� comments on the provincial housing legislation.

乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 a point where there乌鸦传媒檚 a hill to die on and this is it for our heritage conservation area.乌鸦传媒�

At a previous council meeting, Cannan suggested the city write the province asking that the few blocks in the Abbott Street and Marshall Street areas be exempt from the legislation.

Councillor Luke Stack sat on the other side of the issue, pointing out that staff are working on coming up with ideas on how to protect heritage areas.

乌鸦传媒淚 would rather focus on what we can do as a city rather than dig in our heels and say we乌鸦传媒檙e not going to follow the province乌鸦传媒檚 directive and you can乌鸦传媒檛 make us.乌鸦传媒�

At previous meetings, staff have recommended that infill developments in heritage areas be limited to four units on a single-family lot. Provincial legislation calls for six units.

Councillor Maxine DeHart suggested that concerned residents go directly to the source.

乌鸦传媒淧erhaps go to your MLAs, they are your body. I乌鸦传媒檝e put that in writing to many people.乌鸦传媒�

Cannan made a motion to defer giving three readings to zoning bylaw amendments to conform to the legislation. It was defeated with just him and Hodge in favour.

Council then voted to give the three readings with Cannan and Hodge opposed. Councillor Gord Lovegrove recused himself from the discussion and vote citing a conflict of interest.

乌鸦传媒淭his was not an easy decision by this council,乌鸦传媒� said Mayor Tom Dyas. 乌鸦传媒淲e know exactly the rules being imposed on us, not only in this particular area but areas throughout the community.乌鸦传媒�

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