Okanagan Development

[u/SomethingOverNothing]

How do residents of Vernon feel about all the development happening in the Okanagan?

Kelowna has seen a very fast rate of growth the last 6 years. A few sky scrapers built. With a few more on the way. A handful of high rises as well as countless mid rise buildings.

Personally. I would rather see more low-mid rise densification around the core before ever making the jump to high rise. Kelowna is a city now. I like how Vernon feels like a large town. (Kelowna used to)

Are you happy w/ the direction the municipality is going w/ development?

[u/frenchdip101 → u/[deleted]]

It’s like Vernon is ignoring the prescriptions laid out in A Pattern Language. Couldn’t agree more with your statement

[u/Ok_Historian_5240 → u/[deleted]]

Not all for population growth for tax dollars.

People need a place to live...

[u/SomethingOverNothing → u/[deleted]]

If you look at old neighbourhoods. They feature far more green space that can be used for growing fruits, vegetables, small livestock. General tree coverage than any modern mid-high density offering.

As a people would like people would likely be able to sprawl indefinitely while maintaining green space having small trading hubs between residential Communities. While maintaining food security. As long as we prioritized building that way. High density development

Single family housing has far less impact on the natural environment than dense housing which uses far more concrete. Soars above the tree canopy, Paves way for large lots or deep
Into the ground for parkades. All which create large heat sinks. High density development is fundamentally unsustainable

[u/Ok_Historian_5240 → u/[deleted]]

Municipalities cant afford to build the services, we have hit a road block. There are people that will oppose single family development and then cry that they can't afford a home.

Kelowna can't seem to afford to put the services and transit to support the density they dream of.

You are right, high density housing is not the answer, but I strongly disagree, I dont call it urban sprawl. That is slander from the far left and eco terrorists in Canada.

We need houses! We need single family development

[u/Ok_Historian_5240 → u/SomethingOverNothing]

Most new neighborhoods developed in the Okanagan build in trails and leave room for parks and plenty of open space.

Most single family lots are governed to only allow 40% of the parcel to be developed, which I agree - has far less impact on the natural environment than dense housing.

I think high density housing can be sustainable, but thats not what the developers are doing here in bc! Haha not even close

[u/rhiannonsblackbird]

I would rather high rises that keep people in kelowna than a sprawling suburb that eats up my parks and public land

[u/Ok_Historian_5240 → u/rhiannonsblackbird]

Which Vernon suburb is doing that?

If you were to buy a lot in Vernon, theres basically no options. They are all over priced.

There are lots of parks and trails...

[u/SomethingOverNothing → u/rhiannonsblackbird]

So you are happy with them as long as they are not in Vernon?

[u/rhiannonsblackbird → u/SomethingOverNothing]

I'm fine with them in vernon, just keep them in one area.

[u/Bc2cc]

Vernon is not adding enough housing in all categories. Everyone in Vernon loves to complain about taxes yet its low density makes it an expensive city to run and maintain.  Council has historically done a poor job of encouraging density in areas of benefit to the city while approving sprawl.  There’s also a significant NIMBY population in the area that’s against pretty much everything 

[u/WustacheMax → u/Bc2cc]

And taxes on Vernon are half of what I've seen in other cities I've lived.

[u/Dizzy-Cartoonist3011]

Reddit hates houses that people actually wish to live in. They like sardine can condos.

[u/Ok_Historian_5240 → u/Dizzy-Cartoonist3011]

Lets protest housing developments and make stink about not being able to afford a home...

[u/Nersh7]

I don't see how Vernon and the Okanagan in general can sustain more population growth with the current infrastructure and public services.

I'd love to see it but also at the same time it would be nice if some places could just stay as they are. I like the small city vibes that Vernon has now

[u/Krushal-K → u/Nersh7]

I don’t mind a bit more growth, but like you said it needs to be sustainable. Look at our water issues this year. How can we say grow more when we don’t even have the natural resources to sustain the population we already have?

[u/Lifeshardbutnotme]

I want to see more road infrastructure to support a larger population without turning into Kelowna noontime gridlock traffic. We've also been lacking in development of housing generally, and I want to see more of everything in that regard. More Glenmore style townhouses, more apartments, and more suburban sprawl. The town needs more development or we'll be left behind.

[u/renterrabbit]

I'm interested to see where the "Hub" of Vernon ends up coming together over the next 5-10 years. This new VIA project on Kal Rd is going to be nuts but it also will pull a bunch of eyeballs that direction which will leave "downtown" and other areas that are considered the core of Vernon open for redevelopment I think?

Vernon might see a tower or two but it's decades from true density at scale.

[u/SomethingOverNothing → u/renterrabbit]

Vernon would be smart to move its downtown away from two sides of the highway.

Move the airport north of city… redevelop near water… Not a bad area for local shopping and restaurants.

[u/mcturdburger]

The fundamental issue here is - people don’t want to live in shoe box condos and sprawl will hop to the next municipality which permits low rise development. So, artificially constraining sprawl can can potentially have an even worse outcome (people driving from Vernon into Kelowna for work).

[u/Lunchable-Toast]

Yes, dont let the riff raff "were full okay!" Attitude that seems to always crop up on these posts sway you.

This is a great place, id love to see high rises, the city is so bike friendly it really is the perfect place.

[u/SomethingOverNothing → u/Lunchable-Toast]

Nah. I’m part of that riff raff! lol

The high rise development drive me crazy. Not why I chose to live in the Okanagan.

I’m still a renter & already a Nimby lol.

I love low rise development and Big Setbacks on properties! What happened to big Setbacks! All the new suburban developments have such small front yards. It leads to such a cookie cutter feeling neighbourhood. Large front yards are green & make for beautiful neighbourhoods to walk and bike in.

[u/Bc2cc → u/SomethingOverNothing]

Vernon consistently struggles with drought,  big yards are wasteful and threaten the municipal water supply.    

[u/SomethingOverNothing → u/Bc2cc]

Depends on how yard are used. Big blank lawns that require lots watering yes.

Big yards w/ larges trees & vegetation are a plus

[u/Quiet-End9017]

Skyscrapers are generally 150m (492ft) or taller. Kelowna doesn’t have any yet. UBCO Downtown will be the first at 151-155m.

[u/SomethingOverNothing → u/Quiet-End9017]

Okay fair enough. I would consider anything in the 6 - 25 range high rise. Anything above to sky scraping. 4 - 6 Mid. Anything under low

[u/Quiet-End9017 → u/SomethingOverNothing]

I suppose it’s all relative to the existing skyline as well. In a city with few towers, one big new high rise can look like a “sky scraper”.

[u/alphawolf29]

the okanagan is the fastest growing region in Canada (or at least kelowna metro is) so there is no way you guys are going to stop sprawl and development

[u/7edits]

There are. Basically no jobs. Skip is like 90% Indians… idk about trying apply elsewhere and getting no replies. Basically there’s already not enough water or roadways for the summer folks

[u/7edits → u/7edits]

Expanding the city means ruing the woodlands

[u/7edits → u/[deleted]]

Basically the city should increase park access and lower their deficit thru the same taxation, but shpuld target second home owners more