Urgent Action Needed to stop rezoning of 2 large lot housing into 65 housing townhouse units on Gordon Drive, Lower Mission

The Issue

The City of Kelowna is processing an application to amend properties 4482 and 4498 Gordon Drive into 65 housing units adjacent to OKM High School. We urge the City of Kelowna to stop and deny the rezoning process due to issues with traffic capacity, access and safety caused by the extremely high planned density.  If you are concerned about the safety of the pedestrians, runners, the elderly, your family, cyclists, scooter users, new drivers at the High School, yourself walking this route, or of your daily commute, then this petition is for you.

Kelowna’s beloved Lower Mission neighbourhood is being pushed from a historically single-family home community (suburban land designation) into multi-unit designation which will result in an increased traffic flow in an already overtaxed corridor. Two of only three arterial roads (Gordon & Lakeshore) bisect the neighbourhood  providing access to Kelowna’s downtown core. They are congested from local traffic and the significant developments of the Upper Mission as they pass through the Lower Mission and by multiple schools. The arterial roads currently are inadequate for the volume of traffic that is now congesting them every morning and evening with no ability to expand these roads. Lower Mission, which is home to families with small children, multiple daycares, elementary schools and a high school, is becoming less safe for everyone from the young children walking to the elderly. The current and planned developments in the Lower Mission and adjacent neighbourhoods are exacerbating these safety issues.

Following the provincial mandate to increase density, Kelowna city council is processing an application to amend the Official Community Plan (OCP) and to rezone two properties on Gordon Drive next to OKM high school. The subject application is referred to as OCP25-0023 / Z25-0053 at 4482 & 4498 Gordon Drive. The proposal is for a 65-unit, 3-storey with rooftop patio (so 4-storey) MF2 Townhouse with an OCP amendment from S-RES (suburban family residential) to S-MU (suburban multifamily). Here is the link to the City of Kelowna Rezoning Application:

https://kelownapublishing.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=56039

This increase in density would add significantly to the already congested roads and further increase the threat to safety and wellbeing of the children walking and cycling to schools along the arterial roads. 

In addition, the three storeys with rooftop deck townhouses under consideration for the lots will drastically alter the character of the neighbourhood. Existing developments in the area all provide a transition from single family homes to multifamily but the draft development does not and will severely intrude on the privacy of neighbouring properties. Of note there is no actual development plan. As a result any change approved in the OCP and rezoning will preclude the necessity for public consultation once a developer finally does submit a development plan. With no public consultation needed at that time on an actual plan the resulting development could irrevocably destroy the character and safety of the neighbourhood completely bypassing local resident’s input.

Call For Action

There is a public forum at Kelowna City Hall on June 23, 2026 at 4:00 PM. Everyone is encouraged to come to call on the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Kelowna to deny the application to change the Official Community Plan as well as the rezoning application. In addition to mandate any development on the subject lots ensures traffic safety and that it transitions in with the current character of the neighbourhood while respecting housing density objectives. Sign this petition to show your opposition to the proposed changes.